Today we have a piece from a familiar guest writer to The Great Change Blog, Taylor Isom. She has written a fabulous piece that poses pertinent questions to our generation as we are all so tightly engaged in social media on various platforms. Her piece is below, please enjoy, share with friends and family, and leave any comments you all have at the end of the article. Thank you!
3AM Thoughts by Taylor Isom
Do we post for “likes” or do we post to be heard? Research has shown that millennials specifically thrive off of likes. But if we’re getting likes are we not being heard? Do we not click the “like” button to express a sense of support for the individual who posted? Is that not what it means? Or, do we simply click the “like” button to be nice or considerate.
Should we not remain conscience of what we post on the internet, seeing how it could very well affect the views that others have on our character if the post is interpreted incorrectly? Is this not the very reason we are told from a young age to be careful about what we post on the internet? Remember, I am speaking in consideration of millennials. We aren’t all like this, but we cannot deny that receiving “likes” feels good, because it does. The feeling I am referring to comes from a happy chemical that is released in our brains called Dopamine. It makes you feel accepted, cool, or popular in this given scenario. You begin to compare your number of “reactions” to the next person. And yet, the same people who express their support, can’t even spare an easy “hello” when you run into each other at Chili’s. By hiding behind smart gadgets, we lose the ability to socialize.
What about privacy on the internet? Just because you create restrictions to the general public, do you think your posts cannot be found? It can be found, and it will be kept. Once something is out there, that is a wrap, it is out there, forever. Have you thought about higher power? The government, does your password protect apply to them? If they want to see something, they could have direct access. The only way to guarantee that nobody sees what you post, is to NOT POST.
Sure, as millennials we are addicted to acceptance. It causes us to come up with new and inventive ways to express ourselves online so that people will see it, like it, and then we find the next best thing. Nothing is ever enough. So, we post without thinking. I challenge you to ask yourself, are you posting for “likes” or are you posting to be legitimately heard? Chances are, you are posting for “likes”. Dopamine is a crazy chemical, certainly my favorite. It is the same chemical released when you smoke a cigarette, drink alcohol, or even when you get puppy kisses, aww. It is also released when we receive "likes", or a response to a text message. This is what keeps us coming back for more. It is an addiction.
If you want likes, post a cute selfie with a puppy, I did. If you want to be heard, post with you brain, not your emotions. Quit mindlessly saying and doing things on the internet to get a “reaction” or a “like”. What you post can jeopardize everything you have or are about to work for. Instead, create a conversation with people, educate each other. Do not be mindless. CARE!
Thank you for reading!