Social networks are like small windows that allow you to see what is happening in the lives of others, you can see it without others knowing that you see it (as long as you don't interact and just watch). What many people forget is that behind those windows you don't always see reality, and in the vast majority of cases, you only see the most beautiful part of other people's lives, raising envy or comparisons.
On social networks, new births are published, when a job is lost, social injustices, divorces, salary increases, people's successes, photographs of special moments, music... In short, social networks are a place where We share our experiences, our stories. Sometimes these stories are personal, sometimes informative, and other times, they don't make much sense.
What people don't realize is that checking social media seems to have become a daily obligation, people feel obligated to check social media every day!
Why do social networks hook us so much?
Networks trap and so do social networks. What happens is that people feel hooked on creating bonds, being part of a community, being part of the pack. Seeking recognition and sharing genes and gossip. It is done naturally because relating to others is something that is written in our DNA.
Sociability is part of human nature, this character is one of the keys to our success as a species and as an individual. After all, intelligence is social. More than engaging with social networks, we need networks and the bond between people and they are key to the survival of our species. It is an essential requirement to learn to manage emotions.
Intelligence must be social or it will not be intelligence. Social recognition of what one says or does is a good indicator of the individual's health. The best news is that today belonging to the pack is easier than ever thanks to digital technologies. They allow us to broaden our social horizons and slowly contribute to overcoming some monsters that stalk us: loneliness or depression.
How interaction works on social networks
When people use social networks, they usually do so following the same pattern as each other. People cut, copy and share articles that matter or have an emotional impact. Comments are added to these clippings and we invite friends to also see it, sharing the information.
People tend to treat social media the same way they did when they had photo albums in their dresser drawer: to remember the good times or the things that impacted us at a certain moment.
The social network wall is a personalized representation of what interests you. It is completed with articles, images, important phrases or texts, texts that other friends have sent us or memories from other years. Comments are also seen between people who see each other normally and who also interact on social networks.
We want to belong to a community
When people interact too much on social media (more than in real life) it is usually because they are looking for a place to belong. Everything from political opinions to the deepest feelings is discussed on social media. For many people, theSocial media is a place where they want to belong, they can find a sense of belonging.
For example, a recent study published in Social Influence showed that people who participate on Facebook tend to feel a sense of belonging when the information they post gets a response from friends and interaction in the form of comments or 'likes'. This research showed that feelings of belonging are threatened when users stop generating content or participating online, and when the information they publish does not receive a response from others, something that makes them feel insecure.
This will not happen if the person in their immediate environment feels that they belong to a community, then they will not have the need to belong to a social network on an ongoing basis. He will be able to participate in social media from time to time but without feeling anxious if they do not interact with his posts.
The sense of belonging depends on the number of people who share on Facebook (for example, but other social networks such as Instagram also work), the types of experiences they are having on the social network and whether they are being ignored or validated by others... The results clearly identified that active participation is necessary to reduce feelings of rejection social. This social rejection is what they can also feel in their real life, outside of social networks.
It's quite simple: the more friends and likes the posts have, the better the person will feel about their life, although this form of communication can be harmful in the long run because the person can feel lonely if they do not have stable relationships and interactions. and solid in real life. People need physical contact from the people we love. Social networks only show a minimal part of people's lives, They only show how they want to be seen by society, it is a 'facade'.
The good part of social networks is that you can share interests with other people, discover new information and even facilitate friendships in the real world. In reality, whether social networks are negative or positive will depend on how you use those social networks. It is necessary to learn to disconnect from social networks and have a real life with people by your side.
Remember that sharing things on social networks will not make you happy, especially if you obsess over the interactions your posts have. It just means that you will have small joys by sharing your things but that you will not enjoy real interaction with others so in the long run, you will feel alone. There are those who use social media to define ourselves and to try to make the world see us in a certain way. It's like a 'personal brand' that you try to make seem interesting to fit in better.