In today’s world of social media, getting in touch with a loved one from across the country (or across the world) is easy and hassle-free. You can keep in touch as well as keep up with family and friends within the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Sure, the instant messaging is convenient and the wall-to-wall posts are clever, but where do we draw the line? When we login to Facebook, do we logout of reality? Where has face-to-face socialization gone, and will it ever return? Facebook has begun to rule the world, in more ways than one.
Being able to send invites, messages and conversation on a friend’s virtual wall is nice, but face-to-face contact is always better. It may not be as easy or as convenient, but hanging out with friends and family is better for your mental health. Your mind, heart and soul needs stimulation! Sharing a laugh or a latte with the girls may be the remedy you need to cure a bad day or brighten your outlook on life. My suggestion: log off the chat and log in some girl time.
Facebook is becoming increasingly personal, and even though privacy settings can keep unwanted users off of your profile, you might need to start worrying about your ‘friends’ list. Facebook has become a make-or-break in relationships, and I know from experience that girls and guys will use the internet to start trouble or go looking for it (with your boyfriend)! You can never truly be positive about who your significant partner is chatting with or the intentions of certain flirty wall posts. Facebook is a danger zone for relationships, and you spying on your significant other isn’t healthy either. No one wants to go through weeks of wall posts and picture comments when life is passing right on by! Catty feuds and fights through statuses pop up on my newsfeed quite frequently; it is almost hysterical that two people are so cowardly to throw punches through the inter web! Get real, in real life people!
Facebook doesn’t have to consume you, and if it already did, there is an escape! Limit yourself to checking your Facebook once a day (or maybe once every two days), and don’t let yourself be leered into logging on when you’re bored. Stay productive and find a leisurely activity to consume your time. Even if you can’t resist temptation, it may be a good idea to steer clear of confrontation while signed on. Don’t comment on or ‘like’ any controversial statuses or pictures, and always use your best judgment when accepting friends or leaving wall posts. Privacy isn’t very private when it comes to social media, and you don’t want your dirty laundry let out to dry on the internet. The most important thing you should be ‘logging on’ to is your life. Don’t let it pass you by while you sit in front of a computer screen; experience it now (and worry about how many friend requests you have later)!
By: Cassie Tucker / Photo By: Edwin Flores
