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Tuesday 23 February 2016

experiencing life with social media

Hello there.

After having an assembly today on how we should look up from our phones and experience the real world, I decided to write this post.

Because social media ISN'T A BAD THING.

Yes, we should spend time with our friends and family, speak face to face, go outside and enjoy the world without a phone in between us and it. But social media isn't the negative thing the majority of the older generation seem to make it out to be.

For a start, if the older generation had had the kind of technology and social networking sites that we have now, they too would have been constantly checking Twitter and scrolling through Instagram in their free time. But because they didn't have the kinds of opportunities that our generation have, they have the opportunity to act high and mighty because they played outside when they were my age. 

I agree that toddlers should play outside instead of watching videos on an iPad, and young children should experience grazed knees and tag and building dens out of mud, leaves and twigs. What I don't agree with is the negativity felt towards teenagers and young adults using social media constantly.

Yes, it isn't good to be constantly on your phone, and yes, it shouldn't stop us from experiencing the world.

But for some people, social media is a way for them to escape the world, because for them, the real world isn't that great.

People who struggle with making friends, or feel alone in their normal life can become friends with people online who have similar interests and genuinely care about that person. For that person, social media can become an escape and a life line. Because it's either be alone and scared to go into school.

Or be happy and go into school knowing that once it's over, they can disappear from this loneliness onto the internet, where their real friends are.

I'm not saying social media is a long-term solution to bullying, or loneliness at school or at home, but it is something to help people meet other people, to make friends, and to express themselves while life isn't the best.

I'm lucky enough to just enjoy social media for what it is - I don't have to use it to compensate for what is lacking in my every-day life. I have an amazing family, wonderful friends and a great school life. I can blog when I want, which is a sort of escape, because I can talk about things that I don't feel I can with other people - usually because I can't find the right words in the moment, but I can when I have time to think before I type. I can Instagram photos of my friends and my dog and me, and then I can switch accounts to my bookstagram and smile at the wonderful comments my followers leave me. I can gaze in utter shock at the little follower count next to my username reading 2051. I can go onto Twitter and quickly type out a pun, or something embarrassing I did, or an angry response to sexism in the media. I can Snapchat one of my best friends, who I met through Instagram - and who I'll be meeting in a few months time - and can talk to her about my day and hear about hers, which makes it feel like I see her every day. (by the way, if you want to follow Anna, her blog is here - annasbookish.blogspot.com - and her bookstagram is @annasbookish. She's amazing and I love her dearly)

I can go on social media and say what I want to say, write what I want to write, post what I want to post, be who I want to be - which is who I truly am.

I know one of people's main concerns about social media is that everything is staged, and only our best bits are revealed to the world. We get an airbrushed look at other people's lives, and are never exposed to any gloomy days where life is rubbish and you just want to lie in bed with a blanket and Netflix.

But I am who I am on social media. I don't pretend, I don't hide. I explain that I didn't post a photo because school is hectic and I'm under a lot of pressure. I apologise for not replying to a direct message because I had a rubbish day and I didn't feel like doing anything other than lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling.

I find I can be my purest and realest me online, because I'm around people that like me for me. Anna has seen some of my worst days and still loves me. My real-life friends have stuck with me for 5 years, and my family will always lovely, despite all the arguments we've had and the things we've said.

The point I am trying to make with these extremely long post is that: yes, go outside, and yes, experience life. But don't think experiencing life means putting down the phone. Because my life is infinitely more special with my 2051 followers, and Anna, and her Snapchats, and my pictures, and you guys, and this small blog, and my hilarious 2am tweets, and the comments under my photos.

So maybe think about what you've gained from social media next time someone makes a judgy comment about having your phone glued to your hands. Because I sure as hell have gained more than I've lost.

Thank you all for reading. x

(While we're discussing social media, if you want to follow me on anything, my links are on the left under 'Let's Socialise' and on my Contact page.)

10 comments

  1. I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH YOU NERD

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  2. also this was very nicely said and I agree wholeheartedly

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    1. I LOVE YOU TOO! Thank you, I'm so glad you liked the post :)

      xx

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  3. Beautiful post! I totally agree. It is annoying when people are on their phone when they are in a group of people talking together, or when you see a nine year old on Instagram instead of doing something like playing with a doll, or playing outside. There is a time and place to use social media for sure, but it is not something that we need to stay away from.

    Social media also lets us get inspired by cool people! It lets us share what we have to say, or something that we have created! I use social media to follow my friends when I don't get to see them otherwise, or they might live across the country. I also use it to follow my favorite band, and it makes me so happy to see what they are up to. :)

    Wow! Tha was a long comment!
    Anyways, thank you for the wonderful post!

    Celia

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    1. I'm so happy you liked the post - I agree, there is definitely a time and a place for social media. But it is definitely something positive that older generations should accept as a norm in our society now.

      Social media is such a great way to connect with people, whether that's friends or people you look up to - like your favourite band.

      Ahaha, I love long comments! Thank you for commenting :)

      xx

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  4. Okay, first off... why have you not told me that you have snapchat? ;)

    Second, I cannot tell you how much I agree with you on, well, everything. Social media has shaped me into the person I am today, and I would most certainly not be her without the internet. That is how I've been able to social when I felt like I was cut off from the world. That's how I got to meet my best friend. So, when I was in my room a lot of 2013, and my mom thought I was sad or something, I was actually living one of my happiest moments of my teenage years (it was also when I was talking to Rosie 24/7 and lowkey becoming obsessed with her). Anyways... I wrote a paper on social media for one of my classes and I remember thinking to myself after reading articles: "Hey, social media isn't all that bad..." I was actually becoming rather defensive about it. I've never really experienced a bad time with any of my social medias, like bullying or any of the such. I thank God for giving me a place I have to look forward to and a place where I feel like myself. It's truly the only place where I have been able to actually experience things. :)

    Phew, that was a long comment. o.O I actually might write a post inspired by this, so thank you. ;)

    xx Mackenzie

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    1. Hahaha, I'll DM you my username on Instagram so you can add me!

      I'm so glad I've had such a positive response to this post :) I'm so glad others feel that social media is their safe haven - I was worried it was just me! The internet has definitely caused some of my happiest moments, and I'm so thankful I've never experienced any of the definite negatives to it. But the negatives are because of the people who use social media, not social media itself.

      I'm definitely very defensive of social media, because it is definitely where I am most comfortable. I'm so glad I've (maybe) inspired you to write a post. Thank you so much for your huge comment - I love reading all of my comments :)

      xx

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  5. I love blogging, Instagram and Twitter. I've made good friends through them. It's hard to imagine what I'd be doing now if I didn't have social media.
    This was a very interesting post to read. Thanks for sharing your views!

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    1. I'm glad you found it interesting! I can't imagine what I would be doing with my life if I didn't have social media, but I can pretty much guarantee I wouldn't be as happy as I am now.

      xx

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  6. I definitely enjoyed reading your point of view on social media, and I agree! There is a time and a place for social media, and it is important that people engage in activities other than social media, but social media is not a bad thing.
    -Jollygirl @ Reflections of a Jolly Girl

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Hey! Thank you so much for reading my blog and deciding to comment.

Please be nice!

I will reply to all comments. :)

- B
xxxx