I’m not going to argue on our origin as humans, but I am certain we don’t descend from monkeys (unlike what Charles Darwin believed) but most of humans tend to act so behind a computer and we went on to name these people ‘’trolls’’. I didn’t learn how to handle social media because when I was in 5th grade and started PC/IT basics, social media was an infant, seriously – even Google was a baby back then or a toddler and my teachers didn’t know anything like that yet. It was unknown. Parents nowadays do have a tough job, with criminals preying on little girls, as young as 10 or 11 online.
Truth is, we aren’t some important advertising agency(yet) to make an impact (for now), or part of the govt, or working in the govt so what is there for us to do? Curating our social media as Bailey Parnell has suggested in her Ted Talks presentation and in there she said most things I was thinking about the past few years as I have witnessed many things until now, age 30. Her words are even more important as I am a student on BA HONS Marketing with advertising and surrounded by mostly 18-20 year-olds who needed to hear that without having known that they do.
I have always curated my social media from the beginning because I knew the kind of content I didn’t want to have: burned children, sick children, spammy ‘’if you share this Facebook pays a dollar’’ type of posts, people that only ask for help but never offer to help, friends that no longer are in touch with me because it is no longer a priority and so on. To be honest, my social media is pretty clean and it’s the same principle I applied to the fansite emma-watson.net that I am managing the social media for and it went pretty well because The Female Lead chose the twitter profile as a ‘’positive page’’ for youngsters and asked me to participate in their #DisruptYourFeed mental health campaign which was a huge surprise and honor for me.
So, on which side of the social media are you? It does matter. Particularly for the generations that come after mine. We are vulnerable, there are LGBTQI youth who committed suicide after classmates or friends posted photos of them in an embarrassing position to them and couldn’t bare it so Trevor Project’s work is ever so important. But just as important to remind yourselves that you can be anything, but choose to #BeKind. It truly can change someone’s life. I, for one, am glad I don’t have to explain why I am heterosexual so why should anyone who isn’t?
It pays to be on the wrong side of the social media because I always stood for those people who were mocked or laughed at, and replied to countless rude or insensitive comments and had great pleasure in reporting comments and photos online. You should too. Stand up for someone even if it’s online. And you never know when your session is recorded on websites (hotjar) these days either. Big brother’s watching. So funny that what is happening in the world is very much like in this book The Circle by Dave Eggers. I recommend it (Emma Watson played Mae Holland, the main character in the film adaptation alongside Tom Hanks).
My first question to you is, do you pay attention to what’s flowing onto your social feeds? IF no, why not? IF yes, why and my second is, who exactly are you following?
Thank you for reading, see you next time!
ELENA BLOGS, YOU READ 
This was an interesting read and definitely highlights the dark side of social media. I am conscious of what I post on social media in case I receive negative comments. From what I understood about the self perception theory, the way others see us can have an effect on our self image. I also feel that its easy to compare yourselves to others on social media but we need to be aware that people only post the highlights of their life and not the negatives just like what Bailey Parnell said in her Ted Talk.
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See, I don’t care what people think or say, and I have received negative comments but never took them personally, it’s just people hiding behind a computer. The way people see us can indeed have a positive impact, like Lynsey giving a compliment on something I’ve done well increased my confidence, and to some it can have a negative impact if they are susceptible. You are right about that, people will never post lows in their lives only the highs, unless you are a mental health influencer or a tv/film personality.
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