I was scrolling through TikTok today, and I came across a post, talking about The Colosseum. Curious about the temple, and why it is now a tourist attraction, I went down the rabbit hole, researching and finding more about this horrific aspect of history. Apparently, the temple of Colosseum, was a place where the early Romans gathered to watch slaves be executed by starved wild animals, without any form of defense whatsoever. From what I garnered, the people were simply bored and found that horrifying action, a means of entertainment. Now, this isn’t actually the point of this post, it’s just me sharing a bit of information I learnt today, thanks to social media.
I’ve learnt a lot this year, or rather, I was exposed to a lot of information. Information, I don’t think I would have known, if it wasn’t for social media. And that’s one of the beauties of these apps where people air opinions - the unlimited access to information. The amount of information, on social media, varies greatly, and that’s because it doesn’t come from one source. It comes from people from different walks of life, sharing their knowledge, and creating awareness of different sorts, to whoever is open to learning.
Aside the entertainment aspect, there are so many things to learn on social media and I love to utilize that to the fullest. However, there’s a saying that ‘too much of everything is bad’. There’s no harm in learning on social media, but the harm begins when you can no longer differentiate between what’s right and what’s not.
As unlimited as the information that exists on social media is, there’s no guarantee that it’s truth. There’s so much misleading knowledge out there, as there is genuine knowledge, which is why caution should be employed when gaining knowledge on social media. There have been situations where I internalized opinions that are different from everything I stand for morally, and realizing that during moments of self-reflections helped me in getting back on track morally.
We’re all different individuals, living different lives, so what seems good in the eyes of someone else, might be different from your principles. It might seem eye opening, and for a moment, you may question your moral inclinations but the real issue is when one chooses to follow that path simply because someone online did/said so. Results may vary, and most times, it doesn’t end up positively.
Social media has made so many people, as much as it has destroyed many. Everyone seems to be a scholar online, yet you still come across people with weird mentalities offline. While there’s so much to be exposed to, what everyone needs to apply, is caution. Before choosing to adopt a lifestyle, question everything. Weigh the odds, and know when to be contented. Social media is one of the best inventions, because through it we can connect to people from anywhere in the world, through it, you can stay entertained in the comfort of your home, and through it, you can learn whatever you want. It only becomes harmful when one carelessly consumes everything that is portrayed.
Thanks for reading.
