Live Metanoia

If you weren’t aware of it, like you’ve been living under a rock or something, or maybe you’ve just been soooo busy, social media is all consuming. It’s everywhere, and we as human beings are addicted to it like crazy. Scrolling, swiping, liking, sharing, we do it all and most of us don’t ever realize we do this for hours. Social media is one of the biggest time wasters on this planet. 

It also can be one of the most mentally damaging applications to exist. There’re actual studies, made by credited psychologist and colleges who have proven that social media affects your mental health. Some of you may think, ‘Sure teens are very susceptible’, but guess what? So are adults. The comparison game adults play with each other on social media increases anxiety and depression. Google it, or better Duck Duck Go it (because Duck Duck Go doesn’t hoard your data like Google and sell it off to the highest bidder.)  Read the research. It’s crazy. Social media is also one of the biggest lies. We human beings cultivate stories of perfection that are unattainable. We only post the highlights, letting others think we are ‘living our best life’. On the other side, we have people who put every aspect of their lives on social media as well, the good, the bad, and the ugly. That is also not healthy. This need for validation weather good or bad is damaging to the tenth degree. People become addicted to it and start to rely on it. They push bounds of sanity to receive substantiation from total strangers. What. Even. 

I recently started looking into what we put on social media and the internet in general and what is done with these posts, searches, etc. It’s no surprise, and actually often joked about, how you search for something or mention it in a post, and then BAM! It shows up everywhere. Guys, our data is being monitored. Some may think it’s no big deal, and if you have nothing to hide what’s the problem, but my friends, you are literally handing over your information and your right to privacy to whoever pays the largest amount. It’s horrifying when you learn that yes, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter collect what you like, share, and post and hoard it like Gollum (my precious).

We always joke about the metaphysical FBI van that’s watching you and everything you do and listening to you, but we never stop to think that this is actually occurring. 

Now, it has come to the point on social media that the applications get to ‘fact check’ and ‘monitor’ what is posted. If they don’t like, they delete it or suspend the user. Talk about giving up your right to free speech or press. People have literally had their social media accounts deactivated and banned because the site didn’t like what they had to say. Third party researchers have proven that sites promote certain posts and news stories even when you didn’t like the post to begin with. It’s shared and forced upon you like some Orwell thought police, and that to me is horrifying. What’s even worse is the amount of people who just don’t care. 

Y’all this isn’t about politics. This is not conspiracy. This is not a post hating the country or government or any other ridiculous idea you may have running through your noggin. I am not pushing one social site over another. It is literally proven.

Trust me, I understand that I am writing this in a blog post that can be shared over said social medias. And I also have social media. But that’s not the point I am trying to make friends. The point is this is about your right to privacy that you relinquish when you sign up for these apps. This is about your rights and freedoms. You know, the things we established our country upon? The ideals people fight and die for?  This is about what is ethical and right. Why is it okay for these sites to keep your data? Why is it okay for you to NOT be able to buy it back? Look up Instagrams new policies. When did we as people stop caring about our freedom? When did we just laugh jadedly and say ‘well it’s already decided, might as well lay down and deal with it’? It blows my mind.

We are spoon fed whatever agenda politics, media, and the government want us to believe and we like and share it. This has to stop. We struggle and strive to attain a life we can’t keep up because we see others lying through their teeth and feel less than. This has to stop. When do we get mad about this? When do we tell our children, ‘No, you can’t have a TikTok’ and that it’s not okay to sexualize yourself for likes and approval of strangers.

I mean, should I even start talking about the number of predators on social media and the internet that exist? You may think, not my child, but who is your child messaging? Who is messaging your kid, posing as a kid their selves.

We have to decide to take responsibility for ourselves and our health. 

If you feel the need to attain a certain number of likes and shares and that it affects your mental health if you don’t, it’s time to delete social media. 

If you’re tired of social sites changing their ‘policies’ to fit their needs and not yours, as well as sell your pictures, posts, and data to whoever wants it, it’s time to stop feeding the beast and get off the Apps. 

I have been reflecting on social media a lot and I think it’s time for a change. It’s time to make a big decision. In January 2021 I’ll be making a change. I will be moving to a social site that does not sell your information and believes in your right to freedom of speech.

No more Facebook stalking my life.

No more Instagram and their fake posts and expectations.

It’s time to live a life free of these sites and expectations and actually experience it instead of worrying about what selfie to post. It is time to show these sites we will not cattle or sheep to be monitored for their gain. We are people, and that it is not morally or ethically right to do this to human beings. 

The real question I have for you is, will you join me? 

My journey continues, 

Kaycee