The Weight of Social Media's Connectivity

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Our world is full of extroverts, introverts, and others who capture a mix of extroversion and introversion. On some level, though, I feel that we all eventually need human interaction. I am a huge believer of the philosophy that PEOPLE NEED PEOPLE. Today, that social need is not always met in-person but can be satisfied online through the use of social media. 

Social media as a medium of communication provides countless ways to connect with others online. The weight of its connectivity is invaluable for the modern world, as it gives a sense of belonging while simultaneously combating loneliness. For people who crave social interaction but have a limited circle, busy schedule, or other hindrances to connecting IRL (in real life), connecting on social media can feel like a life saver. Families and friends can easily keep in touch through apps like Facebook and Instagram. Connecting with new people who share your interests can be done on apps such as Reddit, Twitch, and TikTok. Inspiration for creative projects can be found on Pinterest. Other sites such as this one (Blogger) or X (formerly Twitter) allow people a chance to speak our minds and reach others. Personally, I have made many connections with other readers who share my tastes in books on Goodreads and TikTok and also regularly use Pinterest for my program planning at the library. 

Paramount Insights posted an article in May of 2018 that breaks down actual numbers of the connectivity of social media. Even if some people claim they do not "need" people, a vast majority are connecting with other humans virtually somehow.

Check it out and think about how social media is a source of connectivity for you:

Around the World, Social Media Is a Source of Connection, Creativity and Empowerment

Comments

  1. Natalie StansburySeptember 11, 2023 at 6:31 PM

    There is no escaping "people-ing" in this digital world. Some may find this scary and some may find it a great change to society. That is the true topic of contention - Is the connectivity of social media a good thing or a bad thing? There are certainly many differing opinions on this which can depend on the personality type, a person's age, or even their ability to handle technology. I found myself relating the four zones of social media that Dr. Sun shared with us this week to this article and your thoughts. "I don't have a social media account" is not really a thing anymore. Even without Facebook and Instagram accounts these people are likely to be using Pinterest, TikTok, Youtube or something to some extent in some way, shape, or form. So even when someone tells me how bad they think social media is, maybe I will pull out the zones of social media and see if their tone changes. :)

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    1. Samantha MatherneSeptember 23, 2023 at 4:01 PM

      Everyone does social media at this point, even if they do not fully understand what social media is. My own mom plays games on her phone that connect her to people all around the world, but I know she likely does not count that as social media. She is in the entertainment sector of social media with that. On the nextdoor app, she connects with people in our same area but would likely also be surprised to learn that is another form of social media.

      Delete
  2. Anna V.September 12, 2023 at 10:04 AM

    I agree with you about this--as you say, people eventually all need human interaction, just to varying degrees depending on their personality. For people who may not be able to get out and meet others often, social media is a tool that can ease loneliness, but it can't take the place of actually getting out and meeting others. The National Council on Aging mentions the importance of both technology and in person interactions here:
    https://www.ncoa.org/article/navigating-social-isolation-and-loneliness-as-an-older-adult

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    Replies
    1. Samantha MatherneSeptember 23, 2023 at 3:58 PM

      Some people claim that hate people and would be happy to be forever alone, but I'm with you that we all eventually need some kind of human interaction. I cannot imagine the lonely life of having no one, even at times when I would like to be alone for a while.

      Delete

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