Social media can be a double-edged sword. They have advantages and disadvantages and the key to a healthy social media life is empathy, self-control, and moderation.
iamSherise
This week we have seen some of the frightful consequences of the misuse of social media. We saw how a tweet can destroy a life. Reference was made to “5 problems with social media”, we saw the results of disconnecting from the internet for a whole year, and finally, we laughed a bit and reflected on the trend of using #hashtagsforeverything in the video #Hashtag. Without a doubt, social networks have transformed our lives and society.
I think Paul Miller would say that it is not social media’s fault, but of how we use them and what our intentions are. When he disconnected, he thought his problems would end; he would modify his habits and be a productive member of society. However, this was not the result he obtained. He continued procrastinating, wasting his time and alienating himself even more from his friends and family. His conclusion: social media is not the problem. What happens in social media is only a reflection of who we are individually and collectively.
Also this week, in another class, we were reading about empathy. The concept of empathy is a bit problematic to define. It takes a little imagination and willingness to be empathetic and “put yourself in someone else’s shoes” or better yet, “become the other” to understand him/her. Although we read about empathy under the “Design Thinking” framework, I believe that for our holistic development it must also relate to our overall psyche and lifestyle.
Empathy leads us to make decisions with others in mind. Many of the problems that social media have generated are due to self-centeredness and lack of empathy.
How do you solve some of the problems generated by social media with empathy?
Problem One: Shaming, defamation, cyberbullying.
Before insulting and acting cruelly against someone with whom we disagree or who has offended us, one must act with caution. What consequences can a violent reaction bring to me and the other person? It is better to respond than to react. Reacting is an impulsive act; Responding requires thinking before acting.
Problem Two: Wasting time and being unproductive.
Instead of numbing the brain scrolling down forever through Facebook or Instagram, you can take advantage of time with others. Have a conversation with your partner, a friend or your mom. Take advantage of leisure time to be productive: bake a cake for your family, play with your children, volunteer at an NGO. Do something that helps others.
Problem Three: Fear of Missing Out (FOMO).
Be happy for the success of others. Envy produces nothing positive; it hurts you and your relationship with others. Rejoice because others are having great experiences and sharing them with you.
Problem Four: Privacy issues.
You don’t need to share every idea, thought, emotion in the cyberspace. As the saying goes: We are masters of our thoughts and slave to our words. There is no need to oversharing, especially when you can affect or offend others for your opinions.
In conclusion, I think the biggest lessons are first, to be empathic with others when it comes to social networks and other public forums and, second, to think before posting. Life is too short to not live in harmony with oneself and those around us, even in the cyberspace.