With billions of users worldwide utilizing social media
sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to interact with others, exchange
information, and remain updated about the world around us, social media has
become an essential part of our everyday lives. Social media may be an
effective tool for connecting and communicating, but it can also have a
significant influence on how we see the world.
Social media's ability to create "filter bubbles"
is one of the primary ways it influences how we see reality. Based on their
prior behavior and interests, social media algorithms are created to provide
users with information that is likely to be of interest to them. While this can
be helpful for locating relevant and interesting content, it can also result in
a situation where users are only exposed to a limited number of perspectives
and points of view.
Users could only be exposed to material that validates their
own opinions and prejudices in this case, which can be especially problematic
when it comes to political or social problems. Users may not be exposed to
alternate ideas as a result, which may result in a skewed and limited
perception of reality.
The usage of altered or "fake" photographs and
videos on social media has the potential to change how we see the world. It may
be more and more difficult to tell what is genuine and what is false as
deepfakes and other types of media manipulation become more prevalent. The
capacity to tell reality from fiction is crucial in fields like journalism and
news reporting, where this may have major ramifications.
Furthermore, social media encourages users to curate an
online version of their lives, which can distort users' perceptions of reality.
Users may build an unrealistic representation of their life by carefully
picking what to share and how to promote themselves. Comparing one's own life
to the expertly managed versions others offer might result in insecurities and
feelings of inadequacy.
Furthermore, social media can foster "FOMO" (fear
of missing out), which can distort our perception of reality even more. We
could experience pressure to take part in certain activities or events in order
to keep up with our peers as a result of viewing the highlights of other
people's life on social media. This might lead to a false sense of reality
where we feel as if we are missing out on significant events even while we are
leading meaningful and full lives.
What therefore can we do to lessen the harm that social
media is doing to our vision of reality? One crucial step is to actively seek
out alternate opinions and perspectives and to be conscious of the ways in
which social media may lead to a skewed vision of the world. This might include
making an effort to interact with individuals from other backgrounds and
viewpoints or actively searching out informational sources that contradict our
preconceived notions and prejudices.
Additionally, by being aware of how we present ourselves on
social media, we can work to develop a more realistic and fair perspective of
our own lives. We may aim for honesty and vulnerability, revealing both the
highs and lows of our experiences, rather than attempting to paint an idealized
picture of our life.
Finally, rather of continually checking our phones and
looking for approval on social media, we might aim to develop a feeling of
awareness and present in our everyday lives. We may develop a more realistic and
satisfying vision of our own lives by developing meaningful connections,
partaking in activities and pastimes that make us happy, and concentrating on
the here and now.
