Social Media and Changing Lifestyle

Every time we enter into Garden of Dreams, before enjoying the garden, we first prefer to check in our facebook status. If someone has done bungee, the world should know that; or by this date we all know who have done paragliding in Pokhara, don't we?

Or, the bunch of our facebook circles who went to Mustang this season. After waiting for thirty minutes in a restaurant, pizza comes to our table, instead of eating it quick, we decide to dedicate five more minutes for snapshot to post in instagram. At the same time, we also want to show the world that we are at some restaurants. Every minor things that we, we want to update it with our tweets in twitter. Even, if there is no wifi, or no data, twitter has contributed wonderfully to express in free.

Our lifestyle is certainly changing, and social media is playing important part in changing our lifestyle.  Social media is initiating materialism, which is linked with viewing others in competitive, manipulative and selfish ways. We want to show, prove and indicate others that our life is better, filled up with fun and is more interesting than others. We get updates about happenings from social media more than other means of communication. We wake up, and before rubbing our eyes, check notification on our cell phone. Every time we get free time, out of class, or work we check with the updates in notification. We make sure if there are anything pending on social platform before we take a sleep. We can spend hours in these social platforms. Our life style is certainly changing.

The grass can be greener at the other side, but the impression of grass is seen only what is seen from above. Maybe this is what the world is starting to feel right now. Are we even flying abroad simply to show the world that we went abroad? Enjoyed beaches, and huge buildings. Because, anyone who goes there has to post in pictures in relation to that.

Our privacy is public ever since we are on social platform. We have started believing on virtual connections. One who involves too much time on these platforms is also the victim of isolation. Unknowingly, they have already started skipping their family time for these social Medias. It is not necessary whether you post in your picture of marriage or not, there will be someone who will take your photo and post it in facebook, giving you wishes. Not up to there, today, facebook live has made it possible to show the world what you are doing right now; instagram stories are bringing reality upon your activities at the same time as well.

Our political vision is also being shaped by social media. We believe in social media so much that if someone shares something, we quickly believe in it. We don’t cross check to identify if the source is authentic or not. So if someone posts any rumors, we fail to identify if the source is authentic or not, and share it with others. After all, it is always a question - whom to trust?

It is necessary for us to upgrade ourselves with technological advancement. Upcoming generation will certainly be shocked when they hear, telephone and postage were the only means of communication that we used for communicating.  However, we need to identify our lifestyle. This is certainly not a platform to compete. Are we not trying to swallow the bone without realizing the size of neck?

Social media is a great revolution, and a great platform for today’s youth. Opportunities, updates and information are basically circulated through social media these days. Not signing up into these platforms can keep you step behind in real world. But let us make best use of it. Let us use facebook, twitter, instagram. Let these platform not use us.

Social Medias have been wonderfully contributing in providing better aspects as well. The news circulation has been moving at such a pace, we get to know the happenings of different events staying at our table itself, communication has turned out to be easy and cheap; but at the same time, they can't have best of both worlds. It is important to identify our need and take our path accordingly.

I remember Zukerberg explaining reason for starting facebook - to get the news of our people, our society and our circle. But, are not we more into creation of news for the people, society and circle? Where is reality lagging behind?

Happy Surfing!

 Published in The Rising Nepal's Friday Supplement on 24th December 2016.