If someone ever told me that they genuinely disliked all of the followers they had or that the numerous “favorites” they get on each Instagram post upset them, I would not believe them. People love being popular on social media as well as the pedestal it puts them on. Why wouldn’t they? I know I do! The problem is that it leads to a society where people thrive on pleasing others, sometimes a little too much! The constant reinforcement of a “like” or “favorite” teaches us to value others’ opinions more than we should.
Sometimes the behavior of giving extreme value to the opinions of so-called friends gets more out of hand than people realize. In certain cases, it gets to the point where we dread the idea of not getting the praise from others we expect. For some that fear has a tendency to surpass petty social media, turning into something much bigger. More and more people are struggling with the simple task of telling others, “No” whenever the occasion arises. People are beginning to forget that we do not owe anything to anyone. There are certainly scenarios involving valuable relationships in which there may be a higher level of commitment, entitling one person to question the other. However, outside of those more meaningful and personal relationships, it is important to prioritize our own thoughts and wants ahead of others’.
It is a slippery slope of harmless fun in the world of social media that can morph daily life decisions before we know it. Whether it comes down to making choices based on what the masses may think or even being afraid to give people a stern “no” the way we are using evolving social media platforms is shaping the way our day-to-day lives operate.
We must remember that we do not have to please everyone all of the time in spite of what social media is teaching us. Put yourself first, you deserve it!
HCXO!