Being Friends on Social Media

I always seem to be behind the times; in hair styles, clothing, trends, etc. This is especially true when it comes to technology and social media. I never had a "Myspace" page. I started my first blog in 2009 which was the down side of a bell curve of people reading and writing blogs. I didn't join Facebook for another year or 2 after that and I only joined then because we had moved out of state and every one kept telling me that it's the best way to stay in contact with friends and see what is going on in people's lives. Only recently did I join Instagram. Still not on Twitter.

Looking back, I can see how all these things evolved. When email came out, that was how everyone communicated. You sent an email to catch up with friends because you weren't sure you could talk on the phone.  Sometimes you sent mass emails to make sure people were updated on your life or to collect information you needed. Then came blogs and Myspace. Places were you could update information about your life so that only those who were interested could come read about you. Then Facebook and others as a way to share certain particulars or reconnect with people you may have lost connection with over the years. Media, marketing, celebrities, etc then grabbed a hold of these means of communication so now our feeds are so full of these groups, most of our time is spent looking and tracking them. 

In theory, social media platforms can keep you informed of what is going on around you and keep you updated on others lives. Sometimes its only because of Facebook that I know when friends or family are having or have had kids, moved, changed jobs, etc. However, I feel social media can make us feel alienated from the people we claim we are connecting with.

I often ask myself, "Why didn't so-so like what I posted? Do they really not like it? Did they not see it?" or "Why did so-so like the post? They've never been interested in that before. Do they actually like what I posted or is it just because they want to show support for me?" These are just a few of the questions I sometimes ask when I am too focused on what people's opinions of me are. Sometimes I start doubting myself or my relationship with someone because I see how they interact with others and compare it with how they interact with me.

I guess the point I am trying to get at is...social media helps me stay a little more up to date with friends, family, acquaintances and people from my past but I don't feel like it helps strength or even prompt actual friendship.

"The internet; where everyone has a opinion but no one is listening" - since I don't know if anyone else said this, I'll attribute it to my husband.