Week 2 - Oversharing Online

2. The ideal number of "friends" or connections one has on Facebook would be small and limited.  There are benefits to having an online social media account including staying in touch with family and close friends.  The primary reason Facebook was created was to keep University students connected.  What it has blossomed into today is a big scary monster for many, including myself.  Personally, I started an account around 2008 and did not have positive experiences with it.  Some of the challenges I had with it were seeing my ex-husband's posts with his new girlfriend, an ex boyfriend stalking me, and comparing myself to others with how many "likes" they got with their weekly selfies.  In 2014 I closed the account and have never posted in general on there again.  A couple of years ago I made a new account that I solely use to read specific group pages, like the OSU Ecampus Students page. 

Today, I primarily use Instagram, and I use it to follow my favorite musicians, special interests and my handful of close friends.  The content I post is flowers, my cat, the occasional selfie, and neat pictures that I took on a trip, outing, walk or in the backyard.  I think of it as my online scrapbook, an expression of my personality in color.  My goal is not to gain followers or become an influencer in the traditional sense.  I limit the amount of time I spend on there and I diligently remind myself not to compare myself to others.  

(Picture of Pickles the Ginger Cat 10/7/20 by me)

When deciding to spend time on social media it is helpful to be self aware.  Understand why you are doing it.  Think about what you are looking to get out of being a part of that particular site and community.  Have realistic expectations about what you hope to gain by being on there.  Be picky about who you connect with!  If you notice that you are feeling depressed and disconnected take a break and talk to someone you trust, like a counselor.  Social media can be beneficial when used in a realistic and healthy manner but it's not for everyone.   

(Picture taken at Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation 5/6/21 by me)

3. Facebook has gotten the nickname "Brag Book" for good reasons.  Typically users will post pictures of themselves in their cars (apparently the best selfies are taken there), on vacation, out drinking with their friends, having a blast.  Or they are complaining about the person that cut them off, didn't get their drink order right at Starbucks, or share opposing political and religious views.  They are looking for others to commiserate with them.  If you are the one posting the photos of yourself, having a good time and looking great, and you get a lot of "likes" and positive comments, then you have a higher potential to feel good about your time on the platform.  It could also make you feel more lonely and disconnected as well.  That depends on many factors in your personal life that you can look at.  Seeing these posts from other people can make you feel depressed and lonely.  They paint an incomplete picture where you do not know everything going on in their lives.  Comparison becomes a larger force when there is easy access to social media, a place riddled with posed and filtered pictures meant to portray a perfect life. Christine M. Stabler, MD, MBA wrote an article called The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health  with tips on how to identify if social media is having a negative effect on you as well as tips on how to use it in a healthy way.