Social media. We talk about it almost as much as we use it. And all our questions typically boil down to one: Is it worth it? And for me, the answer is, I don’t know. So I’m going to spend some time exploring the connection between social media and the Real Me.
The Real Me
Despite the adoration of all things young, at almost-43, I have to tell you, I’m much more comfortable in my skin now than I’ve ever been before.
In many ways, I’m only just beginning to make sense of the fiery, passionate, slightly-crazy person who lives inside my short, fast-paced frame. It’s taken me years to own my differences and to accept that, as Eric said it, I’m not weird, I’m special edition.
And while I could go through a bunch of the labels (INTJ, DYT Type 3, Rebel, etc.) that have actually helped me put words to some of what makes me tick, I’m getting more concerned with honoring this unique Me God created by purposefully and abundantly being the person he made me to be.
And being is really about how I live. Not just taking another personality test. Not obsessing about what I do, exactly, or what I don’t do. But the way I throw myself into my work, the world, and the greater vision of all things I have because of the Bible.
And this is where the Real Me comes crashing into social media.
Social Media
Right now, the only social media platform I use regularly is Facebook. I’m on Pinterest and YouTube, but don’t do much on either one. No Twitter or IG accounts at all. And now they’re saying everybody needs to flock to TikTok. Um, no thanks.
I really struggle with the expectation to be on all the places. I have no real problems with any of them. They all have pros and cons. But I’ve limited myself to primarily Facebook for a couple of reasons.
First, I waste too much time there, and adding other platforms will only mean more time toodling around on my screens instead of living purposefully and meaningfully.
Second, I question the fundamental assumptions of these platforms. The unhealthy sense of urgency they promote. The comparisons. And the idea that if you aren’t everywhere, you’ll never get anywhere.
Most of all, though, I struggle with the version of myself that lives on social media most of the time.
Who Is The Me on Facebook?
Because it’s not a real person, that curated version of myself I post about. That picture I upload is a frozen moment in time. It is one fixed point, when the Real Me is fluid and changing and growing and decidedly un-fixed. And the posts record what I think at that one moment, a conclusion that I may grow and mature away from in time to come.
Which brings me to the biggest problem. The rest of the world treats that single-point version of me as if it’s the whole, Real Me.
- That’s why, in our cancel culture, old posts and tweets become weaponized, turned against us as if they’re the entire and accurate version of all we are and think right now.
- Our searches follow us forever. Everything is a plug for something. And ads ping us with shiny things to keep us always wanting more. (As a writer/editor, my searches during projects make my ads really entertaining!)
- Most important, how we connect with people in the real world is impacted. People form expectations–often way off base– about us from our pictures, posts and online realities. They decide who we are, this version of ourselves, and we all struggle when it clashes with our Real selves.
Social Media & the Real Me.
But, like it or not, social media is here to stay. And it’s going to impact me. Even when I’m not engaged with a particular platform, it can still influence my life. In big and sometimes scary ways. A viral tweet or a trending hashtag can explode a person’s life, in good and in bad ways. And no one is immune.
So I’ve been thinking about how social media impacts me. What’s really valuable about it. And what isn’t. And how I can be purposeful about how I use it and how I protect myself from it.
Because there are things I’m concerned about, for myself. Maybe you will agree with me. Maybe not. But I’m going to explore some of these thoughts. Because it’s my blog, and I can.
Still, I’d love for you to come along. I’m going to explore my relationship to social media through a series of words:
- Purpose
- Authenticity
- Kids
- Comparison
- Fear
- Connection
And I’d love for you to engage along with me. Send me questions, thoughts, ideas about these topics. I’ll mix them all and see what we discover.
The Real Me and the Real You are too valuable, to important, and too eternal to sacrifice on the altar of social media. So let’s consider together how we can engage with this cultural reality in biblical, authentic and powerful ways.
