IF you aren’t on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Twitter, WhatsApp and any other popular social media networks, people will end up asking you, ‘How do you get by?’

According to a recent research, a total of 2.62 billion persons out of the world’s given population are active social media users. Last recorded in 2012, shockingly only 33 out of every 100 persons have access to internet connections in Guyana. I still question this statistics because it seems as if everyone I’m acquainted with has internet connections. A mind-blowing 71 per cent of all internet usage is for the purpose of social media. There is no doubt that these numbers are increasing as the days go by.

The word social in the phrase ‘social media’ surely serves as an irony in our daily lifestyles. While we use social internet media to connect with people, it is merely a virtual reality. Guilty, I am one of those who spend a lot of my time behind a screen. Many users see social media as a means to communicate with others, share content and promote businesses. However, there is the downside of social media that should be stressed on more frequently.

Do you have an idea of who a cyberbully is? Well, Guyana’s Cybercrime Bill describes a cyberbully as: ‘someone who uses a computer system to repeatedly or continuously convey information which causes fear, intimidation, humiliation, distress, or other harm to another person.’ Such an act is seen as an offence in Guyana and should be reported to the police. The use of inappropriate comments/images, blackmail, threats of harm, impersonation (fake profiles) are all forms of cyberbullying. There should be no excuse for bullying, despite the form it comes in. We should also avoid sending or posting things such as videos and images that we would like to remain private. Also, you should avoid adding/following persons that you may not know.

I’ve had many incidents where I accidently typed an online slang in many of my school assignments. ‘LOL’, ‘OMG’, ‘TTYL’ and countless others are replacing our vocabularies. We spend so much of our time online and use these slangs/abbreviations so often that when it comes to formal writing, one tends to get conflicted. Many experts say that it is deteriorating English- Language.

I have even seen adults online, many who completed high school or even university and they engage with these slangs as well. No social relationship can be as healthy without effective communication. If we communicate, whether by blogging or texting, how can others understand us by the incorrect use of language? Seemingly, many persons even invent their own slang words, use it and then leave others clueless as to what they’re trying to say.

I know I’m not the only person who has opened up their internet browser for the purpose of school research but somehow ‘magically’ wandered onto a social media site. Social media should not hinder with your daily or even long term accomplishments. I’m starting to think that social media is the new form, perhaps even an excuse of procrastination. Even at family events, when two persons are out on a date or when friends decide to hangout, I observed that people still pick up their phones. When we do this, we leave the other persons wondering: ‘Is there something on your phone that is more important than my presence?’

Social media users also tend to lose their sense of identity, self-confidence and some even show signs of depression. I’ve noticed that many users have the habit of only showcasing the good sides of their life, showcasing a false sense of ‘perfection’. The number of likes you receive on a picture should not equal your level of self-esteem.
Finding someone who is off of social media is quite hard, since of course the majority of our contacts are via social media networks. A good friend of mine, Denica Henry managed to avert Instagram. Here’s her story:

“I made the decision to ease off of Instagram a few months back. I was an avid celebrity follower. Aside from the occasional wish to see what a few friends are doing, I don’t mind being off of it. It became an addiction for me. To see what others are doing, admiring their lifestyles and wishing I had the chance to live in their shoes.

Everybody seems to have it all together while I’m here struggling with self- acceptance on a daily basis. Eventually I decided to ease off social media altogether. It wasn’t doing me any favours. Constantly distracted and depressed, I just couldn’t continue to self-inflict myself. The comparing, judging and hating of myself- my truth. It had to stop and nobody could control that except me.”