Are You More Than Your Profile?

For many, social media has had a constant presence in their lives for many years. There were the simpler days when Myspace was just a character portfolio, mostly detailing a person's personality based off of their page customization's. Those days have changed, creating a world with little to no limit for expression. Social media has integrated itself into the lives of so many,  so much so that a person’s presence on it can become a staple of who they are.

Social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have found a way to insert themselves into being a facet of the everyday lives of their users. People have grown accustomed to checking and updating their profiles on a consistent basis throughout the day. To many, having a daily presence on the Internet it a mundane thing, they feel as though there is a connection with the online world that needs to be maintained. People have created a second identity for themselves on the internet, there they are able to change who they are to fit into the mold that society wants. Social media has had monumental effects on self-image, it takes the High School lunchroom and codes it onto the screens of electronic devices; creating an everyday struggle to impress and be seen.

Although social media is a place for people to express their identity, it is also a place that can hinder a person from finding who they really are. With a consistent need to find different ways to be liked online, a person might have trouble figuring out what they truly like in the process of trying to impress everybody else. All of this comes with little surprise to many, social media has become a network of opportunity. Businesses use social media as a super marketing tool; having a popular online presence has become the new shiny portfolio that can present you with jobs. It is no surprise that people are so desperate for likes when those likes have such power in their lives. Modelling agencies around the world have adopted social media into their casting process. There are agencies that hire based off of how well a person can showcase products to a broad audience of followers. This is a reality that a lot of people face when they are on these profiles, they see their worth reflected on the interactions with the world on the Internet. It is crucial that people try and take a break from constantly trying to impress and garner attention on social media. It can just be a fun place for expression and experimentation if it is used in moderation.

Although this whole phenomenon is troubling to think about, there is an aspect of evolution that can be seen in its growth. It is a factor of the growing technological world we are living in. Soon enough, most of our lives will be documented on the internet. It is important to grow accustomed to the online world and learn to maneuver it.