Modern social media includes a wide variety of outlets and technologies which allow us to connect with the world. Many of these technologies are easily and readily accessible via apps on the smartphones constantly glued to our hands. My personal favorite social media platforms are Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, and while I have Facebook and LinkedIn accounts, I am much more inclined to obsessively check my accounts on the former three apps.
Choosing to interact more with certain platforms does not take away from the influence all platforms have on my relationships. Social media affects how I view and interact with others within and outside my social circles.
Do you ever stalk yourself on @instagram after someone follows you just to see what they see? 😂🙋
— Cullen (@Culligan27) December 3, 2015
My relationships with family and friends are affected by how we do or do not interact on social media. These interactions can have positive impacts by allowing my friends and family to feel included in my life. Or they have the opposite effect. These include anything from hiding certain posts from family members to friends posting photos of me that I’d rather they not post. Even the reciprocity of likes and follows among friends and acquaintances sways opinions.
On the other hand, my perception of individuals I have never met in person is shaped by what I’ve seen of them on social media, which might not be at all indicative of their character or personality.
In Rewire @EthanZ discusses how biases in our social media following make it hard to be inspired by encounters with the unfamiliar #NHsmc
— Marisa Rodriguez (@marisardzz) February 15, 2016
My ability to curate the content I do and do not want to see leads to a cycle which validates my opinions of those I do or do not know.