Just the other day, my friend linked me a video on FB telling me that I should close read this video he watched. He thought it was interesting and that there is a lot of deeper meaning in the video that I might find interesting.
The video is called ValiBation. You can watch it here.
The video is about how modern day technology, especially social media has taken over the way we do things. It is as if our phones control us, instead of it being some sort of support tool. Everyday you wake up, there first thing you do is check your messages, check you Facebook, check your twitter, check the news.
When you eat breakfast, you’re on your phone.
When you come out of the shower, you check your phone.
When you’re out with your friends and family, everyone is on their phone.
The first thing people asks these days is ‘Is there going to be WiFi there?’
People are lacking face to face interaction, because everything can be done over the internet.
Another interesting issue is bought up in the video is the issue of validation. People these days are using social media as a form of validation. To tell themselves that they are funny, they are special, that people care about them.
Every time someone ‘likes’ their post, they feel happier. When someone retweet them or reblog them, they feel loved. What is the point of using social media if it isn’t to receive attention.
If you’re not after the ‘likes’, why post anything to begin with?
People these days, I myself included, turn to Facebook for a boost of self esteem because it tells us that we are popular. When people comment and like our posts, it must means that we are friends and that they like me, right?
Facebook can be one of the worst places for someone with low self esteem. People only put their best side forward on Facebook, and to be around so many people with ‘perfect lives’, it could make you feel less that happy. Jealousy is toxic, and Facebook isn’t helping with any of that. You turn to Facebook to feel popular and loved, only to find that you’re really not that ~special snowflake~ you thought you were.
I love Facebook. I love how I can find friends from primary. How I can talk to family all over the world.
But sometimes, I just need a break from it all.
