Social
networking sites have infected our everyday lives. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace,
etc. have implanted a seed deep within the lives of many, if not, all teenagers
and adults. This seed often grows into the idea of self-glorification in ones
image. In today's world, popularity is not determined by being a jock or being
a cheerleader. It is about how one portrays ones image, manipulated or not.
These ego-driven individuals are often
judged on appearance, online friends and tweets; shouts; and wall posts.
Images
online are for everyone to view. With that being said, it is often believed
that in order to achieve popularity (or just social acceptance); one must
upload an image that is a blown up representation of their true self. Pictures
in the users profiles are often exaggerated. Awkward angles are used to
represent a more appealing side. Self-shots are captured through clever usage
of bathroom mirrors, many times in school.
Ones
entire image becomes distorted online. Favorite movies are listed because they
are popular, not because the user enjoys watching them. Bands listed are
mainstream, to follow along with the flow of society. Favorite books read are
often intellectual, providing a false perspective of the users knowledge. This
inflated information is not real. It does not conform to the original ideas and
beliefs the user once contained. The real information along with the user
themselves, is shrouded by the deceit of the information shown.
This
seed planted within ourselves has flourished to such an extent that these
social networking sites are more informative than face-to-face communication.
Did Charles break up with Dorothy? Facebook said he was single. Simple
questions, answered in an even simpler manner (a phone call), are now answered
by an instantly updated infrastructure. No longer is a phone call needed to ask
a friend if they are going to your birthday party. Just send a Facebook
invitation. Want to know what your friends are doing? Just check their tweets. Today's
society has grown so dependent, in an almost addicted manner to Online
Communication that stopping or reverting to old school methods is simply not an
option.
