Kiki & Bug

First off, if you have not yet had the chance to watch The Social Dilemma stop reading this immediately and GO WATCH IT NOW. I mean WOW.

Here’s the thing. Most of what you’ll see in the documentary you probably already know. We all know that our activity on the internet and our social media lives are being recorded all the time but we never stop to think about how manipulative and controlling that information can be.

This documentary really opens your eyes to the extent of which social media programmers fight for your attention. Every time you search for a pair of shoes or watch a funny viral YouTube video, they’re there to follow up with something you’d be equally intrigued by in a second. You’ll see ads for white booties all over your feed or see another funny video pop up as if your every inner-thought has just been planted into your phone’s hardware. It’s honestly terrifying. Social media is designed to suck you in. Although its’ original purpose may not have been what it’s become now, regardless, this shit is addictive, and now it’s out there and programmers know this and continue to intentionally find ways to pull you in deeper.

I think the scariest part for me lies within the interviews of these ex-programmers, admitting their own fear over what they’ve created. In fact, they are so traumatized by what social media has become that they don’t even allow their own children to have social media accounts. That’s just crazy. The very same geniuses that created these platforms are now too terrified to let their own children use them. That speaks volumes to how bad things have gotten. Maybe human beings were never meant to have access to platforms like this. Maybe we were never meant to be connected in this way where our every whim can be recorded and time-stamped; left on the internet forever for anyone and everyone to see. A place where the original purpose was to build connections and form communities but quickly became a place for criticism and prejudice to thrive.

Think about it. When was the last time you put your phone down for an entire day without checking it once? There are probably only a handful of people (between the ages of 15-40) who can say they’ve done that in the last year. Why? Because we’re addicted. Plain and simple.

So What Now?

What can we do as social media influencers and bloggers to help make this space a little bit brighter? I would like to use this platform as way to be transparent and honest. I’d like my minute little corner of the Internet to be a space where young women feel heard, understood, empowered and valued.

This is no easy feat in a world that constantly reinforces the opposite message. Young women look in the mirror only to notice the things they don’t find desirable rather than the natural beauty they all possess. It’s no wonder female teen suicides are at an all time high. It’s a tragedy that we’ve allowed our youth to feel so inadequate before they’ve even been given the chance to get out into the world and see how extraordinary and unique they truly are. It’s as if they’ve been stunted in their growth by having these social media platforms be a part of their daily routines for so many formative years.

I know I cannot feasibly change everything but I can control the messages I convey and my approach to my own social media account. That being said, I promise to always make sure this is a safe space for young people to come and have an honest dialogue about their feelings. I will do my best to remain positive in times where it often feels much easier to be pessimistic. I will be here to listen if you have any thoughts or questions. As someone who has been through recovery for anxiety and an eating disorder in their life I understand the power these platforms can play and I will always keep that in mind and young peoples’ hearts when I post things online. It is my privilege to have young people as followers and I want to do everything I can not to betray that trust and show my authentic self. No matter what. The good and the bad. The losses and the victories.

Till next time, y’all.

xoxo- Kristen Jean