Why I Hate Social Media

Have you ever commented on a picture and had somebody attack you via IG or Facebook? Someone comment on a status or mention you with the wrong tone or disrespectful language? 


Social media is something that I often blog about because while it is so embedded in our daily lives, we are slowly but surely internalizing it as a way of life and expression, for both the positivity and negativity that it offers us. The Internet as a whole has given people this immaculate, hyperbolic sense of free speech that causes them to say whatever they want, to whomever they want, however they want. It allows us to hide behind a username and generate a perception of who we want others to see us as. It has become a place where anyone, regardless of gender, race, class, economic status and educational opportunity, can come together and share whatever comes to their mind with no repercussion to what it is that they've said.  And it is utterly and completely disgusting.

Recently, I comment on a picture of Raven Simone as a young girl in African dress. My comment was in a joking manner, commenting on the fact that she does not even acknowledge Africa as a part of her. If you haven't seen the memes or the videos, it is a known fact that she has made comments that, some would say, has tried to remove herself from being considered Black, African American, Mixed, whatever you would like to call it. A young woman proceeds to mention me, of all the people who commented, and direct her opinion towards me. Now, she wasn't overtly rude or disrespectful, but her tone was out of anger to the general public, yet she mentioned ME.  My frustration comes from my complete misunderstanding of why people on this earth think ANYONE would care about what they have to say about a lighthearted comment. It was not her picture nor did I mention her. Long story short, my response was letting her know that I actually didn't care about her opinion, my rebuttals, followed by some rebuttals from the original poster. 

I think people have this misconception that "since I can, I must do". Since you CAN simply mention someone and tell them how they are wrong and how your opinion is better, doesn't mean that you HAVE to. What happened to speaking when you are spoken to? Or better yet, being able to have a debate with someone without taking a shot of virtual courage and blasting them with belittling words? The Internet has made people terrible with communication and the abuse of self-expression and free speech is becoming out of hand. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not upset because of a random instagramer who's opinion irritated me. Nor do I think people should not have the ability to say what they want.  I'm upset because I see situations like these all the time. People get on these social pages and attack one another like animals. Whether it's Kylie Jenner or Anti-Religion pages or Celebrity gossip pages, people will go in the comments and fight to the death...over social media. 

I hate social media because people lose their minds and their home training, especially when a tragedy such as Trayvon Martin or Eric Garner happen. The virtual fights between Blacks and Whites were repulsive. The racist comments and prejudice tweets I seen were shocking. It's like, we forget that behind these usernames and emojis are real, live, breathing, functioning people with feelings, emotions and a destiny and all we have to do with our short time here on earth is sit in front of our phones badgering one another about our individual opinions that neither assist nor serve of any purpose to the lives of the people their talking to! My greatest desire is for people to stop using social media as an outlet to be the person that they aren't. Stop trying to be the smartest kid on the gram because you never were in class. Stop being the racist, spoiled brat that never had a friend from a different race, social class, or religion because your family failed at offering some diversity in your life. Stop treating Christians like we are all out to get you, or attacking our religion like we care about how much you hate our practices. STOP ATTACKING PEOPLE WITH YOUR OPINION. IT. DOES. NOT. MATTER. You are irrelevant to the person you are talking to. You are a phone, a computer screen to them. Just as they are to you. Stop using the Internet as a place for you to spread hate and to argue. 

When people use the web to express themselves in their own way and space, I have no issues with it. Keep the pro-choice and the pro-life pages for those who support those movements or those who want to learn more, don't use them as an opportunity to call each other sinners or chauvinists. I for one am a firm believe in self-expression and being opinionated (as you can see). But, what you will not see me do is go on the internet seeking to attack and debate with people just to find pleasure in doing so. I don't have time for that and neither should you all. 

If you have an opinion, post it. If you have something to say, blog it. If someone says something that you don't like, sure! Mention them and let them know how you feel - but if you do, treat them like they are someone you will see at school or at work the next day. Because in real life, some of y'all know you'd get slapped for some of the things you say over social media! Seriously. 


End rant. :)