I would like to start out by saying I’m as infatuated with social media as most people.
I don’t spend all my time scanning my phone or computer for new postings, but I look at it enough that I would miss it if it somehow were gone.
There are some positive things to say about social media. For one, you can learn about the lives of family and friends you don’t see often. Once I found out through cyberspace that one of my cousins was studying in Thailand. I had no idea about it until I saw the photos she posted on Facebook.
And, yes, I am aware that Facebook is considered the social media platform for old people. What can I say? I’m 63 and Facebook remains my favorite social media platform.
Social media also provides immediate information about famous people and events. If a volcano erupts in Fiji, someone posts a live video of it and even if you live in Middle America, you can learn about it almost instantaneously.
Those are social media’s good points, as far as I’m concerned. What follows are my gripes about it.
First and foremost, while information comes fast and furious through the internet, that data might be a half truth or completely bogus. With the advent of artificial intelligence, it has become even more difficult to determine what is real and what is fake on social media feeds. Photos and videos may be manipulated.
How many times have you seen something on the internet involving the death of a famous person that did not happen, for instance? This is something I truly do not understand. The only reason I can come up with for someone spreading false information about a noted person’s supposed death is the person somehow gets a kick out of it.
People may try to counter this point by saying mistakes can also be found in books and newspapers. Fair enough. But, books and newspapers have people to edit and proofread information. Something wrong may get through, but at least attempts are made to avoid that.
Next, I hate when people hijack a social media post to make their own points.
As a journalist, I try to be as neutral as possible in all of my posts. On my Facebook page, you will find items involving humor, sports or my family, at least from me. If I find something funny, I try to share it with others I believe will appreciate it.
What disappoints me is someone latching on to something I pass along thinking it will give others a chuckle and trampling over the humor to make some serious point. I do not appreciate this. You want to make a political, social or other statement? Do it on your own page or space.
I also do not appreciate mean-spirited items posted on the internet.
Apparently, some people think there is a segment of the population that is interested in seeing photos of celebrities that show them in their 20s along with a second photo of them 40 or 50 years later. The posts will say something like, “Can you believe this is the same person?”
What is the point? Again, what does the person get out of this? I certainly do not look like I did when I was 20. Why should anyone be surprised that a celebrity’s appearance has changed from decades ago?
I pass right by these types of posts.
As far as YouTube, it can be disconcerting to see what the people who run it think I want to view.
Clearly, someone – or something – monitored my searches and decided I am the type of person who would like to see animal snuff videos. I do not appreciate these clips.
Now, I receive many animal videos, in general, possibly because I handle the weekly Pet Spot feature we put on the Leader website, myleaderpaper.com, and must look up a fair amount of information about critters.
I’m fine if a video shows penguins going for a walk in a zoo or funny videos of dogs lounging in various positions. I am not interested in seeing a cheetah tear apart a gazelle.
Sometimes, I wonder why I get batches of videos about a certain topic. Not long ago, I kept seeing clips of bowlers picking up difficult spares. While I bowled a fair amount when I was younger, knee and other physical problems have limited my interest in the sport during recent years.
That said, I don’t know why the YouTube people thought I was a prime candidate to watch bowlers pick up 7-10 splits. I have never done a search for bowling shoes, for example.
Finally – I’ve saved this gripe for last – I have no desire to look at political posts from any point of view. Nevertheless, I get a constant stream of them.
Again, in my line of work, I try to remain nonpartisan. My Facebook friends, however, think nothing of posting the most inflammatory items they can find.
Do people actually think they are going to influence someone else with these posts? Or, are they just trying to stick the needle into those with opposing views?
You can tell me I don’t have to look at these posts, but no matter how hard I try, I have not found a way to keep from at least getting a glimpse of them. I have never blocked a friend or family member and have no intention to do so.
Mind you, I am not trying to stop anyone from airing opinions. I just wish I didn’t have to be subjected to them.