Retweets, Likes and Double-Taps

A facebook status recently published on my newsfeed told of how one of my ‘friends’ (a term that no longer carries much substance in this age) had bought a homeless person lunch. The phrase ‘good deed for the day done’ was used in the status, with the author, seemingly proud of her efforts, seeking some form of championing. The gesture itself is of course a welcomed, albeit short-lived, respite for the homeless individual. However, the need to publicise this act simply epitomises a rapidly evolving culture within our society – a culture of the shallow, self-obsessed. The motive behind an act of kindness should not be personal gain, nor indeed an attempt to accumulate likes or retweets, yet this mind-set where we seek constant approval has become engrained in a vast proportion of the young.  With the platforms to air comments and pictures more extensive than ever before, what really lies at the heart of this phenomenon, and is there any escape?

In a society where many have lost sight of what’s truly important in life, people appear more materialistic than ever before. The likes of Instagram contain a deluge of posts about new cars, clothes, tattoos, and trainers, typically marked with some rather loathsome hashtags. Social media has created an image of how people should look and dress, although in essence, this concept is not unlike how other styles and movements have been constructed in times gone by. The worrying difference between this image and others is what it represents. There is no political motivation or rebellion, nor any desire to express feelings of love and peace. Instead, the message being force-fed to the young and impressionable is that designer trainers, specific cuts of jean and elaborately designed tattoos make you cool, and ultimately, that’s what matters. It is entirely superficial. For many of the ‘celebrities’ that add fuel to this particular flame, this kind of image is affordable and more in-touch with the kind of lifestyle the famed have traditionally lived. For those on more modest wages, or perhaps none at all, the need to portray oneself in this accepted light is still felt, almost to the point of desperation. Is the unemployed 22-year old posing with a bottle of grey goose really a ‘baller’? Before his friends has even taken a photo, a new profile picture has been plotted. Do the ‘likes’ he’d undoubtedly receive justify the lavishly priced vodka? To an extent – they do serve their purpose in dispelling insecurities and achieving acceptance. Scarily though, this originally more innocent motivation mutates into vanity the more validation it receives.

Given the ‘relative-fame’ people are quite bizarrely able to achieve through social media platforms, there are some serious question marks over role-models and figureheads within modern society. For those whose phone only ever leaves their clutches when they are spraying a bottle of Dom Perignon, excessive tweets and uploads can result in them becoming ‘insta-famous’. Likes and retweets almost serve as badges of honour for individuals, with the invariably narrow-minded and superficial posts receiving not only the mass approval of others, but widespread exposure on an international scale. The levels of notoriety that can seemingly be achieved by almost anyone through no real reason is staggering. Anyone who is able to tap into this frivolous era of self-obsession, and do it ‘well’, has a shot at social-media stardom. The fact so much of what we now see and read is exposed to us via the various social platforms, inevitably people turn to these figures for inspiration – where else would they go? Not only are people striving for acceptance through mirroring behaviour, they are adopting the same shallow morals and values, sacrificing a true understanding of what’s important in life. As part of a broader social dilemma, people are undoubtedly becoming more selfish, less caring of others and are desperate for instant-gratification. People appear, both visually and through their actions, to be becoming less intelligent. Throughout all of what’s been written, generalisations and exceptions unquestionably apply. That said, the increase in the sorts of behaviours discussed cannot be denied – it is there for everyone to see.

For me, fear should not stem from the fact we are beginning to lose sight of reality outside of the social media sphere – it’s too late for that. Instead, a new reality of society seems to have already reached an irreversible stage, one which is in fact dictated by social media. Those less exposed or less familiar with the devices that broadcast the naïve and meaningless are able to escape. But only to an extent. As inhabitants of the same society, even those who don’t subscribe to twitter or facebook are still subjected to this new-wave of ethics and morals in every-day life. Society is continuously evolving, and it would be remiss to suggest that community ties and care for others has suddenly fallen from great heights. However, the extent to which people’s lives are dictated by the messages we are drip-fed through social media is truly skewing the essence of existence. The shallowness that has come to consume so many is ultimately born out of insecurities. We are the victims. But the more plaudits the lifestyles which are so devoid of substance receive, it is arrogance that begins to supersede the desire to fit in. For those with anxieties and insecurities, there is little hope in avoiding this avalanche.

Dan