Do you ever feel like you are addicted to your Tik Tok feed? Do you ignore your cat or dog so much that they sweetly put their paws on your phone screen to get you off of it?

This happened to me last night. My Shiba, Sukoshi, looked at me with big, sad eyes and gently put his paw on my hand to try to get  me away from TMZ and the newest information on Taylor and Travis.

It got me thinking..are we using social media with the right intentions? 

Social media, at its base level, is a tool. I use it writing for this very newspaper to find concerts, art events, and local businesses to interview. I have used it to find many events in Kansas City, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City to enjoy with my husband and friends. 

After interviewing a local  business owner, they stated they couldn't survive in today's economy without  the use of social media. They post a picture of a cupcake and a few minutes later they will have an order.

But what about when we put our whole lives on Facebook or Instagram? Or when we tear others down, air our dirty laundry, or are so consumed by what is happening in the virtual world that we don't pay any attention to the people right in front of us.

As I have noted in other articles, social media can have negative aspects on people. Social anxiety is on the rise with young people. According to Medical News Today,  some researchers note the necessity for more research on social anxiety and social media use, it is possible for people with social anxiety to experience continued functional impairments — e.g., being uncomfortable or unable to form and engage in face-to-face relationships — when they replace in-person interactions with social media use.

The mental health effects have been alarming. But, what about when people use social media to spread complete lies about someone? This, too, can lead to serious health concerns and community members not feeling safe to express themselves.

According to LinkedIn, social media spreads misinformation. Social media has become a breeding ground for spreading false information. With fake news and rumors easily shared across various social media platforms, people are often misguided, leading to confusion, distrust, and chaos. The spread of misinformation can also harm democratic processes and public trust in institutions.

I also have recently read several posts that truly have bothered me about certain things going on in town. I started thinking about how what we say online can influence our neighborhoods and careers. 

We can lead lives truly in our liberal or conservative echo chambers and bubbles where we only are around people who have the same beliefs as us, go to the same church, watch the same movies, and listen to the same music. To me, this is a dreadfully boring life. 

Using social media as a tool to help with your writing, career, or social calendar is one thing. To use it as an adult pacifier, a place to get attention for your drama, and a virtual space to spew toxic thoughts at people renders this culture at its lowest common denominator. It's easy to hate and fill your life with drama behind a screen.

So, think twice about the Facebook group you join and the ideas that it promotes. It is having a positive impact on your community..or breeding hate and disconnect. I have more time behind me now then ahead of me and have no desire to waste the time I do have on nonsense. 

See you on the flip side.