The Challenge
With social media becoming such a large part of our lives I thought it was time to pull back.
Note to Gina: I will not log on to social media, generate a text or a phone call for the remainder of the week. Today is Tuesday, (15 December) only six days until the beginning of the week based on the premise Monday is the beginning of the week.
The Benefits
The first two days of abstinence were difficult. A number of times I had to stop myself from picking up the mobile phone and checking for missed calls or messages. In hindsight, I should have hidden the phone under the bed so it was out of sight rather than leaving it in full view on the kitchen bench!
By day 2, panic set in. What if I’d missed an important call or text message from the children? Surprisingly, when I checked my phone I had only one message (an invitation for pre-Christmas drinks) and no missed calls. Where was everybody? Last minute Christmas shopping?
Day 3 and I noticed something extraordinary – I had more time on my hands than usual. I finished reading the book I’d abandoned mid-way, I started mind plotting my next book and I was eating less, exercising more and drinking less coffee.
The Side Effects
It is widely documented that an unhealthy reliance on social media may lead to depression. But read on…this is scary. There is another side effect with more serious consequences. Let’s face it, we’re all guilty of Internet stalking, but a few social media followers have taken it a step further: they’ve used their online profiles to kill. (See my previous post, Suicide by Text).
In a world dominated by digital communication, posting the wrong status update can be fatal. Check this out. But be warned; these cases may disturb you.
What Now?
Q. We are social beings. Are you with me on this?
A. For most of us, yes that’s true.
Q. Don’t we attempt to communicate with each other in order to share information, opinions and feelings?
A. Of course, that goes without saying.
Q. So reading and understanding people’s emotions are an important way of communicating, right?
A. Spot on.
Q. So, is it not by listening to the tone of a person’s voice and observing the change in facial expressions that we understand and empathise with others?
A. I always thought you could tell a lot by a man’s eyes 🙂
Q. Final question. Pay attention. What do you think these photos are telling you?
A. I’M LISTENING. GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK HERE! THERE IS SOMETHING TERRIBLY WRONG GOING ON!!
Note to Gina: In future I will not text, read texts, take calls or make calls in the presence of friends, acquaintances, neighbours or family members. The above also applies to shopkeepers, professionals and to public servants while waiting in queues.
Hand on heart. From this day forward I will make every attempt to restrict the use of my mobile phone to the privacy of my own home.
(source: babycakesromero.com)
Our mobile devices are killing off social interaction (he writes on his iPad from a cafe).
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What are we to do, Bun? 😓
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Worrying, isn’t it? By the way, I followed the link to that article about social media murders. Remind me never to unfollow anybody for any reason whatsoever.
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I’m with you😁
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Certainly is worrying, Bun!
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Haha. We’ve created a monster! How do we put it back in it’s box!
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It’s too late, I fear. Perhaps we can have the monster we’ve let out of the box struggle to the death with the genie we’ve let out of the bottle.
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Love the idea, Gina, but I really don’t know if I could pull it off! (Not least because my job requires me to Twitter and that migjt be too hard for me to do and not check my own). Plus, didn’t people miss you? And didn’t you miss all the cat videos?!
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Haha. I hope people missed me, Jane. I know I’ve got lots of emails to reply to!
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🤔 🙄 Thanks goodness for emojis 🙂🙃😂😂☺️😀
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Wow. Those murder cases were bizarre. Is this really what our children and our children’s children focus on? That’s sad on so many levels. Unfortunately, social media sells books, so stopping isn’t an option.
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The only reason I went on to SM was because I wanted to promote myself as an author and meet a broader group of writers like me. I don’t post anything personal like photos of my family etc. One has to be so careful about the information you share.
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I do think social media, like a butter knife, is not evil. If you butter your bread, it’s great. If you stab it through someone’s neck – well, not so great. It’s a tool. We are the agents of choice. Yes, there is immense pressure to give in and do it “the way everyone else is.” But it’s nonetheless a choice.
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