Antisocial media
Back when we were growing up, we didn’t have any social media platforms & we didn’t have an identity online. There was no such thing as an email, or being online. My family didn’t even have a computer; only a typewriter.
As a kid in Chicago in the 80s, I would say was definitely a highlight for me because I got to make so many friends (in person) & I didn’t have any care in the world, since I was only a kid.
The kids on the block and I would play all sorts of games, such as hopscotch, ding-dong-ditch, tag, roller skating on the sidewalk, bike riding on the sidewalk, racing one another on the sidewalk, throwing water balloons at one another during summer months, turning on the fire hydrant & splashing one another during the summer months, playing double Dutch with the girls, playing baseball with the boys, etc. The list goes on & on.
Those who don’t know what the double Dutch is:
We were all very social kids; we were all very friendly with one another, we were all innocent and happy. If time can just turn back for a day to being a kid again, that would be something else. I wish I had that superpower, to just reverse time for a day, to remind myself what the world was like, without any computers or without any social media.
I have my memories on what my childhood was like, and I’d rather live in the present moment, although it’s nice to reminisce on what the past was like in Chicago.
Speaking of social media, TikTok was down yesterday, and I was reading posts online on X, and behold, people were having actual meltdowns because TikTok was down.
Sure, I get it. TikTok can be a source of income for a lot of people. Thankfully, the TikTokers (I’ll call them TikTok addicts), had their platform restored today.
Before TikTok, there was myspace, and Friendster. Now, there’s X, Facebook, Instagram, and other various platforms.
I admit, social media is great to connect, but honestly I would much rather connect in person.
I think while TikTok was down for a few hours, I think that THAT was a tease, to try to test people to live without TikTok.
I would jokingly say ‘TikTok is totally toxic’
(I.E. If you say ‘tiktok is totally toxic’ very fast 10 times, it sounds like a tongue twister).
Sure, all of the social media platforms is a good way to connect, network, promote your work, and make some money and all, but there’s a level of toxicity to these platforms.
Sometimes I envision all of the social media platforms disappearing, and the society as a whole would have no choice but to live in the real world once and for all, rather than relying on a world on social media.
People are so self-absorbed on social media; they cannot live without it. These people live a life on social media, to the point where they forgot to live a life in real time, and I think that’s sad for this society as a whole.
Back to the title ‘antisocial media’, while sitting on the subway, or walking the streets of New York City, all I observe are people looking down at their phones, on their social media platforms, doing what they’re doing and not socializing with one another in person, which is so sad.
Social media (just from my observation) has made people become more antisocial in real life.
This would be a great sociological experiment: All of the social media platforms abruptly shuts down for an entire day, and see what all the people in this society would do. What would really happen?
I think they would be forced to socialize in person, they would be forced to put down their phones, they would be forced to live in the real world (rather than the online one).
My opinion: Since there’s a level of addiction, a level of narcissism, and toxic traits on social media, I think it would be a good idea to test the waters and shut down all the platforms for a day. Or two. Or longer.
For the addicts who simply cannot put their phones down, and cannot live without social media: perhaps an intervention is a good idea.
My question: Would people lose their minds? Would people pick fights? Or would people wake up and realize, ‘Hey, I can live without social media?’ Then, I think of this scene in ‘Do The Right Thing’ :
Myself: Sure, I promote my work on social media. Sure, I make connections on social media. Sure, I’ve made some friends on social media.
Honestly, I would much rather live in the real world and make real connections with real people, rather than living online.
What I’m trying to say: Test yourself. I will be doing the same. See how long you can live without social media. Or, turn your phone off the entire day, or longer.
I found this video to be helpful: