THE SOCIAL MEDIA OBSESSION

Everywhere you go it's easy to see a ton of people attached to their cell phones.  I often wonder if people can go a day without using their phones, or even a few hours when they are out in public.  What is it that has made us so obsessed and addicted to these little electronic devices?  The telephone was invented as a way for people to stay connected to each other through vocal communication.  Now a phone has become a place to text, browse the internet, a calculator, a calendar, game playing and so much more.  How many people actually use a cell phone to talk anymore?  We were recently at a hockey game where I saw a girl walking around the gift shop holding up the phone in front of her face as she walked.  I'm guessing she was probably making a video of herself for Instagram.  It's quite silly if you think about it but I understand the fun of it. 

I didn't get the internet until after graduating college (in 2000) so I was late in the game.  Back then there wasn't much online but I did discover something called Expage where you could make your own profile.  Expage is no longer in service.  I then discovered GeoCities, which was another place to share a profile or even turn it into a blog.  I had so much fun with it.  GeoCities was another site that shut down.  Then I discovered Xanga, a free blogging place.  I wrote about my daily adventures and personal feelings towards things.  I was also able to meet people from all over the country.  It was fun.  I became hooked.  Years later Xanga started charging their users so I shut my page down.  That's when I decided to open up a blog right here on Blogger.  I love blogging because I love writing.  My dream has always been to become an author and I'm currently working on something.  So, that's basically my blogging history.  As I was on Xanga I discovered a lot of people were using Myspace and I decided to join.  Ahh, my first experience with social media.  A lot of current friends, friends from my past and family were on Myspace so I decided to stick with it.  My family lives in another state so this was an easy and free way to constantly stay connected with them.  A few years after spending far too much time on Myspace I discovered Facebook and decided to make my own profile there.  Facebook was then the latest and greatest social media site and more and more family and friends joined in.  Eventually Myspace became a thing of the past.  Hey, does anyone still use it?

Facebook is fun and it is a great way to stay connected with people; however, it's also become a platform for everyone to post their political views/rants and share information that is often false.  Many times I have read things that have irritated me and then I wrote my own status about the issues.  It's become annoying.  I have annoyed myself with it but I am also irritated with others.  As I said, it's a great way to stay in touch with everyone and to read what everyone is up to but all the political stuff has become far too much.  When I jump on Facebook and read something that sets me off or puts me in a bad mood it's then I realize that it's just not worth it.  I keep going back and forth with whether or not I want to stick with Facebook.  I'm currently taking another break from it.  I logged off last night and have no intention of getting back on anytime soon.  I need the break again.

I never had an interest in Twitter but then when finding out my dad (who hates Facebook and refuses to get on there) has a Twitter I decided to join.  Ugh, Twitter is basically just people ranting about politics.  No fun.  So I stay off of there unless I feel like posting something occasionally.

Then I joined Instagram and that is, by far, my favorite social media site.  It's a place where you can share pictures and videos without the status comments and DRAMA.  Some of my family members and friends are on there but I have been following a ton of my favorite celebrities.  I enjoy taking some time to glance into their every day lives, but not in an obsessed, stalker way.  Being a housewife and spending my entire day on cleaning it's nice to take a break here and there to check updates and see what everyone is up to.  Social media and blogging has become my outlet - please tell me that's not pathetic. 

And just when I thought I was on enough things I make the hasty decision to get on Snapchat.  I'm still figuring it out but those Snapchat filters are so cute.  My kids are enjoying it too.  They crack up laughing at themselves while taking pictures and videos with the filters. 

Yes, that's me, a thirty-nine year old housewife and mother playing with Snapchat.  Could I get any more pathetic?  Oh, don't be surprised.

I mean, who wouldn't want to be turned into a cute little bunny?