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BY JENNIFER SILVERMAN
I have a confession.
Even though I’m a millennial, I find social media moderately terrifying.
And apparently, it's not just me.
A social media phobia diagnosis called visio-bibliophobia is actually a thing.
(By the way, I'd like the name of the wise guy who decided that all phobias should have crazy-long, practically unpronounceable tags.)
Despite my resistance to social media, I doubt I would be diagnosed with this particular complex.
I was active on LinkedIn during my NYC TV wardrobe styling years, and I do peruse the app, Nextdoor on occasion, although I never engage.
I also briefly dabbled in Instagram some years ago due to professional pressure, but I quickly “went dark.”
My hesitancy toward platforms like Facebook (aka Meta apparently), Twitter (aka X apparently), and Instagram (kudos for not changing your name) does not seem to truly fall into the terror category.
I would classify my reluctance more as a general distrust of the medium.
From the moment that Myspace made its way onto my radar years ago, I was dismayed yet disinterested.
To me, the web seemed like a scary, shadowy place where bad guys lurked - pouncing when the time was right to criticize outfits for kicks, steal one’s identity, or respond to posts with angry emojis.
In those early days of social media, I remember pondering how its rapidly growing omnipresence could transform society.
Would in-person social graces go by the wayside?
Would casual “cyber-stalking” become so routine that maintaining privacy in a techy world would become unachievable?
Of course, many moons later, most of us are aware of the drawbacks to virtual life.
Even though I enjoy keeping tabs on the lives of family, friends, and colleagues, I admit that I lack the curiosity to follow anyone on social media; even my favorite, Whoopi Goldberg - which says a lot.
I still don’t understand why followers care to know if posters say break a nail, have the hiccups, or enjoy a pancake breakfast in real time.
Furthermore, the overall disingenuousness of social media sets an unattainable, dangerous precedent of white picket fences, perfect families, and dream vacations.
Couldn’t becoming too accustomed to such posts do long-term damage to one’s feelings of fulfillment and self-worth?
As it turns out, a google search of “social media and mental health” will not only deliver a plethora of articles on social media-induced depression and anxiety, but also law firms recruiting plaintiffs from this growing population.
Despite my devotion to maintaining my millennial anti social media stance, several folks have recently suggested it might be time for me to stop fighting progress and succumb to virtual life.
As I am currently in the process of launching this very blog, it does seem short-sighted to simply dip my toes in the pursuit, rather than fully take the plunge.
At the root of my hesitancy is the fact that I’ve always seen myself as a private person.
During in-person social interactions, I tend to listen more than speak, and am not nearly as forthcoming as I have surprisingly become in my writing.
So, that brings me to the fuchsia elephant in today’s black and white article:
Am I a total hypocrite?
Clearly, I’ve been sharing my life - past, present, and future with readers on the regular for some time now. So, I’m certainly not very mysterious these days.
Is social media all that different from publicizing my thoughts in article form?
My best answer is probably not.
Just maybe I’ll make a greater attempt at open-mindedness and do some laps in social media waters.
Or, maybe not...Probably not.
At the end of the day, the cons of ditching the anti social media movement continue to outweigh the pros for Moi.
I don't want to be at the mercy of my devices.
I don't want to suffer from near-constant pangs of FOMO (fear of missing out).
I don't want to become addicted to social media scrolling when I could be devoting my time to more uplifting pursuits.
All in all, I just don't want to. And at least for now, that's reason enough.
Wait up! It looks like you’ve reached the end of the road on this particular blog post. You might be wondering where to go from here. May I suggest some delightful destinations, conveniently located on CuriousColumist.com?
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THE SUBSCRIBE BOX – Typically, most of us avoid being boxed in like the plague. Fortunately, this box is all about broadening horizons – no confinement in this castle of curiosity. (Simply give the link a click and then scroll down - it's the scenic route.)
THE CONTACT FORM – Sometimes, we have a hankering to drop a line. Maybe you work for Oprah Daily and are looking to hire an unconventional freelance lifestyle writer – hint, hint. (Hey, a girl can dream.) Maybe a burning question is beckoning you to buzz. Maybe you have a craving to comment. Regardless, feel free to get in touch.
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