A genuine blog is more than sharing formal articles, it’s an uncomfortable gaze into the life of its author. Personal posts are usually the easiest to write as the words flow but the hardest to publish. The words below formed in my mind whilst travelling home late last week. It describes the struggle of balancing social media with more “fulsome” activities such as reading in-depth articles, books or digesting podcasts.
Sometimes it’s easy to be caught in the trap of updating social media for no purpose at all, always waiting for that next update. Balancing this personal relationship with social media whilst following online at a senior career level… well, it requires a degree of self-discipline. Some online professionals choose to almost completely disconnect themselves from social media in their personal time; I don’t, I can’t understand how you can or would want to.
Online has formed part of my identity, a real and virtual life. What you see is what you get. You may be able to relate to the words below, or not. In truth? I don’t mind, it provides a snapshot of the journey I find myself on.
Don’t lose yourself in social media, balance it with life.
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Stop what you’re doing. Just think.
Endlessly scrolling down your Facebook feed to find that little explosion of ‘social’ endorphin is a drug that will get you nowhere.
Do you even remember life before Facebook and social media? Really, how long has it been now? Over 10 years, thousands of status updates and online interactions later.
Friends have come and gone. Life has fundamentally changed socially and politically. Passions lurk as embers waiting for ignition but are threatened to be extinguished by the power of that ever-scrolling news feed. Benighted conundrum, the mind has a tantrum, social media continues to be updated, life flashes before your eyes – it’s come and gone.
Meanwhile the drum continues to beat, online has become a U.S. monopoly and a commercial feat. Where is this going? From the humble beginnings of Miniclip to building grassroots online communities. We used to build our villages but now they have become faceless cities. Pawns locked into a game of cat and mouse; our personal lives fuel transatlantic riches and the cat purrs.
This used to be the game, the escape and it’s now the king. What do you think the balance looks like? Face in the looking glass and life is beginning to look a lot older. Millions of keystrokes later, trading information for social kicks. How is this world set to grow? Will it swallow all or will a balance be found?
Am I alone? Is this addiction? Does any of this matter?
Before you pick up your smartphone, think. What has changed?
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