I started using facebook back in 2004 and it was getting more and more 'awesome' until steemit. The interface keeps getting better, the usability keeps improving. And sister company is also something else. Once I opened any of these apps, I found it hard to close them. Steemit came along at a perfect time i started questioning the benefits of spending my resources especially the most valuable one - Time on these social media platforms without getting anything in return.
An average user of facebook spends about 2 hours which is one month out of every year. That also translate to an average of 4 - 5 years in 50 years. And a lot of people spend longer than that on Facebook alone.
These platforms are designed to be addictive. I bet they spent a lot of resources researching how to get your attention as long as they can, that means getting you addicted to their business. The longer you stay on these sites, the more ads they keep forcing down on you and the more revenue they get from advertising. Their business booming depends on you getting addicted and keep coming back for more. They created filter to narrow down your interests which means you voluntarily give them what you are specifically interested in. And you constantly have advertisements all over your face.
Most of the activities on social media - posting, liking, commenting, sharing produce a rush of dopamine which is hormone traditionally gotten from hugging someone,attentions, rewards etc. Now you can get the satisfaction of producing dopamine without putting efforts of going out and meeting people. All you have to do now is move your fingers and keep scrolling.
Social Media lower your self esteem. Looking at your social media pages and not thinking deep can make you depressed. You may start believing every one is super beautiful with no single blemish, everybody wears designers clothes all the time, all your old school mates are married to beautiful partners and drive high class cars. But the truth is life is not that rosy, majority of those people have blemishes they are covering up well, they have bigger struggles you can only imagine, they are deep in debt and can only afford once in a while shopping wearing their best clothes. Seeing all of that can make you start thinking you far behind and this can bring down your self esteem.
They decreases your social skills. Communicating and building connections are more simplier and less tasking than real life. On social media, your use of English need to be right and up to date with latest words and slangs while communication in reality requires paying attention to body languages, tonality, been impulsive and so on. Starting conversation and relating with people outside social media requires you to be more subtler, paying attention to details and constant practice and brushing up these social skills. With you like many of us getting comfortable with social media, these social and communication skills are getting rustier day by day.
Wastage of the most valuable resources. Time is the most valuable of all the resources, it can never be regained once spent. Extra attention must then be given to how it is spent. Spending all day on social media without getting much back in terms of reward except for the satisfaction of getting more followers and likes is definitely not a good use of your time. There are other profitable ways of investing your most valuable resource than a sure greater than 100% loss on investment that you get from facebook and others.
Conclusion
Facebook and others can have their own uses, for example, facebook is one of the most effective ways to reach a larger audience in a short time. So it is great for marketing. There are also functions like chat, groups and so that make these platforms beneficial in some ways. But if you are just posting just for the fun of it and getting satisfactions from more likes and followers. You need to check yourself - your are wasting time and resources. They are not adding values to your life other than you making some people richer. Reading this, there is a big chance you are already and you know the deal. But if you landed here by other means, you are on steemit where you do everything you love doing on all other platforms and get 'paid' for it...Go figure.
Thank you for reading.
Please remember to upvote, resteem for your followers to read and leave a comment to share your thoughts.
I have more subtle reasons for using Facebook than most, but this essay has the deep ring of truth to it. While I was convalescent from surgery, it was Facebook and King's Isle games (Wizard 101) that helped me preserve what remained of my sanity. If only I had known about Steemit, back then!
Alas, I can't give myself a better past. I can, and do, enjoy my present. Much of that pleasure comes from following the interesting folks on Steemit!
Even with its flaws, steemit is full of wonderful intellectuals and not 'slayers' of nothingness on FB and IG.
Whatever you are bringing, you definitely find your space here. But it is hard for 'shallow' minds. These types complain a lot about Steemit flaws when they should grinding like others.
Thank you @auntkaty for sharing your experience with us.
Facebook has been for almost decade now and it has not provide or improve someone as steemit does i love to be in his platform it improve my everyday routine and also encourage me to do more of being myself and be more creative in every thing i post everyday
Yes, apart from the reward part of it. Steemit brings out our inert creativity.
@otunolakayode, keep on steeming!
Everythings was made and create to serve its own purposes. Added value is the key words used to distilled its value. Use it wisely, explore and benefit from it. Right?
Good one @bagindoo.
Always find a way to benefit from even technology meant for fun.
If it you can't find any value attached to it..drop it like its hot!
@bagindooo, i appreciate your contribution.
Your Post Has Been Featured on @Resteemable!
Feature any Steemit post using resteemit.com!
How It Works:
1. Take Any Steemit URL
2. Erase
https://3. Type
reGet Featured Instantly � Featured Posts are voted every 2.4hrs
Join the Curation Team Here | Vote Resteemable for Witness