The Social Network

In this age of technology social media has become a daily part of life, it is a very powerful tool that I feel is often times misused and taken for granted. 

On social platforms like Facebook and Twitter, most of us are guilty of broadcasting mountains of meaningless information. Consider if you will that your online presence is an extension of yourself. Are you presenting yourself how you would like to be seen? Are you painting a positive picture of yourself with your interactions? We all have a few of those Facebook "friends" or people we follow on Twitter that are totally, unapologetically obnoxious. The chronic over-sharers, the constant complainers, the Bejeweled Blitz/Candy Crush players the, people that fill your newsfeed with Obama-is-a-muslim-communist-working-with-Darth-Vader-to-take-our-candy-and-pop-our-balloons(sorry Brian and Barrett). I myself have been know to be an abuser occasionally. 
How I propose to avoid being a cyber annoyance is to before you post think about if you would say it in "real" life. There are certain topics that they say one should avoid in polite conversations such as religion, politics or money.

Social media is a lot like a party it is a big group of people together some of which you know better than others, some people talk a lot, others just watch and listen, some tell jokes, some play games and with all parties a few people being terrible can ruin the experience for everyone. If your becoming disillusioned with the whole thing maybe few hides, un-follows and un-friends are in order to make it a party that you would want to be at. 

I think it's important to remember just how amazing these social networking sites really are, they can be an incredible catalyst for good if used properly. At this point in the 21st century we have the means to connect and share our lives regardless of distance instantly just think about that, people used to have to send F***ing letters! If oppressed people's can rally together and stand up for freedom with the help of Twitter, why can't we try and spread a little more positivity now and then!

I invite you all to use this stunning power of connection, not as a mindless addiction but as an instrument of social enrichment. I've thought of a few good things that we could all do:

Reach out to someone that you haven't talked to in more than a year.

Share a random memory that you have with a friend.

Ask a deep question to a lesser know Facebook or Twitter acquaintance.

Come up with something creative on your own, do something different that breaks up the monotony, together we can change the tone and connect in a more meaningful way. The world may have gotten smaller but have we gotten any closer as people? 

P.S. Alyson Michalka