Oversharing Online

 I was intrigued when I saw the topic for this week's discussion, as this is a conversation I have with my younger relatives often. 

To start, I think that certain social platforms have benefits, and others have drawbacks. I mainly use Instagram and TikTok, which are two huge platforms. Of course, I'm a bit biased, as using social media and having a platform is integral when it comes to my job. However, I also think that social media is important for networking, especially in the digital age. One platform that I think has a lot of drawbacks is Twitter (or 'X' I guess). I used to have Twitter, and it was one of my favorite platforms until it changed to X. I noticed a steep decline in the platform, much of the content becoming violent and quite honestly concerning. I haven't used Twitter in a long time, as the real world has enough going on, and I don't need more when I'm going onto a social platform. 

I've never used Facebook, but Instagram is very similar and is known for both its negative and positive influences. I think a well-known issue when it comes to negative impressions on the app, comes from people constantly comparing themselves to each other. This issue tends to affect women more so, especially because the point of Instagram is to post pictures of yourself, and if you don't fit the standards set by the industry, it can have a detrimental effect on mental health. Vice versa, platforms can also have a huge positive effect, even boosting self-esteem. It's almost a necessity to comment on people you know posts, as it's somewhat of a social rule. While yes, this does boost self-esteem and possibly mental health, it's all very surface level. Personally, I believe that the negative influences of social platforms outweigh the positives. I've known people who revolve their entire lives around their online persona, and it's hard to see. 

Here's an article I used as research when writing a paper about mental health and social media a few years ago. Also, if you haven't seen The Social Dilemma, I highly suggest it. Watching this movie completely changed my outlook on social media and how if integrates with my life.