I am someone who falls under the category of 90s kids. The only generation who is part of the era where people used to send letters and wait for days to receive a reply along with part of the era where we are relying upon instant message systems via various apps. We are the only generation who has seen a single telephone to be shared with all the families of the building till each of the family members having their own personal mobile phones. We are the generation who has used 5, 10, 20, 25 and 50 paise to get chocolates and we are the same generation who has seen usage of 2000 rs notes. We are the generation who used to fix antennas on the roof to watch our favorite TV show Shaktimaan and we are the same generation who are using Netflix, Prime Videos and Hotstar to watch international shows along with our own. Technology has been improving in a blink of eyes and we have reached an era of artificial intelligence.
During this rapid change in time, I was introduced to social media in my final year of graduation. I know I was kind of slow to adapt to the new change. Though I had a brief idea on the same and heard from my friends that we can be friends on facebook and share lots of stuff to the outside world. But due to limitations in my handset, I couldn’t use facebook on my phone. Anyway when I started using facebook, I had no idea that we can tag someone while uploading a photo and their name will appear in the description like “Suchitra is with this person”. I used to think we have to type it out on our own. Still I feel embarrassed when I go and check my initial photos from facebook.
Slowly and gradually I learned the usage and I created accounts in Instagram, twitter, Linkedin and Quora and I realized, except for a few family members and friends, nobody cares about what you do or what is happening with you. Moreover, people always show their good sides to the outside world rather than what is actually going on in their mind and life. This is another reason for depression among the youth nowadays. Constant comparison between the life of yours and someone you admire brings chaos, unnecessary burden to self which is the main reason of stress, jealousy and unstable mental health. But then it entirely depends on us how we are going to take up social media and how to make use of it to have a positive impact on our life instead of derogatory action.
Recently I started a professional bookstagram account (nicky_books_world) to connect with all the readers and authors out there. Apart from my day job and other day to day life, I like to read and I admit, these social media has helped me a lot to reach out to the books community while sitting at home. I could check out new releases of books along with book recommendations from others. I could share my own views on a book within a few minutes and feel happy and proud as part of the community. Though I am in the beginner’s stage with subscribers not even touching 100, yet I feel encouraged after seeing the posts and content from established bookstagram users. Instead of jealousy or envy I have taken it as inspiration and tried my level best to grow in the digital world. So yeah I used social media to showcase my work in a constructive way rather than my personal life. Of Course sometimes I share my personal life as well but that is limited to my friends and families. I stopped comparing myself with others because I am the one who is holding my own saddle. I love to see people enjoying their life and I love to add happiness in my own life with the things that I like.
I hope this article can help those who are consumed by social media. If a single person can change and start using the platform in adding values, I would feel satisfied for my little contribution to society.
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