11.07.2024
A hypnotic piece of screen, an integral part of our everyday life, has become an unsolved dilemma. We are aware that for everyone, social media is a “time stealer’’, often on purpose. It fuels online work, influencer culture, profits, fame, and various other rewards that flow effortlessly to those deemed fortunate in today's digital age. What about those who want to maintain privacy, and who do not want to appear in front of an audience, not because of insecurity but because they don't want to be public? What about those who don't create content that's catchy and exciting enough to get attention, which leads to no motion?
To be honest, I'm not against it at all. I am convinced that choosing a lifestyle and developing it is a skill and not luck, despite common perceptions. Being honest in your work is a skill and takes courage, unless of course you deviate from the path of adding one or more zeros to the end of the numbers.
As the influencer culture expands, other young people are demoralized by the fact that they themselves have to be excessively tired and again will not have a life curated in detail. They overlook the fact that these curated images often rely on paid or free apps, leading ambitious youth striving for academic excellence and societal contribution to fall into social media's allure.
To address this issue coherently, we must identify its cause, symptoms, and consequences. The cause was mentioned above: underestimating yourself from social media. The symptoms are different, but without serious concerns. Algorithms have enough room to welcome even a new member. Although a healthy attitude to social media can have positive effects, citing expressiveness, discussion and easier social expression, the symptoms of a young person who really feels frustrated by an overgrown mess are evident, often even indicated by silent signs. The correlation of studying and being in front of the phone is negative, as their favorite influencers are sharing inappropriate and worthless messages on social networks. Another aspect is bullying, and this phenomenon in this case comes mainly from those who have been infected by the disease of being trendy and avant-garde. If you do not adapt to the perfect norms of the new standards, you cannot be part of a prestigious group in your everyday environment; if you don't have exactly one type of firm or liking for one type of stream, you shouldn't bother approaching your peers.
I reiterate that not all influencers or social media users are the same. A balanced approach in social networks can offer a safer environment than a physical environment where comfort is elusive. Many public figures, who are already a kind of reference on a group of people and use it in a dignified way, use their platforms responsibly showing authentic life moments beyond carefully curated scenes.
From a dilemma, we move to a paradox. Social media, as the name suggests, refers to the social connections that people create. But instead, social media is paradoxically forstering distance and desocialization. The question we can all ask is “Would today’s youth prefer meeting friends in person or through a computer game?” One can only guess the answer…
To relate it to what mentioned above, this paradox often occurs also due to emigration. The need to fulfill desires, an attractive social image, the fulfillment of self-prophecies, that nowadays seem to have a lot to do with materialism in romantic relationships, self-centeredness through appearance and many other needs are considered essential by young people. Their completion is more quickly solved by leaving the place of birth, from the family and starting a new life, with anxious thoughts about the future, with big hopes and dreams and with the self-understanding that emigration was not the right solution.
Social media creates dilemmas, paradoxes, problems, concerns, as well as it creates opportunities, dreams and modesty, but above all creates a new knowledge about oneself and the world. Social comparison teaches us more about ourselves and our behavior, so staying healthy on social media, filtering the information we receive and not losing ourselves are the goals, the rest is a mystery.
Admir Dahati is born in Shkodra. He is a writer, author of a poetry book, psychology student, young activist, board member at Youth Center ‘Atelie’, Students Council member. Admir has also written numerous articles published in online magazines.