When social networks are the center of our life | Social Networks | photos | Internet

On a recent visit to the Museum of Modern Art with a friend and her daughter, we toured the museum’s exhibits and was struck by how often her 13-year-old daughter asked us to take photos of her in front of works of art.

Head bowed, she gazed contemplatively at the pieces, photos of which she anxiously posted on Instagram, Snapchat, and everything else. He wasn’t the only young (or older) person doing this; It seemed like everyone was busy taking photos of themselves “experiencing” the museum.

This is not at all a criticism of my friend’s daughter (or anyone else). What was worrying, at least for me, was that, between photos, my friend’s daughter had no interest in works of art. This fact did not seem to matter or have any bearing on posting as someone who enjoyed the experience.

The only time he looked at the work, in fact, was when we photographed him looking at it. Even then, he was looking primarily in the direction of the artwork, with a soft focus that didn’t seem to encompass the art itself. When I asked her why she wanted to put photos of her touring the museum when it was clear she didn’t like being there, she smiled, shrugged, and asked me to take another photo of her.

When I was his age, I wasn’t interested in going to museums either, and when they took me, I couldn’t wait to get out of the building. Not having any interest in art is completely normal and not bothersome at all. But what is disturbing is the amount of energy that a young person devotes to creating an image of the life they are living and the character they play in that life.

Wrong identity

Although creating a own image has always been an important part of the growth and construction of our identities, social networks seem to have changed the rules of the game. Social media has not only intensified the pressure and the possibility of creating an image of our own, but it has also distorted the process in which we become, who we are.

“Life experiences are not lived directly, but are used as opportunities to announce what kind of person you are”

Young people seem to create an image of who they are instead of becoming that, they publish their life instead of living it. The effort involved in creating an identity and getting it to be recognized or “followed” has replaced the effort to really take an interest in the life they publish.

Social networks have turned life and its experiences into an exercise in narcissism. No matter what the experience is about, it becomes something about you, the person who is experiencing it. A concert is not about music, a restaurant is not about food, a sporting event is not about sports; it all has to do with you, who does it, and what the event says about you.

For those who link their identity to social networks, life experiences are not lived directly, but are used as opportunities to advertise the type of person they are. Life is now a product through which to promote your image, regardless of whether the relationship with that image faithfully reflects your interior.

This relationship with social media is one of the most disturbing ways that we are changing in the face of new technologies. For too many of us, it seems that our experiences now only make sense when they say something about us. And it’s a double-edged sword: as we feel more detached and disconnected from our lives, meaning becomes harder to find.

The more we use life to create an identity, the more isolated we feel from life. Instead of being part of it, in the flow of life, we feel that we have to keep generating new “life stuff” that announces us, establishes us, and ultimately proves our existence. Meanwhile, the gulf between us and life grows ever larger.

Here’s an invitation: The next time you feel inclined to publish your story, stop for a moment and experience where you are instead. Feel what it feels like to live without doing anything with it. Just be, without the narration. While this may seem like you lose an opportunity to establish your value, in reality, the benefits it can offer to your true self will far outweigh any losses that occur.

NAncy Colier is a psychotherapist, interfaith minister, author, public speaker, workshop leader, and author of several books on mindfulness and personal growth. He is available for individual psychotherapy, mindfulness training, spiritual counseling, public talks, and workshops, and also works with clients via Skype around the world. For more information visit NancyColier.com.

Join our Telegram channel to receive the latest news instantly by clicking here.

© The Epoch Times in Spanish. All rights reserved. Reproduction prohibited without express permission.