If Social Media Were People (Part 1)
Would you spend all your time with them?
This is part of a feature box that was going to be in our upcoming book “The Metaweb: The Next Level of the Web”, but we are running out of words. This piece is a reflection opportunity for people who spend more time than they would like on social media. The premise is, if the Internet platforms were people, would you want to spend most of your time with them? For us, the answer is no.
Ever since you caught Facebook rifling through the garbage bins on your street, you keep a close eye on him. He’s older than you and must be up to something. Such an invasion of privacy. It is not cool for him to know so much about you. He likes to show you hundreds of pictures of his kids. Last month Facebook got into an argument with the neighbor about politics and free speech, so you definitely avoid tense topics. But at least he cares enough to ask you what you’re doing every day.
Your friend, Twitter, loves to talk. She simply cannot keep her thoughts and emotions in. Twitter has zero filter and is constantly updating you about her life. She’s prone to paranoia and depression and you tell her voicing every fear and anxiety may not be helping her. Twitter has the attention span of a baby, so long conversations are out of the question. She does not tolerate liars. If she catches you lying, she will work hard to keep you from spreading lies! And of course, she’s obsessed with kitten pictures, but who isn’t?
Instagram is your happy friend. She is stable, uplifting, and friendly, but highly superficial. Whenever you go to the gym, she’s there! She just has to take pictures and videos during her workout. Instagram spends all of her disposable income on ridiculous trendy purchases, like shoes, clothes, and over-the-top vacations. You can’t afford to go because you live here on planet Earth where bills have to be paid. Her life looks perfect from the outside, but you know the truth.