As humans, we love to feel like we are a part of something. We attend concerts with thousands of people, we go to football games, we have big parties and we like to think we have a lot of friends. The sense of belonging is important to most of us whether we like to admit it or not. With the advent of the social media sites online, we have seen a different kind of need to belong, and a need to tell the world our story.
Social media sites have been around for a little while now, and one thing is for sure – people love them and are using them all the time. It is estimated that Facebook alone has some 800,000,000 users. Whether you are a teenager or a grandmother, odds that you use a social media site are pretty good. Many use them to find old high school friends or reconnect with college buddies. Others use them to tell the world – or at least anyone who will listen – everything about their life, their day – minute by minute.
The downside to social media is that when anyone is online they are normally alone. They may be connecting with other people in a community, but it is virtual. Fear among some is that social media makes us less interactive. It makes for lazy personalities and emotions – especially for some who need to get out and experience life. The fear is that many people do “hide” behind the mask of the internet. They can be as revealing as they want to, but at the same time, they are alone and can hide.
Social media is relatively new but has captivated the world. It has the ability to connect people in an instant. Where will it be in 15, 20, or 30 years? Will it create a society that cannot communicate effectively? We can only wait and see.