Social media and the internet has made an incredible impact on my life. I was lucky to grow up in a time before social media was popular and was still able to have a semi normal childhood off the internet. I was in high school around the time it became a huge thing and our world began to revolve around it. This is something I will always be thankful for, as I’m now watching my niece and nephew growing up on the internet, both already having iPhones before the age of 10. They are now being exposed to things online, and new insecurities they shouldn’t have to be worrying about so young.
I think it’s hit or miss having the internet available at all times. Its a great asset when news needs to reach the masses immediately, it also helps spread information that otherwise may not have been brought to light or shared with various groups of people. George Floyd’s murder for example, had we not had the internet available, the word of what happened and the true story would not have been readily available for the public to see. On the opposite spectrum, it’s also a downside to have everything posted online; now negative news and lies can be spread easily as well. People’s private information and lives are now being broadcasted for the world to see. This is now starting to be shamed as we see the longterm effects it can have on people, Britney Spears for example.
After recently moving from the city to farmland in the middle of no where, I no longer have wifi in my home and have a limited amount of data on my phone. This is something I’m not a huge fan of and I greatly miss having the internet at my finger tips. As I just moved 14 hours from my hometown in Virginia, I also left all my friends behind, leaving the internet to be my only connection to my old life and my friends. Without the internet, I feel that I'm missing out on many things and that I’m left out of the loop. I enjoy having social media accessibility cause it allows me to stay connected to my family and friends lives, so I don't feel as if I’m no longer apart of them. Without the internet, this wouldn't be an option