I think that we really like to throw around the word “addicted” when it comes to social media culture. People often fast from social media—Lent or not—because they see it as a distraction from more important parts of life. However, it would be hard to deny the fact that technology is a crucial part of our world. No one likes to admit that they’re addicted to their phone, and yet most of us probably can’t function unless we have our phones on our bodies at all times. Even when we go to the bathroom.
We have become so attached to our phones that, when people make that brave decision to abstain from phone usage for the long weekend, we all gasp in shock. But I would argue that this is really a deeper problem masquerading as a trendy Buzzfeed think-piece about millennials and their love for Twitter. When used properly, social media has a valuable place in today’s world of communication.
What I’ve come to understand is that we live in a society that has consequences for the people who don’t follow particular feeds and don’t remember to “like and subscribe” to important videos. Referencing vines and tweets has become the norm, and complaining about the relatives we’ve friended on Facebook has become a go-to conversation starter. You probably didn’t even think twice about the word “friended,” even though that’s a word which was born directly from social media culture. Part of the reason our reliance on social media has grown so pronounced is that it’s the core of our everyday language. If you aren’t laughing at the latest screenshot of a popular tweet, then you’re out of the loop.
This dynamic boils down to social pressure. It’s not all fun and memes, because that social pressure tends to enforce the idea that communication is cut off as soon as we power-down our devices.
In many ways, this is true. Personally, I use Facebook to communicate with different groups and friends and family; if it weren’t for Facebook Messenger, these conversations would be significantly harder to coordinate. I am able to stay invested in the lives of my close friends, people I grew up with, and people who live across the country through Snapchat. This, at least to me, is incredible! So, why do we to hate on ourselves for using our phones?
We need to acknowledge the value of social media as a tool for investing in the lives of others. Cell phones are a part of our lives as much as the shoes on our feet, and while many people are afraid of this fact, it may not be such a bad thing. Now, trust me, I know that there is a lot to say about using our phones in moderation. It is possible that we are addicted to the devices, after all. (That’s a STAR opinion piece for another week.) This time, though, I want to say that I believe we shouldn’t be so quick to condemn ourselves. We are in a time of technology that allows us to connect with other people so easily. We should appreciate this opportunity, not rebuke it.