There have been various mediums/carriers from time immemorial influencing impartial view of the real world.
What with Caste System compartmentalizing people so much so that each caste drew their own perception of the real world.What with Britishers influencing westerns’ views of India being a Snake Charmer’s land.
What with popular writers like Charles Bukowski almost advising addiction or depression to be able to write well.
What with Print/Cinema/television, the mainstream mediums, lending the glamorous life of Actors, stereotyping professions, endorsing/condemning political parties.
Likewise there have been plenty of organisations/communities and popular individuals who have rendered an aristocratic-impartial views of the society
Facebook and Social Media are also strong influencers.
However, since it is interactive, it is We the people who steer it through our posts. Our inner aspiration takes a front seat here and drive our own PR, our looks, our News, our achievements, which is nothing but the best.
Result: Everything seems perfect…. Especially in other people’s lives.
It sometimes depresses us but most times fuels our insecurity/greed to be like our “cool friends” who Take more selfies, chose that perfect background, pout a little more, check-in often. travel much more often, buy more dresses, coz the previous ones were already posted, brag about themselves, and Families, rejoice those birthday wishes.
Such is our virtual life but in reality, we struggle through our daily lives, like always.
Yes, so in that sense Facebook does give a farce view of reality. Not to mention the hazardous effects it can have in our mental well-being, if obsessed by it.
But, and its a big BUT, FB is democratic and has its own benefits. As a I said earlier , We the people steer our own feeds and can use it to our own advantage.
1. An artist posting an expression, a thoughts, a work (without bragging) can fetch instant feedback through likes and comments. Reality Check
2. Finding events/informations of one’s interest. There are just so many small but interesting things happening in the city like bike rides, street plays, story-tellings, open mics, flea markets, learning languages etc. and I haven’t found any another platform as efficient as FB to hunt them. Yes! I’m aware of LBB and Event High too. But FB is most Realistic.
3.Becoming a part of a hobby/passion group and exploring thy’s interest. There are plenty existing. For instance, few years I was searching for a writers group in FB, presuming myself to be a born-writer and aspiring to .make it big, . Found one and joined in to showcase my talent. Two things happened. I realised there are plenty like me, plenty better than me, plenty published and big names already but I also found a platform to express and hone my skills . Tryst with Reality.
4. Posting about different facets of one’s personality can de-stereotype and break common perceptions. Like I have known a Urdu poet, who is a body builder too. Real people, real lives.
5. Connecting/Networking for business interest. For instance, A historian friend used to value anything antique and despise anything advanced to the extent that she did not even keep a TV at home. When she started a niche venture of customising heritage tours, targeting foreigners, she used many mediums to promote it, except FB. After 6 months of struggle, she gave in to our suggestion and created an FB page and amplified it. And there she clinched her first customer. Real Opportunity.
6. Jobs search/Candidate search. Well. It works for certain kind of profiles definitely. Another Reality.
Our parents condemned Television when introduced, our grandparents condemned radio listening when introduced, perceiving it to take away their child from the real world. Every new medium undergoes its process of evolution till we become comfortable with its pros and cons.
Facebook may have changed the prism to certain extent and created a new habit. But the World is still real with many negativities yet immense possibilities.
What we need to understand is that FB, is a medium... a powerful one though, but still, Only a platform/tool to connect, interconnect and explore possibilities. Like never before.
How We use it and society at large uses it, decides wether it would cripple us or empower us in the real world.
