Social media has evolved since it first came about in the late ’80s. Internet chat rooms were the first form of social media, allowing users to talk to people who they weren’t in direct contact with on a daily basis.
Today, social media is being used to stay connected with friends and family, stay informed about current events and meet potential friends who live thousands of miles away.
Social media has expanded into networks that allow you to share ideas while meeting like-minded thinkers. With all the perks of social media, it’s unfair that millennials get looked down on sometimes for how much time they spend on it.
As a millennial, I can barely remember a time when I wasn’t clutching onto the latest piece of technology everywhere I went. We grew up accustomed to things like the internet and wireless devices. Is it surprising that they have become such integral parts of our everyday lives?
Social media has a lot of bad, but the good outweighs that by far.
You might come across some intense political arguments on Twitter or some family arguments on Facebook that should’ve stayed private, but as a whole social media is an innovative invention that has helped many expand their minds beyond their physical surroundings.
I can only speak for myself, but a lot of what I learned about different cultures that exist within America has come from social media. Social media has allowed me to interact with people who belong to these communities, read their stories and relate to them in many ways, though we may also be different in many ways.
Another reason social media has become so prevalent in our everyday lives is that we want to be completely transparent about the lives we lead. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter let you check in wherever you are. Even Snapchat allows people to broadcast where they are with the use of geofilters.
And in this way, social media becomes fun.
We have a constant fear of feeling left out. If we’re taking part in something cool, we document it so other people will think we’re cool. We want to look fun.
We post photos of ourselves doing fun things with our friends, what foods we’re eating and our latest purchases.
Social media has also been a way for many people to stay informed about the 2016 election season. Social media played an important role in the way candidates were portrayed to the public and played a key a role in the selection of America’s president.
Another benefit of social media is connection amid disaster. Loved ones were able to receive live updates about the safety of their friends during tragedies like the Paris shootings, the Pulse nightclub shooting and — even more close to home — the Louisiana floods.
So if all these things contribute to improving our lives, why should we be scolded for using social media so much? Because sometimes we give it too much power over our lives.
We give in to the internet trolls and let our online presence define who we are as people. Social media is an amazing creation that makes life easier, but we should remember not to get lost in the deep trenches of online hostility toward ourselves or others.
Take advantage of all the benefits, but keep in mind your social media profile never disappears, so be mindful of what you’re posting.
Social media is what you make it, and it looks like it’s here to stay.
Brianna Rhymes is a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore from New Iberia, Louisiana.