Times Of Swaziland: SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTIVE

SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTIVE
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The editor on 08/09/2016 04:12:00


Sir,
At a time when social media has shrunk the world, and one cannot only hold
conversations with friends and family at the press of a button but one can see
them, I find it strange that so many in my country still do not utilise same. In
their fear or resistance to progress I believe they lose out on a lot.
As with anything else one has to limit the amount of time one spends on social
media as it is very easy to become addicted to same. I, for example, permit
myself 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening on WhatsApp and
30 minutes a day on Facebook where I have a motivational page. Life happens
right where I am, so I cannot afford to miss out on an opportunity which may
arise right where I am. Also, I have to work. I do not depend on a pay cheque at
month end.
It is on social media that many of us are enlightened of occurrences throughout
the world long before many who await the newspaper in the morning. In this fast
paced world it is also where we share motivation and receive inspiration. I
recall when a person in South Africa set up a Facebook Page requesting people
not to throw away their bottled water bottles but to refill same with tap water
and drop them off at a specific place. Millions of litres of water bottles were
dropped off and transport companies assisted in delivering the water to areas
where people had not had water for weeks.
It is also on social media where we watch videos of people assisting
communities, twice weekly, by teaching the youth to play one instrument or
another, thus taking them off the streets. We observe boxing clubs opening up
their gyms to underprivileged children whom they feed twice weekly and where
children are taught manners and restraint besides boxing skills. Many think one
has to have a lot of money to do this, but through social media compassionate,
caring people all work together towards making a difference in the lives of
others. These sorts of gestures replenish our belief in mankind.
Those of us who watch such videos still believe in ‘miracles’ for we see
them. Justin Bieber’s mother posted him singing on uTube and that is how he
reached the level he is at today. When one is not upbeat there is always
something funny to read about which then uplifts one for the day and puts a
smile on one’s face every time one thinks about the joke or amusing update.
One has to become vigilant when on social networks because opportunists exist
everywhere. One cannot be totally trusting of people one has not physically met
or one does not know. I have been fortunate enough to re-connect with people I
schooled with. I have also met numerous people whom I have befriended and now
treat as family for the past six years. Certain people I know have even met
their present spouses on social media.
However, one has to be careful not to ‘believe’ everything people post on
social media. Many tend to paint their lives as perfect and one should not ever
compare their own lives to others. We have to remember to remain real. It is
also easy to become addicted to getting ‘Likes’ for pictures one posts and
one can very easily get depressed if they do not get as many ‘Likes’ as
another. This is why I say it is important for one to validate themselves and
not to depend on validation outside of themselves.
It is also important not to divulge too much about one for that will give others
a platform to talk about one’s personal life. When I receive communication
from any person, I Google them. If they appear I can then decide what sort of
person they are by their ‘updates’. If a person constantly hounds one,
demands immediate attention and even becomes aggressive when one does not
respond, then to me that is a sign of an insecure desperate person. Life is all
about choices and possibilities.
(Comments: My FB page; inaldathegreat@gmail.com )
Inalda Jorge-Antonio