Warning all DePauw collegiette women: a very real phenomenon occurring hundreds of times a day could potentially ruin your spring break.
What is this threatening event I’m talking about?
They’re called pseudo events, which are “events staged primarily so that [they] can be reported to the media.”
Still not sure what pseudo events are and how they relate to your spring break? Let me fill you in.
A couple of weeks ago, my roommates and I had a conversation about pseudo events and how they impact not just college students but everyone with access to technology. Here’s an example: Each year millions of tourists travel to Italy to soak in Italian culture, but when you visit popular destinations, expectations arise. It is almost expected for tourists to take a photo “pushing” against a certain tilted tower, or tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain. If you didn’t instagram, tweet or post a photograph shoving the Leaning Tower of Pisa or posing in front of the renowned fountain, there is a sense that your trip to Italy was incomplete. You didn’t really experience Italy and all it has to offer. This just isn’t true.
I’m not arguing against visiting touristy spots—I love this aspect of traveling—but what I am arguing against is excessively documenting your entire trip for all of your friends and followers. I’m willing to bet that a large group of women are visiting Florida for spring break. I myself am one of them. I intend to Instagram/Tweet/post on Facebook the obligatory beach picture that shows off the beautiful blue waves. What I won’t be doing is spending my entire trip with my eyes glued to my cell phone capturing—but not really appreciating—my experiences as they are happening. I want to be present on my very last college spring break, not be worried about how many likes my photos will achieve, or broadcasting what I’m doing at all times.
There is nothing wrong with utilizing social media, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love and use Instagram and twitter, but this magical week is called spring break for a reason. It’s time off from the pressures and stress of communicating with all your best friends 24/7. It’s a chance to unwind and focus on enjoying the moment, instead of snap chatting another picture of the drink you are about to enjoy. Here’s my promise to you: I promise that even if you don’t Instagram the filtered, artsy photo of your margarita, you will still enjoy it. Even if there are no likes, no retweets, no comments, the drink will taste just as delicious, and the good news is you can be completely focused on enjoying the taste.
I admit on very public forum that I will take pictures and some will inevitably end up on social media, but what I won’t do is spend my break interacting with a cell phone.
This break, I won’t rely on updates telling me what my friends and peers are doing each day. I vow to leave my phone in my room (or at take it and use it mostly for music) and actually spend time with people. I refuse to take dozens of group pictures with the sole intention of posting them on social media and instead, focus on taking fewer photographs that will matter to me later. I’ll make memories and truly enjoy them in real time. It’s a crazy idea but I think it can work.
Hope you all have a relaxing and fun spring break! After all, we deserve it.