Today's blog is about one of the most powerful aspects in current society.
Almost everyone uses it (over 3.48 billion people, to be precise) and its dominance cannot be understated.
I'm talking, of course, about social media.
Do you truly understand how much control Facebook, Google and Microsoft have over your life?
They're the biggest players in the tech game; between them they own Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp (Facebook), YouTube (Google) and LinkedIn (Microsoft).
As seen by the data leaks of 267 million Facebook users in 2019, these companies - particularly Zuckerberg and his lot - have virtually unlimited control of data in so many people's lives.
Other social media platforms - such as Twitter, Snapchat, and more recently TikTok - are privately owned, but the monopoly of online power held by Silicon Valley is, well, troubling.
I've already predicted a significant political role of social media in the Something Extra in a previous post.
I must say this; I am NOT anti-social media.
I think there are many benefits to its existence, as I'll soon reveal, and use multiple different platforms myself.
But I believe it MUST be approached with caution.
So here are some of the biggest pros and cons of social media, split into the sub-categories of social life and business life.
SOCIAL
Pros:
One of the wonderful things about all of these platforms is that they allow us to connect to more people on a global scale.
Never before could I pull out my phone, and instantly send a video on Snapchat to say, a friend in Australia (or even an Aspirer...).
This ability to (digitally) connect with billions of people in virtually every country worldwide does wonders for expanding our horizons and world beliefs; gone are the days in which the only opinions you'd regularly hear were your immediate family and friends, colleagues and neighbours.
It's also fantastic tool for staying in touch with friends who've moved away, or family who live abroad, to which I am personally very grateful (flights from England to New Zealand aren't the cheapest, as I'm sure you're aware).
Cons:
Do this for me: the next time you take public transport, whether it be a tube, bus or train, take a moment to look around you, and observe exactly how many of your fellow passengers are staring transfixed at their phones.
How many of them do you think will be using social media at that moment?
Probably most of them, right?
"But why is that a bad thing?" you might ask, and understandably so.
The quality of social interactions are worsening, and at a dramatic rate.
Trust me, you can't help notice it among my up-and-coming generation, the ones who started using social media in their early teens (or even earlier) and haven't looked back since.
People fail to hold eye contact.
People struggle to maintain a conversation without reaching for their phone.
People prefer to have superficial, simulated interactions online than genuine connections in real life.
It's a serious problem.
Just remember this: if someone's talking to you, but you open up your phone and scroll through Instagram, it's not only rude, but actually implies to that person that whatever is on your phone is more important to you than they are.
Think about that.
Is that really the type of relationship you want with your partner, friend or family member?
Of course it isn't; we crave human connection not only spiritually, but biologically, as social interaction releases oxytocin (also prominent after childbirth and yep, during sex) which basically makes us feel a whole lot better about everything.
Why on earth would we want to restrict that?
Other than the limitations social media places on social skills, it also has a negative effect on our brains.
We crave instant gratification in everything we do, because we can open up social media and instantly be connected.
This is a problem, because the things we want most in life - strong health, relationships, business - take time.
You don't sculpt your dream body by aimlessly going to the gym once or twice - it takes consistency, and delayed gratification, knowing that hard work, discipline and longevity will eventually yield the desired results.
Moreover, social media leaves us with an empty sense of dissatisfaction.
Cognitively, the endless scrolling through Instagram, or Facebook is like a drug, which the Silicon Valley boys feed us in small doses, enticing us into more.
We've all done it before: we go on our phones, and open an app with a specific intention of messaging someone or posting something, only to be distracted, and then sucked into 30 mins of time mindlessly wasted scrolling.
The big tech companies have actually taken research from Las Vegas Casinos, examining what exactly made them so addictive, and then applied that to social media in the form of 'Like' buttons.
Our Facebook and Instagram feeds are tailored to be aligned with our core beliefs, interests and perspectives.
We see what we want to see, and this severely limits our capacity to empathise with other people's viewpoints on trivial issues, let alone controversial ones.
