Generation Y – Social Media Challenge Conclusion

Written By: Senthamil Stefi

For those of you who read my last piece, you would know that I tested out the theory of Generation Y’s dependence on social media. I had challenged myself to four months off social media but only lasted for one. I learned a lot during that month. But I also learned a lot coming back to social media after that month.

During that one month I realized the amount of pressure and role social media had on an individual’s life. It’s a constant attachment. An extension of one’s self. It’s an extension that follows you wherever you go, even to bed as you sleep next to your smart phone. It’s a constant doorway into a social atmosphere not really giving you room to be alone and not be judged. Being off social media, I felt a huge surge of being “free”. It felt like it was just me and the few best friends I had as contacts on my phone. It felt like I was free of any sort of judgment and that I could make any decisions or discoveries I wanted. It felt nice to not be connected to the social world. But that was short lived.

I soon realized that not having social media felt like I was keeping a part of myself inside. It wasn’t necessarily a hold onto the external world in a negative way. It was a medium that I used to express myself that was taken away. I guess I do have a dependence on social media but not for validation but a way to convey thoughts and ideas that come across my mind at that moment. Having social media in our generation is not something that should be frowned upon but should be applauded. It’s not only a way to keep up to date with your friends but it’s a way to release your emotions at your own will…whether it be tweeting about life on Twitter, or making a vlog on YouTube, or posting a picture of your favourite dish on FoodShootr. Like researchers at Harvard stated, talking about one’s self gives us a sense of satisfaction that having a nice slice of delicious cake gives us.

I do believe that we may need time away from social media at times so that we aren’t always posting about our lives and can actually have time alone. But having the technology to do so is something truly amazing. I really believe it’s a therapist in disguise… a medium that you can talk to even if it’s not acknowledged by friends or relatives. Just posting something is an internal satisfaction in itself as we express ourselves.  Social media is a dependence… but I would say it is healthy within its limits.

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