When it comes to technology, there
are certain success and caveats to it. Some individuals thrive from it; others
flounder. For myself, I’ve found myself at an impasse where I can never
precisely say if technology is a boon or a detriment. I can say however, it has
definitely changed my life in many capacities.
Growing
up, I had a network of friends. We used to keep in touch through calling each
other on our landline phones; small talk at school; or even visiting each
other’s homes at the drop of a hat. In time, I lost touch with some of my
friends from grammar and middle school, leading me into a smaller if more
inward group in high school. Without getting into too much detail, I didn’t put
much stock on this crowd as I did my previous circle. Mind you, this preceded
the advent of social media, so it was still an analog means of keeping in
touch. Upon graduating from high school and moving towards college, all of
these dynamics changed due to the prevalence of three key platforms: Snapchat,
Facebook, and the rise of smart phones.
College
was the wild west of social media. I added people who ranged from acquaintances
to close friends. You could post statuses regarding how frustrated you were,
garnering instant attention from your peers. Snapchat allowed you to send brief
glimpses of your day-to-day activities with the “lost” photos preventing
possible embarrassment and incrimination. Finally, everyone and their mother had
either an Android or an iPhone by 2011. Our definition of socializing was
forever changed.
For
myself, the rise of these allowed me to keep in better touch with my peers.
Friends who lived away at school were in contact within seconds at my fingertips.
Never had I to worry about losing touch with peers, or so I thought.
The
downside to social media and how it ultimately changed my relationships is the
perceived notion of inclusivity. By sharing your activities, everyone is privy
to what your up to. In spite of that, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re
included in that person’s plans. I’ve had occurrences where friends would fib about
being busy, yet in their Snapchat story, they are all hanging with one another.
Through Facebook, consistently tagging the same group of people on a status
showcases a perceived notion of who their close friends are. It’s these
indiscretions that create for me a fear of missing out (or FOMO).
I’ve
come to learn that social media is not an extension of my peer group. It is a
means to an end for networking and periodically interacting with your friends.
I primarily use Facebook to express my opinions or to keep in touch with
workplace peers (within the film industry, it’s best to have a gang). Snapchat
is probably the platform I use most frequently with all peers, regardless of
how close or not I am. It’s not as personable and the brevity of the content
prevents things from being incriminating or embarrassing.
Personally,
sincere interpersonal relationships have floundered with social media. However
the ease of communication has improved, so it’s fair to say that it is a mixed
bag.
