I Hate Social Media

We read all the articles (hopefully) about the pros and cons of social media. Is it making us feel lonely or does it connect us more than ever before? Obviously this is a complex situation. In no way do I believe that it is a black and white issue. I think that it offers amazing opportunities for those of us who have friends and family on different sides of the world and have trouble keeping in touch with. For example, one of my best friends in studying abroad in England this semester, and though I miss her a lot, I'm glad we can text, Skype, and see what each other is up to via pictures on Facebook. But I also believe that social media is making people in my generation anti-social as a whole.

Let me explain. When I was dreaming about college, I heard stories about how my mom met one of her best friends in a psychology class her freshman year at school. The story of their meeting is simple. One day they sat down next to each other and started talking. As these became their normal class seats, they talked more and more and started spending time outside of class which developed into a long lasting relationship far beyond their college years. So as I sat down in my first large lecture class as a freshman, I had high hopes for a similar situation to present itself. But as I sat there observing the class, I realized that all the other freshman were nervous and uncomfortable being in an unfamiliar situation. They would sit down, look around, and then immediately stick their nose in their phones without saying a word to anyone. And that's been the norm for the majority of my classes. You sit with people you already know or make connections very slowly-weeks after being in classes with the same people.

I want to be live in a world where people want to talk to each other, I mean REALLY talk. I think a real conversation exists when there isn't any backspacing or editing of your thoughts. You look someone in the eyes. You actually talk with your voice. My mom comments on how I'm so lucky that I can call someone at any time and how I have so much technology available to me- something she didn't have. But I wish I lived in a world with limited technology so I could actually communicate with people. I guess the grass will always be greener on the other side of the technology pasture.