Living without being 'Liked'

14th May 2014 is a day that's etched in my memory. It's one when I had to live without the Internet in addition to being stuck alone in a one bedroom apartment . The only mode of communication I had was a primitive mobile phone that allowed me to send text messages and make phone calls. I'm tempted to explain how I got into such a situation but that's long story that would digress from the important issue that I would be addressing . 

I was distraught and for some the above state would seem silly. But for a person like me who's very survival had become dependent on timely access to information , both useful and nonsensical , a day without Internet was like an Episode from 'Survivor' . No Internet meant no Facebook and watsapp! My inquisitive mind had to know what other people were upto and the rest of the world had to know that I exist. I realized that I had the mammoth task of using this 'idle' time for other activities.

Maslow's modified Triangle of Needs (Pic courtesy : http://beatingthesearchengine.blogspot.in)

As I contemplated further on this, images of people glued to their smart phones came to my mind. While walking, waiting for appointments and attending lectures you often see them typing incessantly on their smart phones. Posting '#FeelingBored' or making 'bitstrips' that add a tinge of comedy and drama to their banal lives. They can also use apps like 'Instagram' to add effects before they post 'bored' selfies. Trivia: Selfie is The Oxford Dictionaries Word of the Year 2013.

Has the Social Media taken over our lives? Has it become a medium of mental sickness in the 21st century? When I think back I realize that I too have become a victim ever since I started using a smartphone. Many studies have shown that social media feeds to the insecurities of people while propagating narcissistic and compulsive tendencies. Latest evidence links Facebook to a detrimental body image among young women, which in turn leads to eating disorders.

However, is social media to be blamed for this or the people using it? Social media has increased outreach. Successful organizations have effectively harnessed this potential to gain a competitive advantage. Even in elections these days, social media has replaced door to door campaigning . For me, social media has been a forum that exposed me to a diversity of ideas. These facts present a paradox that makes me wonder 'does social media make you smart or stupid'?

I'm not suggesting that one should completely cut off social media. One should harness its beneficial qualities like connection, knowledge sharing, collaboration rather than negative tendencies like self-obsession, addiction and waste of productive time.The key is to have an awareness and balance. You cannot afford to let Facebook and Watsapp rule your entire day. Prioritize and schedule activities that matter, while allocating a decent amount of time for social media when you're least productive.

Introspect by asking yourself these questions:

What do I to gain by knowing what the whole world is up to?

Do I need likes and comments to reinforce my self esteem?

Would my close family and friends prefer an FB like over quality time spent with them?

Is an hour long discussion over Watsapp better that the same time spent with friends over coffee?

Do people actually like the fact you 'checked-in' to this lovely resort , apart from your close family and friends?

Will I obtain useful information by liking a specific page on Facebook?

On that note, I must mention that I survived 2 days without the Internet and it was rejuvenating. I was proud to have conquered the modified Maslow's triangle of needs for the 21st century :D. This made me realize that a major chunk of my time goes on browsing and commenting peoples' statuses while this could have otherwise been used for something productive. Maybe u guys should try disconnecting for a day, who knows u might discover a hidden interest?

Here's a video that would provide some food for thought :)