Social media has allowed people to gain popularity among peers, be it ones in their hometown or ones in another country. The things we do for hundreds of likes could be classified as “insane” or “attention-seeking”. We’ve seen celebrities turn to Twitter to feud with one another not because they are deeply passionate over an issue, but to keep themselves in the limelight.
Our relationships have permanently changed because of social media, be it romantic relationships, familial relationships, or friendships.
me: *is scrolling through twitter on my phone*
mom: u know theyve done studies on how social media affects our relationships
me: *scrolls*— supreme witch pussy (@maxcaulfielld) February 26, 2015
We’re glued to our phones. I admit that I am always sending out posts whether it be on my personal accounts or my professional ones. This has affected the way I interact with others in real life. Like many other people, I spend most of my time scrolling Twitter or Instagram while having a conversation with someone sitting right across from me. Do I care about the conversation I’m having even though it appears that I don’t? Yes. Would I be more engaged if I wasn’t distracted? Probably.
Our brains are split between being on the web and being present in real life. We sit in classrooms listening to our professors while commenting on a friends latest picture. The way we consume information is much different than it was just a decade ago.
In 'Rewire' by @EthanZ, he discusses the way social media has changed how we collect knowledge. Tweets have become credible sources. #NHsmc
— Jesse R. Noll (@jrussellnoll) February 1, 2016
Our relationships haven’t been damaged because of social media, rather we have just adapted to becoming individuals whose relationships exist both in real life and in the digital space.