Social Media Selectivity

It’s hard to believe that just over 13 years ago instagram wasn’t even a thing. The idea of sharing photos to friends had been something done within the construct of facebook, but quickly changed as soon as the “gram” hit the market. Since then, what were low-qual photos have since become the primary way to advertise, market and consume. Magazines used to be the only way you could ever see pictures of your favourite celebrities dressed up in outlandish decorum. Paparazzi pictures were reserved for the less glamorous glossies and usually showcased unflattering photos that came with salacious headlines. I mean when I look back, the fact that people would even care who Paris Hilton was dating at the time or if Lindsay Lohan had a new hair colour seems absolutely ridiculous. The fact is that technology has only sped up the rate at which people consume such ridiculousness. Apparently world politics and events still barely hold a candle to whether or not a reality television personailty has been cheated on or whether or not a celebrity has lost weight with a prescription drug. It’s kind of insane and I am very over it.

Because of the incessant nonsense that is so prevalent in today’s media options, it’s no wonder there are so many social issues. Ironic that social media was designed to better “connect” people and yet it seems that people are only getting further and further away from true connection. We live in a day and age when being obese means body-positive, where we demand women be seen for more than their bodies and yet only praise them when their physique is on display. Everyone is pro mental health and yet is con making changes that ensure healthier mental-environments for everyone. Celebrity break-ups make headlines and yet no one knows what’s going on in their own country. We want the world to change for us but won’t change ourselves for the world. It’s a crazy world of paradoxes and doubler-standards that we live in and to say it’s confusing is a major understatement.

I have had so many conversations over the past number of years with youth, contemporaries and elders of mine and have come to a conclusion that we are all being majorly marketed to and it’s plain and simple an overload of unhealthy messages flooding in without contemplation. It’s because of this that over the last year I have slowly been deleting and ‘unfollowing’ accounts that don’t serve me. Accounts that are focused on bikini photos that make me feel bad about myself. Accounts, that focus on ultra-consumerism and make me feel like I need more. Accounts of people who are negative, angry or just simply inflammatory who bring my energy down. Out of all the things in life that I can’t control, I’m sure as heck going to practice levels of control with those who I allow through my social media channels.

It’s something that seems relatively simple, however I have observed that many don’t feel as I do and are yet feeling low, distracted, unmotivated and insignificant in ways that are without a doubt being fuelled by the subliminal messaging they are allowing into their heads and hearts on the regular. We are all allowed to desire a little escapism at times, but does one’s escape always have to be at the expense of one’s happiness and positivity? Why are we still having conversations about how women need to support one another and yet are applauding the nastiness that comes out of all things Bravo-television? We want to live in a world where people respect us and yet we are putting support behind those who make a living out of being disrespectful. It’s not just crazy, it’s weird af.

My feelings about social media are strong because of how I have noticed myself feel, but also because of the subject matter that people put on a pedestal to talk about. Nothing, I repeat NOTHING about any celebrity, influencer or fame-driven person and their life should be important to you unless you are related to them. It’s all a circus and takes up way too much space and time on our TV’s, phones, computers etc. People have become more and more polarized, offended and offensive, if you can even imagine that. Our leader’s aren’t much better, which almost begs the question - is this a nurture/nature thing? Did the chicken come before the egg?

Regardless, it’s here and isn’t going anywhere fast enough to disappear…
The only thing you can do is develop a little self-discipline and become selective in who you allow on your feed. If it makes you feel like crap, makes that little voice upstairs say you aren’t good enough, has you feeling less than positive or endorses anger towards your fellow human, promotes that looks are all that matters… I mean the list could go on, but essentially if it doesn’t feed you, nourish and build you up, then babe it has to go.
You would (hopefully) break up with a bad friend or partner so why not break up with negative social media influences? Even if what they are sharing is positive, if it doesn’t make YOU feel your best, then it’s not in your best interest to keep it around.

You are after all that which you eat, read, hear and feed yourself with.
In all the ways.
Be selective, be choosy, because you are so damn worth it.