Last update: December 15, 2015
I have thousands of friends on my social networks. Some of them have names I can't even pronounce. Despite that, they give me a like every time I upload a photo from that life that they don't even know about.
Social relationships today are different from those of our parents. However, it doesn't mean they're worse, let's just say they have a different essence, another way of building bonds on occasions as fleeting, variable and mutant as the water that flows between the fingers.
Social networks "flood" the day with many people, to the point that, if we don't tweet something or publish a photo, we don't even exist.
It is possible that many who do not "do not exist" or do not "frequent" the virtual space of social networks so intensely, despite this, we continue to be important to the people who truly matter to us. Those people who, for sure, can be counted on the fingers of one hand. They are the ones who give real meaning to life and who do not need to see our status on social networks to know if we are okay or not.
Social networks and the power of "like"
We are all well aware of the great benefits of social networks nowadays: they are a real weapon of power. All news is immediately shared on these platforms for approval or rejection. The reaction is immediate and the “like” or “share” mechanism is infallible.
With social networks the world becomes smaller and everything seems to be within reach. They call it the fifth power, it brings together consciences in a compact way and establishes interconnections between people, here where the behavior or actions of a single individual can end up influencing a thousand others.
This never ceases to amaze us and, why not admit it, enrich us, especially in these ways:
- We attach ourselves to those social networks where we share common interests with others.
- We interact, we learn, we know people who in turn share our same interests.
- Often we can even undertake certain changes in personal growth, thanks to the motivation we receive through our social networks.
It is therefore not a question of denying new technologies and avoiding social networks at any cost. It is inevitable. Today's society is an interconnected society. It's like a big brain full of connections and synapses in which new technologies are an extension of ourselves.
- Priorities must be established.
- We must not "depend", that is going to the extreme and thinking that if we don't publish something then we no longer exist in real life.
- The power of "like" must never be a necessity to receive a dose of positivity Nobody should have to upload a photo to know if it's attractive or not.
- Self-approval should never depend on the amount of "likes" you get in a day.
A table at which my favorite people sit: the best of social networks
Most of us have a clear understanding of who the pillars of our lives are. Those people who go far beyond social networks (even if they are still part of it), who make us feel good with their closeness, the sound of their laughter and the warmth of their hugs.
The most important people are those engraved in everyday details. They are an inquisitive look that captures our sadness without the need to say anything, they are those who whisper to us a "I love you" when we least expect it, without needing to let someone else know.
We can say that the best of social networks is the one made up of no more than five people, those for whom we decide to put aside the phone and immerse ourselves in a welcome conversation that lasts until evening. According to experts,those who are most at risk of suffering from absolute addiction to social networks are, without a doubt, the younger generations:
- There are many teenagers who, due to low self-esteem, they see themselves as "disposable" within society, but they are still addicted to that positive reinforcement obtained through social networks, with the classic "like".
- Since they lack authentic quality in their social relationships, they develop a basic need to accumulate followers and friends on social networks.
- These friendships are, in general, empty and ephemeral. Despite this, the feeling of loss does not last very long, because for each "eliminated friend" others can be added.
- Adolescence should be that moment in which social relationships mark a before and an after. They should be emotional pillars that help kids grow and mature.
Nowadays, however, there are many adolescents who develop a kind of social "anomia", in which there are very few things that end up consolidating and in which it is not possible to build a real compromise with one's peers.
It is an important aspect that, as parents or guardians, we should be able to reorient. Social networks are undoubtedly a tool of power, but there are many other priorities that can enrich us more.
