Social media exerts two pressures upon your soul:
- Broadcast every second of your life, and
- Do it with perfection.
The message is pretty simple: be liked.
Only it’s hard on our frail human psychology. In fact, it can be downright depressing.
As a blogger, this infectious self-doubting is unavoidable. Every time I write, I stand to be judged.
In July, I finally listened to the pleadings of my heart and did what some would consider marketing suicide for an aspiring writer.
I disappeared from Facebook and Twitter…without warning.
—
But I kept writing. I kept living. Only this time, entirely for myself.
Our family vacationed far from home. No filters…even with incredible inspiration.
Four weeks without the pressure to be “liked” freed my creativity and resolve to add goodness in the world. And the little people at my feet became more visible, as the Facebook politics and Twitter wars blurred.
Friends, I’m telling you, they only exist if we give them life.
And the friends I hold so dear, the ones I feared would be lost – they reached out in new ways.
Light always wins.
—
In August, I re-entered the social media landscape. This time, however, I refuse to live and die by the whims of “likes”.
I don’t care if encouragement isn’t popular. I am going to offer it anyways.
It’s who I am.
I’m willing to bet, it’s who you were before Facebook, too.
And I think it just might be the only way we’ll survive.
*Follow Lauren on Facebook and Twitter.
—
One Year Ago: Duel Realities
Unlearning 
I love the line about “they only exist if we give them life.” Reminds me of a verse I was pondering a few months ago to fight against the idol of perfection- that social media of course reinforces. “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things and give me life in your ways.” ❤️
LikeLiked by 3 people
Ah, the turning our eyes away – such a challenge with the glitter and Pinterest-proud atmosphere of life! A month away from FB and Twitter reminded me that we must turn away from the dark and grotesque on social media just as we do in real life. In fact, our mental health depends upon it. For those of us raising little ones, the reminder could not come at a more important time in our journey.
LikeLike
As the mother of a daughter now in her early 20s, I have observed first hand how harmful this need to “be liked” on social media has been for her generation. Even as a mature adult, a good day can turn sour because of something spotted (or ignored) on FB, so for teenagers (with raging hormones) it can be devastating. Oh to go back to simpler times but the genie is now out of the bottle it seems. We lost a generation to fast food I feel, but now we are losing a generation to social media.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes, all the acute instances can easily lead to long-term mental health impacts – consequences we are only beginning to understand. My heart breaks for the young people I teach, especially my female students. Even though I took a month-long break in July, the trappings are still there. It makes that book project (and, unfortunately, blogging hiatus) more attractive every day!
And I agree on the fast food front. Such a tragedy that we have unlearned food security as a result of convenience and marketing manipulation.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Your post really struck a chord with me. This past May, I was so tired of the fights I was having with my ten-year-old over his electronics use, I decided it was time for all of us to take a break from our devices for the summer and I left Facebook and Instagram behind. It has been a wonderful break with a lot more time to connect as a family. I’m not inclined to pick it back up as of yet…
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really opens life up – at least that’s how I felt. Thank you for sharing your experience! I also find modeling is the best teaching, especially with technology 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, social media can be really depressing. If you let it, it’ll eat away at your happiness because you start judging your happy with other people’s happy.
LikeLike
fab piece, loved it!
LikeLike