Like the rest of Generation X, I lived half of my life "offline" as there were no smartphones, tablets, and social networking when I was younger. Social media arrived relatively late in our lives and for the most part, I enjoyed the analog, lo-fi lifestyle. Search engines were unheard of and mental telepathy was the common form of communication among friends with no landline telephones. Sometimes I wonder how we navigated and survived the pre-Internet world but we did! Then Gen-X practically invented the digital age and life was never the same.
Fast forward to circa Y2K when computing evolved at a dizzying speed and we found ourselves at the cusp of yet another technological milestone- the age of dial-up Internet, primitive social media, and the rise of the global village. We witnessed a technological and cultural acceleration in a way no previous generation has experienced before. We were pumped when we got our first email accounts. Then came the file and music-sharing services, electronic bulletin boards, self-publishing platforms, photoblogging, and microblogging platforms like Facebook and Twitter. I have seen social sharing platforms come and go and have probably tested every social media app there is from Tumblr to Flickr. I grew up as a bookworm and apparently, the format that best appealed to me was Blogger, the long-form content self-publishing platform introduced by Pyra Labs in 1999. I have blogged since Blogger was still in beta version and have witnessed several reincarnations of my online journals. I have maintained and outgrown my blogs and deleted some of them at some point. My longest-running blog is still in existence and I'll probably have enough permalink memories to reminisce on when I turn 70. I fell in and out of love with the Internet/social media just as easily. It is a love-hate relationship that continues up to this day.
To clarify, self-publishing platforms are not considered social media unless you allow commenting and sharing. Expressing oneself tongue-in-cheek in the free world is the essence of personal publishing and this is the empowering, game-changing aspect that gives it a sustainable following in a world ruled by Facebook and TikTok.
In contrast to Gen-X, the younger generation is perceptibly hooked on short-form content platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. These types of platforms limit the number of words and images and as a result, often leave out context and other critical information. A little knowledge or information in this case is dangerous. This is one reason I have never a fan of platforms where a one-sentence update is considered a blog post.
The Millennial/Gen-Z generations were born in a world where content is mainly digital and easily accessible on gadgets and mobile phones. The factory settings of mobile phones have social media apps configured. It seems that there is no escape from the pressure to utilize social media apps. It is not surprising that the younger generations would suffer from the unintended effects of social media since the technology was not gradually introduced to them the way it was with Gen-X.
As someone who has lived through the analog-to-digital era, I've learned from experience that there are ways of extricating ourselves from the ill effects of social media without descending into the pits of mental health dysfunction. Here are some insights and realizations gleaned from decades of my love-hate relationship with the Internet:
- Social media facilitates the sharing of an electronically mediated reality. As the term implies, social media "mediates" reality and the receiver's perception. Mobile phone filters give reality a glossy finish or overlay for the purpose of creative self-expression. Art imitates life and sometimes it's the other way around. Everything is not what it seems. On the other hand, social media allows us to escape from reality albeit virtually. We use these tools to enhance creativity and imagination.
- Choose the best social media app that fits your lifestyle and your needs. There is no need to be omnipresent on the Internet or to join the social media bandwagon. Everyone is considered a beta tester or a sample of data analytics to serve the interest of advertisers.
- You can always control how you want to share your world with others by setting personal boundaries. You can enable or disable the comment button or set your audience to selected people. You can also access inspiring and interesting content from makers and artists and see less content that triggers negative emotions.
- Social media does not have to follow you to the bathroom. Delete social media apps on your phone and use them only on selected devices for your mental health.
- Find your tribe. If you are passionate about certain hobbies or avocations, seek like-minded individuals on Pinterest, Threads, Instagram, or Substack. You can learn new skills and knowledge by interacting with like-minded people.
- The Internet has given people the power of anonymity and entitlement which in the real world does not exist. Nowadays, people throw comments that are harsh, brutal, and toxic. It is a rarity to see well-parsed comments on thought-provoking subjects. If you find yourself on the receiving end of hurtful comments, you can always turn off the commenting button. Words can only hurt you if you allow it. In true Gen-X fashion, we give zero fucks to vitriol from sad haters who hide behind their keyboards.
- Live life like it's 1999. Being in perpetual connectivity with the world may rob us of joy and happiness. There is no need to take a photo of your breakfast or OOTD every single day. The best memories of our lives live in our heads and not on our social media feeds.
- The Internet/social media is not the place to get approval, likes, and validation because, at the end of the day, you are a mere speckle in the information superhighway. The Internet was never about you. It lives on with or without you.
- The Internet is a playground. It was all fun and games until someone monetized it.
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