By Mary Pupel
EMS Press
Traverse City East MS
1st Place
Division MS, News Writing
Feature Columnist
~Say Who~ (1)
I recently decided to take up the challenge of giving up social media for Lent. I had no idea what I was really getting myself into. Social media has become such a big part of my life, it’s almost scary. I spent way more time than I should’ve being wrapped up in a blanket, sitting in my bed scrolling through Insta.
Now, after more than a month without using Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Yik Yak, and Ask.fm, I’ve noticed some things.
I noticed that I’m happier because I’ve separated myself from all of the jealousy and drama that is tied to those networks.
I’ve noticed that I have more time to focus on the important things, like my grades and spending time with my family and friends. And I mean actually spending time with them… in person, not over a screen, through a comment on a picture, or a tag in a tweet.
As much as I hate the stereotype that all adults believe about teenagers (yes, the one about us staring at a screen all day) I’ve come to see that it’s more true than any of us want to admit. Our whole lives are on our phones. That’s how we keep up with what’s ‘important’ in the world. Or in our world at least.
It’s hard to see why social media is detrimental when you spend so much time using those networks. But I have come to believe that it’s pointless to spend my life worrying about what everyone else is doing. More importantly why do I need to document my life for everyone else to waste their time doing the same? I am far from saying I will not use social media ever again, but I do think my generation has become just a little bit too attached to it.
According to CBS News, nine out of 10 teens use social media. I’m sure this is no surprise, as almost every student at East contributes to this statistic. Those nine out of ten teens spend an average of seven and a half hours every day consuming media. We dedicate so much time to these networks, but almost none of my feed is about a person trying to make a positive difference, or standing up for something. It’s mainly selfies… and lots of them.
This is a new thought for me — using all of those hours to make a positive difference. I do admire the EMS positivity account and other accounts like it that have made a valid effort to make people smile. Or the Ask.fm accounts dedicated to doing the same thing. Bravo to you, and keep doing what you’re doing.
How great and selfless is that? Creating an account, and dedicating your own time to helping others be happy. That sounds like someone making a positive difference to me.
Maybe one day as a group we can move past social media and try to make these differences in our daily lives, in real time, off of the screen. However I think baby steps are the best way to approach this situation. I’m not preaching that deleting your social media, and complimenting a new person on their shirt is going to solve the world’s problems. How-ever I am saying that maybe it’s time to think about how we are using our time.
Life is short, and I think we should try to make a difference while we can. Whether we use social media or not, we are a powerful generation. We should not limit ourselves to posting selfies and following comment trends. Maybe it’s time we change our parents’ and teachers’ minds about us.
Giving up social media has been a struggle for me. But it has shown me how when we all are passionate about one thing, we unite through it. And it has led me to believe that one day when Instagram likes and Twitter retweets are no longer important to us, we have the ability to be a strong and united generation that can easily make a positive change.
“One of the main tasks of technology is to find words that do not divide but unite, that do not create conflict but unity, that do not hurt but heal.” -Henri Nouwen
~Say Who~ (2)
Words are our most powerful tool. Everybody knows that. Everybody also knows that powerful things can be used for good and bad. Some people purposely use their words badly, and others don’t even realize they’re doing it. My dad and brother fall somewhere in between those two categories. They choose their words carefully without thinking. How does that work exactly? They try to explain things in a certain way but don’t think about the actual meaning of the words they’re using. Or at least that is how I perceive them.
It makes me so upset when my dad calls something gay. Homosexuality is a sexual preference. It is not an adjective that describes your teacher because she gave you too much homework.
And it makes me want to cry every time my brother says that something is retarded. Disabilities are an uncontrollable factor in some people’s lives. The word retarded should not just be thrown around at people.
I struggle when I hear people use those kinds of words. It is hard for me to understand when it is or isn’t my place to correct someone or state my opinion on what they said. But as of just a few days ago, I know that I am not the only one who feels this way. There is an organization called the R-Word ‘Spread the Word to End the Word’ that works to stop the derogatory use of the word retard. Everyone deserves respect, and using words like gay and retarded degrades others.
Maybe people don’t understand grammar. Or maybe we live in a world where people don’t understand what their own words actually mean. Either way vulgar words upset me beyond measure.
This is the 21st century and the world is more diverse than ever. We need to think about what we say before we say it. One day we will be able to cut out those unnecessary and rude words to create a more accepting and loving world.