Social media: Me, my friends and the Obamas

Posted on by Sarah Marie Winther Petersen

When I wake up in the morning, the first light striking my face isn’t the soft white light from the sky, but the bright blue HEV-light from my phone, which is resting a few inches from my pillow as a drowsy lover, always within reach. A rush of dopamine washes over me as I, still half asleep, read the notifications on the screen; new likes, followers, snaps and messages.

A decade ago I typed my name and email address on Facebook.com for the first time. Since then I’ve worked my way through a wide variety of social media platforms and now find myself in a serious, committed relationship with 7-8 apps that helps me to stay connected with the rest of the world through words, images and videos.

While I’m convinced that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat have changed me, I’m not sure if it’s for the better or worse. I definitely find it harder to concentrate, and even the most captivating book can’t hold my attention if there’s a buzz in my pocket. I always try to be present in the moment, but more often than not I’m struggling with the urge to grab my phone and let everyone know what I’m up to – whether I’m at a Prodigy concert or on top of Hong Kong’s highest observation post. Damn you, global Wi-Fi.

That being said, growing up with social media undoubtedly has had its advantages. It’s oddly comforting to be able to access celebrities’ and politicians’ apparently immediate and unedited thoughts, and I guess it reminds me that we’re all human beings with the same amount of hours in a day – including former president Barack Obama.

And one of my favorite writers, the young Californian Mira Gonzalez, who provides my Twitter feed with little pearls of wisdom on a daily basis.

 

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