Social Media
“Look what I got!” states a caption under a photo with a man in blue scrubs. His slight grin is noticeable under the surgical mask as a sterile gloved hand holds an unrecognizable object. The caption goes on to explain that he had just finished the tedious task of removing an air freshener from a patient’s large intestine. What a triumphant Selfie. This was broadcast on the radio as one of the strangest Selfies posted on social media in 2014.
It’s no secret that social media has taken over most teenagers’ lives. We are living in the ever-changing age of technology. From Facebook to Instagram and all of the Twitter, Snapchat and other medias in-between it’s obvious that teenagers want to be heard and seen. Videos, pictures and quotes are being posted for friends, family and strangers to comment on. Sometimes they are used to broadcast great accomplishments such as the surgeon’s successful extraction of a mysterious air freshener. Other times they are used to quickly spread drastic information about accidents, deaths, or emergency situations. But is social media a good thing?
A common misconception is that social media causes unnecessary tragedies to occur. Someone may post a picture of himself or herself on vacation. The next day their house gets robbed because it was common knowledge that their house was left unattended.
Cyber bullying has become a rising problem within the recent 5 years. Attackers create “hate” pages on Facebook and invite friends to join the group so they can rally against a victim. Hate groups aren’t against the freedom of speech bill of rights, making them totally legal. This can lead to a motive for suicide for the victim.
Social media has created a source for individuals to get in touch with each other. High school classmates, coaches, teachers, long lost relatives, coworkers, or some neighborhood friends that now live half a world away. Social media has opened a wonderful doorway for people to simply look up a name and instantly connect with that person.
Being able to share amazing moments with actual pictures and post about significant events is an awesome thing to be able to do. Not only wedding days, but birthdays, graduations, proms and the family Christmas. Although at times it may seem narcissistic, it is a modern miracle to keep updated on loved one’s lives.
The truth is social media is harmless and a great asset for smart users. Posting too much personal information is an obvious mistake. Explicit pictures and dialogues bashing an authority figure’s reputation may be legal but are degrading to one’s reputation. Everyone simply needs to keep in mind that it is easy to hide behind a keyboard and type out nasty post for the world to read.
My advice: always remember the grandma rule: If a post is too embarrassing to show your grandma, chances are it shouldn’t be posted for anyone else to have to endure either.