I saw the “Nosedive” episode a few days ago and I think it really underscores this insatiable need to quantify being liked and how it can become an obsession. Yep, social media is my field, but the desire for social acceptance via likes isn’t part of my modus operandi. I recognize the difference between quantity and quality, but that is not necessarily for everyone. Some moments are not meant to be shared on social media, and live human interaction does not need to generate “likes” every time.
I was recently asked to share pictures and tags in a situation that had a personal meaning and was really not appropriate. This made me think about the current need to share everything and some people’s difficulty in understanding the meaning of a private moment.
I don’t put myself in the spotlight by only sharing what I want people to see. Sometimes friends and family have asked if I would share pictures of us out socializing on my platforms. I gently let them know that I don’t always like to do that, I try to keep my personal life private.
With that in mind, I’d suggest reading two books: The Circle by Dave Eggers and Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart. Both are novels about a near future where social media and social relevance get mixed up with corporate and commercial value.