Social media has no doubt blown up the world of beginning, maintaining and ending relationships. With the increasing relevance of social media in our lives, how about we take some time and examine the impact it has had on our lives. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Reddit and Instagram allows us gain valuable insights into the lives of friends and casual acquaintances alike without even having to speak to them.
Several persons have argued on whether social media is a good way to maintain friendships – the occasional like of a photograph and “Happy Birthday” posts have sustained friendships for several years without any physical contact. Is this a healthy way to maintain friendship? It is debatable. Some persons are of the opinion that reducing key friendships into mini-bytes of information detracts from sociability which is at the heart of our existence. Can I consider myself friends with someone if my only contact with them is a quick flick through the photos on their social media handle? Is a five-minute chat on Facebook really a substitute for a long chat over a cup of coffee?
On the other hand, with friends and family scattered around the world, it’s really convenient to keep track of their activities through a quick peek of their status updates. The ability to maintain long-term friendships without face-to-face interaction can be considered a wonder of modern technology. What this means is it’s no more excusable to just lose touch with a friend and changing location doesn’t mean you lose friends. In fact, it can be argued that since the advent of globalization, nothing has brought the world closer than social media. In only a couple of seconds we can reach out to a friend thousands of miles away via Facebook, Twitter or any of the other social media platforms.
Nonetheless, the real joy of being alive is seeing the world around us being alive and this cannot be done from a computer screen. Would you rather interact with your friends or loved ones on their special occasions from a computer screen or be there live with them basking in the moment? I would wager you wouldn’t, no matter convenient it may seem. It’s better to be out there creating real, vivid memories than be living through the photos and videos of friends on social media.
Whatever the case may be, especially considering the role technology plays in several other areas of our life, I believe no matter how large Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other social media platforms become, nothing beats maintaining real contact with persons you care about. Sadly not many persons can draw the line so if you need some practical help on managing your online and offline relationships, contact us at Nelumbo Consultancy today and we would be glad to help.
