We need to know less about one another
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Social media users need to utilize their platforms responsibly. Misuse of you platform could put your personal lives in danger.
Social media platforms have allowed us to follow the lives of our fellow friends, families, and peers. Media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, X, and Facebook are some of the many ways that media users share even the most private or minuscule pieces of their lives. On all kinds of media platforms, you can get news of marriage proposals, birthday posts, business promotions, and, of course, any type of drama you can get your hands on. Unsurprisingly, on at least one of these platforms, you may have witnessed users sharing too much about themselves.
Being on these media platforms has, of course, filled me with a sense of entertainment, but they have also left me wondering why I still have an account in the first place. As I mindlessly doom-scroll on TikTok for what feels like hours, I suddenly become enthralled in the personal lives of hundreds of users who have no shame in sharing some of the most enticing moments of their lives. Trading your personal information for approval or recognition from strangers on the internet is dangerous. Even the wildest things you share, like experiences with professors, customers, family members, and old acquaintances, can catch up with you in due time or in ways you might not expect.
Oversharing on media platforms will slowly become our downfall. There are too many instances where personal griefs are opened to thousands, if not millions, of people worldwide. Although this is a way to relate to others who may also be in trying times, we have to acknowledge that sharing every bit of our personal and private moments is not necessary when creating content. We have somehow normalized trauma dumping on complete strangers—which has become a very unhealthy coping mechanism for millions of users. There is a huge difference between knowing what you ate in a day and the most life-altering experience with your ex-partner.
People on the internet are not entitled to know everything about you, even if they request or demand your immediate attention. Users have gotten acclimated to sharing private moments of their lives along with the millions of interactions between posters and commenters, which have quickly escalated into inappropriately timed questions or comments regarding a certain situation.
This is becoming a recurring issue that needs to stop. Allowing strangers into the most private parts of your life encourages them to overstep their boundaries with other individuals they may interact with. It is concerning that some people you interact with once can impact some of the biggest decisions you can make in your life. We should not normalize asking strangers on the internet for their advice because they do not know you, nor do they need to know your lived experiences. You are not required to give that information to people, so do not feel entitled to do so.
We must remember that some things do not need to be shared with your audience; if anything, these moments should be shared between you and a trusted family member, friend, or medical professional. Putting all of your personal information on the internet can put you and your future in an awkward position, and it may not recover smoothly. Your digital footprint has an impact on how others will perceive you—so use your media platforms cautiously and responsibly, as they can also affect the way you live your everyday life.