Social Media and its Effects on Society

Over the past 20 years, the computers in our pockets have become increasingly more prominent in daily lifestyles. Specifically, what we spend our time doing on these computers has had a profound impact on society today; the use of smart phones and social media. Timelines are suddenly perfectly crafted to fit an aesthetic, theme, or simply to display the “good” in an individual’s life. Rarely is a negative toned post seen in today’s society. If it is, it is often sent around because of how unusual it is. That “raw” post that is usually a reality takes more courage to post than one that is perfectly edited with a filter, has the perfect angle, and has the lighting that looks just right. Comparisons are made from timeline to timeline, but the specific timeline of an individual’s life is compromised in the meantime. These comparisons cause individuals, especially teens, to mold to this “ideal” persona that society deems is fad or trendy. This fad or trendy persona changes as time goes on. Trends come and go, but the person remains. Unfortunately, some get so tied up trying to display this persona that they forget to find themselves and ultimately suffer for the time lost in the long run. This may include depression, anxiety, or just an overall dissatisfaction with life. By the time it is too late, people play catch up and try to truly figure out who they want to be and how they want to spend their time