Accountability and Social Media

Accountability and Social Media

Is social media redefining relationships for better or for worse?

Let’s fist give thanks for the brilliant minds that have created the platforms like twitter, facebook and instagram.  These social media tools have allowed people to reunite and connect with others who are thousands of miles away.  The world has become a more accessible place as a result of social media.  But to everything there is a cost. 

What price are we paying by having so many social networks where pictures of our dinner is liked by a hundred people?

I believe social media has allowed people to technically connect with speed and shallow greeting, but we have lost integrity regarding how to maintain healthy relationships. We lack accountability to others because we can now hide behind smart phone apps.   

On several occasions I have witnessed people announcing the parting of loved ones from this life on facebook.  I am thoroughly confused by this because the facebook announcement is not in addition to individual text or phone calls- it is the primary and only method of communication used.  FOLKS!!!!! This is insane- it shows a clear lack of good old fashioned tact and class. 

We must remember relationships are the primary tool for how our world operates.  If you have forgotten, we still need people to survive.  As human beings we assist others in supplying needs whether its husband to wife, friend to friend, boss to staff or relative to relative- this is a cycle that will not cease until we all cease to exist.  Individuals are ignorantly cutting off their greatest resource and that is their ability to connect wholly with other people.

Big announcements should be personally delivered by phone or text to individuals that you care about.  Understand that when something occurs that is life changing good or bad and you use a social platform to inform those that actually mean something to you- you are changing the dynamics of that relationship.  A social media alert of a death, engagement, and a new job or even a move says to people that may have perceived the relationship with more depth that they are wrong in their perception and how they view the relationship isn’t in alignment with your view.   

Now I understand the dynamics of relationships change especially as people mature. How you may have once viewed someone becomes the thing of fond memories and that is okay and in this case you should use common sense on how to inform.  The best strategy would be to think about how you would want this person to deliver big news to you and allow that to be your guide. 

Social media I believe has allowed people to be cowards.  Facing people, confronting issues one on one and admitting error can be a difficult thing and not all are ready nor built to do that just yet- I get it.  But please get this- as for me I will not acknowledge  any news good or bad from those I know personally on social media.  In protest to this tasteless behavior I will ignore it and await a text or phone call and I petition all of you to do the same.  Raise the level of accountability to the people you have in your life.  You have folks in your life for a reason and we need to make them work at maintaining relationships with us or simply remove them from your proximity if this is too great a task for them to achieve. 

Trust me on this- paying greater care to our responsibility to each other will immediately create happier people. And I think we all can agree we need happier people in this world.