Contrary to Dr. Ben Carson’s belief that Obamacare is the new slavery, truly, the real new slavery is Social Media. We live in a current time where people are more apt to checking in with virtual friends rather than immersing themselves in the moment they are living in now. Why? Perhaps because it is easier to type mean things into a computer rather than say it to somebody’s face (in the end isn’t bullying the only real thing we interact with anymore). Personally, I am totally okay with this, hearing the fact that I am awkwardly tall and non-athletic sounds way better coming from my trusty cell phone than the mouths of my closest friends. Also, these people cannot see the quivering of my lower lip as I begin to wallow in sorrow due to the all-too-real comment. Instead of seeing that reaction, the reaction that they wanted, all they get in response is a casual, shrug-it-off “lol.”
Social Media has more functions than just another way for kids to bully each other though, it also has the ability to create awkward situations between people! Doesn’t everyone love those awkward sexual-tension inducing moments at school? No? Well too bad because now they can follow you home through the internet. One example of a moment like this happens all too often. Say you are a heartbroken ex-boy/girlfriend casually stalking your ex on say, Instagram. You are stalking their every move seeing if they have new interests or what they are up to now that they are gone from your life. You go so far back in that person’s pictures that you are now looking at pictures from over three years ago. Then, the worst mistake possible is committed. When trying to see who else is tagged in an old picture, you accidentally double-click the photo, liking it and giving your ex the notification that you liked a photo from well over two years ago. This, in turn, notifies that person to stay far away from you, as you are now considered, “the crazy one.” Not only does this basically ruin any chance you have with that person, it will also cause some awkward across the room eye contact with you when they look at you to try and figure out if they should call the cops or not. In reality, this happens all too often where you are just casually creeping on a stranger; it is almost double awkward when it happens like that as it can cause them to think you have an interest in them or worse, that you actually like them. Who actually likes things? R&B Slow Jamz certainly doesn’t.
Social Media has also caused a new way for people to advertise to us as well as create false idols with no real talent. Social Media superstars like Nash Grier have risen to fame within the young community and even star in many popular ads now, despite the stunning lack of talent these people have. There is legitimately better acting in the horrendous made-for-TV movies that seem to always be on the Syfy channel. Seeing these “stars” get rich and famous is nauseating not even as much because of their own stunning originality-deficiency but their sheeplike fanbases that follow them. Often comprised of pre to early teens, these fanbases follow their talentless leaders all around and pay good money to meet them and get a picture with them. They could have just as easily taken a picture with a rock for free, because in ten years, when the world finally sees through Nash Grier and his troupe of all-too-close friends, the picture with the rock will mean just as much. In other words, I hate that social media has given people like Nash Grier the ability to be rich and famous. But I mostly just hate Nash Grier.
Good luck with all your social media scenarios I’m sure you will encounter, tune back in on December 15th for more R&B Slow Jamz!