All of this is engineered to entice us to spend more and more time on social media, which means more time viewing ads, which means more money earned for the big companies.
It's ingenious.
It's also rather alarming.
BUSINESS
Pros:
Back in the 20th century, before the invention of the iPhone, companies were able to claim whatever they liked when advertising their product.
They were still able to sell the '5 Day Fat-Burning Pills' and '6 Pack-Inducing Lotions' because, despite these types of products being undeniable horseshit.
We customers were regularly being tricked and didn't have the means to call the company out on their advertising lies.
But now we do.
Say you are hoaxed into buying one of these bogus products, and it fails miserably to achieve what was promised.
You might tell several friends (this could be face-to-face OR online) who will then immediately avoid this company, and in turn might tell their friends and family.
So the company would be losing out on a lot of business, right?
Now imagine the cheated customer takes to social media to voice their complaints.
Can you see how this would serve as a multiplier?
Particularly for users with a big following, they can instantly reach thousands, or even millions, of followers who will be more likely to boycott the company.
The effect?
Lying, scheming, greedy companies go bankrupt; genuine companies that seek to solve people's problems thrive.
I've mentioned this concept before, and cannot stress it enough - if you own a business, play for the LONG GAME and not the get-rich-quick attitude of so many.
Create products/provide services that are SO FUCKING GOOD that your customers rant and rave about them, and become advocates of your brand, over social media and in person.
Cons:
If possible, go into your iPhone settings and find 'Screen Time'.
This will break down EXACTLY how much time you spend (or waste) looking at your phone each day.
For the average user, it is around 3 hours 15 minutes, every single day.
That's over 22 hours a week.
It's over 88 hours a month.
It's more than 1,058 hours a year, which comes to...
...44 DAYS OF THE YEAR SPENT ON OUR PHONES.
Let that sink in.
Imagine having 44 extra days, every single year, to go towards accomplishing your goals (and this could be in business, or fitness, relationships etc).
How much of an advantage would you gain?
Okay, social media is pivotal in many businesses, and companies thrive on it, I won't deny that.
But I'm certain that the amount of time you spend on your phone - and particularly social media - can decrease.
Measure how much time you're wasting; make a plan of action to reduce it; execute that plan.
It's really simple, and the results will be mindblowing.
Even if you only decrease your use from 3 hours to 2 hours; that's still 7 hours extra, every week.
One of the biggest excuses nowadays is that we 'don't have enough time' to pursue what we truly want - well, here's a way to make that time.
Will you go through with it?
Scroll down to the Something Extra to find out how you can.
Social media can make us feel isolated, separated and even depressed, but remember that You'll Never Walk Alone.
Until the next time...
Alex (N.Y.A.)
Something Extra
I have a little social media challenge for you:
Level 1 = delete ALL social media apps from your phone for a day, then redownload them at night, give yourself 30 mins max and use them with a purpose.
Level 2 = delete ALL social media apps from your phone for three days at a time, then redownload them on the third day at night, give yourself 30 mins max and use them with a purpose.
Level 3 = delete ALL social media apps from your phone for seven days at a time, then redownload them on the seventh day at night, give yourself 30 mins max and use them with a purpose.
When I say 30 mins max, I mean set a timer and strictly stick to that limit.
When I say with a purpose, I don't mean just mindlessly scroll through, but rather post something necessary, or reach out to someone who you can help etc.
If you can stick to this, and maybe even make it a lifestyle change, you will MASSIVELY benefit.
That I can promise you.
You'll feel calmer, more focused and simply more alive, experiencing reality, not living vicariously through an app on your phone.
Alternatively, if you can go cold turkey and delete all social media for 30 DAYS, definitely go for it.
Whichever level you choose, let me know how you get on via Instagram (yes, I see the irony), or email me: alexblair1@virginmedia.com.
I'd love to hear how our Aspiring Community gets on with this little challenge.
Good luck.