I love social media.
Collectively, all the main social media platforms (think Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) have billions of users and each platform continues to grow and become more important each year. Social media is consuming, and I’ll happily admit that it plays a huge role in my life. I’m a solid member of the “if you went somewhere and didn’t post about it on social media, did you really go there” generation. It’s also a huge part of my work life. It is an important component of marketing and communications, so not only do I have my personal accounts – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TweSocial, Snapchat and LinkedIn (heck, I even still have a MySpace account – yell out if you know how to delete that thing), I also monitor seven – yes SEVEN – different Facebook pages and an Instagram account for work.
I love the digital age we live in, how everything is accessible at the click of a button, or the swipe of a finger, which is probably why my phone is constantly in hand. I liken it to having an extra limb.
Social media is so powerful. Lifewire breaks it down like this: “Social” refers to interacting with other people by sharing information with, and receiving information from, them. “Media” refers to an instrument of communication, such as the internet. So what makes it so influential? So addictive? So important to the tech-savvy age of consumers? Social Times believes it’s because:
It’s time consuming (Ever said to yourself “I’m going to bed early tonight” and then next minute it’s midnight and you’re still scrolling through your Facebook feed?)
It’s habit-forming (Absolutely, it’s the first thing I check when I wake up, last thing I check before I go to sleep)
It influences life offline (Hell yes, I once, or maybe more than once, posted a particular photo on Instagram just to get the attention of a particular person… I’m not proud to admit it, but hey it worked)
It helps business (I’m concerned when I can’t find any social media presence for businesses)
And lastly, it’s because everyone else is on it too. Even my Grandpa has Facebook, and has taught me a thing or two. Who knew you could use Facebook to call people?
Last week as I was walking down Swan Street after meeting a friend for a drink (which I didn’t actually post on social media – oh the horror!), I had phone in hand catching up on what I’d missed the last few hours. So, there I was, walking along, minding my own business having a bit of a chuckle at the latest meme I’d been tagged in when I hear a woman say “Why are all kids like that these days? Always on their phones, always on that Facebook?”
I had a quick glance around and I was the only person walking past at the time. Once I got over the fact she called me a kid when I’m twenty-fucking-five, I got thinking about the fact “kids” these days are always on their phones.
Why? Because they’re on social media. My point was proven less than 10 minutes later when I stepped into a train carriage which was three quarters full and almost everyone was on their phone or iPad.
It was in that moment I made a very brash decision to quit social media. Don’t fall off your chairs; I didn’t decide to quit it for good, just for a week, just to see if it was even possible. I decided I wouldn’t tell anyone what I was doing and see if that led to any dire consequences. Am I that reliant on social media that it actually affects my quality of life?
I kept a diary of how I managed being social media free for a week… just.
Day one
Social Times is spot on about social media being a habit. I have to constantly remind myself when I pick up my phone, for no apparent reason, to STAY OFFLINE.
I also forgot to disable Facebook and Twitter emails, which means every time I’m tagged in something I get an email. My besties keep tagging me and I just want to look at the hilarious memes goddamit!
Alas, I made it through day one but I feel really out of the loop and I’ve realised just how much I’m reliant on Twitter as my source for current news.
Day two
Have you ever tried to create a social media strategy document without looking at social media? It’s hard. Not impossible as I discovered, but really fucking hard.
I went to a wine bar for a Christmas Party and there’s a photo I really want to put on Insta. I guess you’ll all just have to wait a week to see my wicked editing and use of filter skills. Unlucky.
Day three
Today was actually rather easy. Except my friends did plan an impromptu Saturday night catch up via Facebook Messenger, but one of the girls noticed I hadn’t been online so texted me as well. Lucky because I really needed the company!
Day four (are we there yet?)
If yesterday was easy, today was horrendously hard. After being in a minor car accident last night, I was tired, emotional and just wanted to go on Facebook (the ridiculousness of the statement is not lost on me). Not to post a woe is me status or anything like that, more as a communication tool. My brother is overseas at the moment and Messenger is my only form of contact with him so I couldn’t tell him what had happened. And both Facebook and Instagram have decided today is a great day to start sending the ‘we miss you…’ ‘look at what you’ve been missing’ emails. Awesome.
The plus side was that I finally sat down and finished watching Gilmore Girls. They can’t end it like that… can they?!
Day five (no seriously, are we done?)
My head cold has finally broken and I woke up with a thick head, sore ears and a fantastically snotty nose. I started feeling like something was coming on a couple of days ago, around about the same time I quit social media. Coincidence? I think not.
Day six
Public Service Announcement: quitting social media will make you grumpy and use the word fuck like a comma.
LAST DAY
Home stretch. I cannot believe I actually made it a week. I thought I’d cave after a day or two tops. I’m pretty proud of my efforts but it’s also kind of ridiculous how excited I am to get back onto it tomorrow. One more sleep!
The aftermath
Never again. I have never felt so out of the loop about the happenings of the modern world. I missed events, invites and relatively important news.
Plus, quitting social media resulted in getting sick and having a car accident*.
What I can’t stress enough is that social media is positive when used correctly. It isn’t just a source of procrastination or distraction; it is literally one of the best ways to stay informed. With most businesses and news outlets all using various platforms to communicate with the public, how can current news in an instant be a bad thing? Don’t let the fact some choose to use it as a negative platform be a deterrent. In my opinion, the positives far out way the negatives.
Like it or not, social media is here to stay and the sky is the limit. I can’t wait to see what social media brings us and just how millennials, who have grown up using and consuming it, will use it in future.
*Yes I realise that quitting social media really had no effect on getting sick or being in an accident, but it’s an interesting coincidence isn’t it? And if you’re still reading this shaking your head, you really need to go out and find yourself a sense of humour…