Constant validation from Social Media

When was the last time you remember, having loud laughter, giggling stories and funny gossips with friends, almost purposelessly, all this when you were least bothered of that tiny silly device in your pocket, constantly beeping, buzzing and flashing at you?

Long-lost are those easygoing fun talks with friends!Nowadays, we crave for an adrenaline-pumping rush and an exciting dose of an intense experience in our pursuit of meaningful connections.

First, we create an interesting post, Then we spend hours perfecting the lighting, captions emojis and hashtags.And finally we hit "post", and wait.

Five minutes pass, and no reaction.You start to feel a bit anxious.Did I use the right filter?Maybe I should have used a different caption.Still no notification.Ten minutes pass, and you're starting to doubt yourself.You start to question your worth as a human being .

Maybe you're not as funny, cool, or interesting as you thought you were.Twenty minutes pass, you see many notifications, likes and comments, and the feeling is like winning the Approval Olympics!It's like having a virtual cheering squad that boosts your ego and makes you feel like a rock star.

We often feel compelled to constantly check our devices just for the exhilaration we get through social media likes comments and followers.The phenomenon has led majority of us to a constant need of affirmation and validation from peopel in our network.

Why are Social Media Platforms free for Public ?

I always wondered why platforms like Facebook , Instagram and Twitter are absolutely free for the public?Wouldn't they earn more if they start charging for letting you connect with old school or college friends .

But soon my curiosity came to rest with a phrase from Andrew Lewis which said, "When you don't pay for a Product, you become the product".To understand this to depth we have to first acknowledge the fact that Social Media Platforms are capable to transform us from being a logical and sensible human being to irrational fools in just three steps .

1- ClickBait

While browsing on the Internet, we all notice those sensational headlines that promise the world that - "This one weird trick will change your life forever!" They grab your attention like a toddler in a toy store.Just like a fisherman uses bait to lure fish.This is just the step 1, ClickBait.

2- Data Harvesting

Just like a poor ignorant fish, we go and click those links, only to find out what nonsensical information it was, with no substance..But sorry to say you've been tricked when you clicked the link .

They have collected all critical data about your cyber footprint including your comments , messages, ‘likes’ and your browsing patterns while glancing at the content.Now this was the second step my dear friends and we call this Data Harvesting.

3- Echo Chamber

This data is now sold to a gamut of advertisers and suddenly you start seeing specific ads and posts which surprisingly appears resonating with your needs and interests.These ads are bombarded at you at a paranormal pace, almost leading you to draw out credit cards and swipe.This is the Echo Chamber, specifically designed for your needs and interests .

Welcome to a never ending ride which takes you nowhere.An infinite scroll OR “doomscrolling.” which is endless, mindless and compulsive scrolling, with an end that is neither sought nor in sight.

The ill effects ?

It disrupts your sleep, causes loss of productivity and focus, leaves you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and even helpless in the face of the seemingly endless stream of bad news.But the most insidious effect of doomscrolling is that it can skew your perceptions of the world around you .

When we're constantly bombarded with prejudiced news and sensational headlines, it's easy to start believing that the world is limited to what is shown to you, having a negative impact on our mental health.

So, the next time you find yourself caught in a doomscrolling spiral, turn off your Social media Notifications and Go for a walk and connect with old friends in a coffee shop or park and tell a joke to all which you are poor at telling, and observe the fun created not of joke but togetherness.This is sure to create a positive and enduring impact, leaving behind cherished memories for a long time.till then , Happy scrolling, but DoomScrolling NO .