I was recently ziplining through the jungles of Cancun (yes-there are jungles there) and had a wonderful time. Anytime you hear Axl Rose belting out "Welcome to the jungle" as you zip through the trees- well- it's just pretty sweet. Just awesome really. A woman ahead of me said to her partner "make sure to get my photo- I want to make it my profile picture!" That comment, though innocent, reminded me just how tuned into facebook we are. We're in the middle of paradise on a beautiful day, not a cloud or bug around, on a platform getting ready to sail through the trees and she's worried about facebook!? I proceeded to watch the woman take her photo- look at it- delete it- and request her partner take it again. Really!??! Was the experience not documented correctly enough to make it facebook worthy!?
It made me sad actually. She was more focused on the profile photo than she was the experience. She wasn't really living. She was living through a screen and missing the experience because she was so focused on what she would upload once back to wi-fi.
The obsession with facebook, even in the midst of the land of sun and relaxation, was again confirmed when I returned to my phone full of texts saying it looked like I was having fun, complementing the weather and saying they were glad I was enjoying my trip. Wait- how did they know? I hadn't told these people I was gone. Ah-ha.....facebook. Someone had tagged me in photos they had taken and uploaded them to facebook. There- it was. My vacation and plans were on facebook without me even doing so.
Mark Zuckerberg has created a drug in facebook. And I realize the irony of me typing an entry for others to read via facebook. Guilty as charged. I'm today's dealer.
Facebook can be an awesome tool to reconnect- to share exciting moments- celebrate successes- encourage others - to network and promote businesses. Mr. Zuckerberg - you are a genius. But you truly created a monster too.
People today are addicted- truly addicted - to facebook. We share, post, promote, update and are on FB way too much. It isn't healthy in so many ways- socially, emotionally or mentally.
I am not against FB- I use it myself - but do believe a 5-10 minute/day max is a good amount of time to limit yourself to the black hole of facebook. Getting off of social media (or truly limiting it) is one of the first things I often recommend with clients. Facebook forces you to compare yourself to others, to compete, urges you to share (sometimes too much) and doesn't always bring out the best in allowing people to truly connect with one another.
This article shares more about it (
HERE) but in a nutshell- signs you're addicted to facebook:
1- Oversharing (did you really need to share a photo of your breakfast?)
2- Checking FB whenever possible (Stoplights? Come on. Really!?)
3- Overly concerned with FB image (It's a photo folks. Let's not stress about how many likes you got.)
4- Reporting on FB (No one really should care that much.)
5- Spending Hours Browsing Facebook (Please don't tell me you're don't have time to do anything!)
6- Over uploading friends (no one has 5000 friends.)
7- Compromising offline social life (When was the last time you talked to someone- in person?)
And so....because everyone love's a challenge....can you stay off facebook this weekend?! Unplug. Remove yourself. And connect with the world screen free. Go do it. Hands free. I'm going to!
Can I get a thumbs up!?
