Facebook and other social media are really dumbing us down.
And it’s making us angry and confrontational.
I think it’s got to do with the fact that we no longer speak to each other face to face.
The absence of body language and tone of voice is basically an argument waiting to happen.
And with its limited characters, Twitter is the worst of the bunch, because there’s no room for context and clarifications.
While the internet as a whole is a tool that could potentially make the entire human race smarter, social media has become a drain on our collective intellect.
The old saying about empty vessels making the most noise, is especially amplified online.
And from my anecdotal observations, it’s becoming worse.
For example, last week I read a story about UCT’s Vice- Chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng and a comment she made to a student on Instagram.
She was asked if good matric results could improve one’s chances of being accepted into UCT, if one’s Grade 11 results weren’t so great.
“My suggestion is that you go to another university that will accept your level of results. Don’t stress yourself,” she reportedly said.
Her response was taken completely out of context and she was attacked from all angles, including from an academic colleague from the University of KZN.
I would’ve expected a professor to be able to see through the contrived controversy without any effort, but instead he piled right onto the wagon along with everyone else.
To me it’s absolutely clear what she meant.
She was simply saying that if you don’t end up being accepted at the university that you set your heart on, don’t despair; simply apply to another one.
Because ultimately, it is about getting a tertiary education.
Where you get it from doesn’t really matter in the end.
How is it that I could see that, but a university professor couldn’t?
It’s all about the fake outrage and social media activism that has taken over our lives.
We all feel that we must have something to say about the big issues of the day, even if that something is ill-informed and misleading.
This is the reason why some people need to go to university; to learn a few basic critical thinking skills.
Then there are people who live their lives by what their “friends” say and display on their timelines, forgetting that social media is a highlights reel; the trailer, not the whole movie of someone’s life.
Very few people show off their disappointments and dark moments on social media.
They only ever want the world to think that they are living their best lives; all the time!
And of course, for their followers, it is a reflection of the things they wish they had; instant fame, fancy holidays and instant relationship bliss.
ENVY: People like to show off their larney lifestyles online
And that is the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Because these are all things that take consistent hard work, patience and then some, with a long-term goal in mind.
It’s about accepting that it’s not always going to go according to plan, but to stay the course and keep on keeping on.
Social media doesn’t show you that tedious journey, only the destination.
OBSERVE: Social media
And maybe that’s why so many people are so angry on social media all the time, because it looks like everyone else is having a whole lot of fun, while they’re struggling to find their feet.
Social media is a big, fat liar.
And it doesn’t deserve to have the word “social” in its name!