In The Sets A Focus On Me

5 Jan

instagramAt long last, I’ve created an Instagram account! (Link: https://www.instagram.com/eirikgarns/) One of the reasons I decided to do so is that I want to connect with you – the readers of this blog – and give you a window into my life. I’m probably not going to update my profile very often; at least not daily, but every now and then I may put up a new picture or video. Feel free to follow me, comment on the stuff I put out, and ask me questions.

I’ve always been a late adopter of social media. I’ve never used Twitter or LinkedIn, and I was one of the last among my friends to get Facebook. One of the reasons I’ve taken a back seat approach to all of this is that I’m very skeptical of the “social media culture” that has developed in our society over the past decade, in which people are constantly on their smartphones and base their worth on the number of likes and followers they have.

I don’t like this trend. Not just because I think it’s dumbing humans down, turning us into a bunch of “zombies” that are jacked into cyberspace instead of the real world, but also because excessive use of social media can cause depression, lead to feelings of chronic stress, and hinder productivity. I certainly don’t want to become a social media whore and contribute to fueling this unfortunate trend.

That said, I do acknowledge that there are many benefits associated with using social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, one of which is that it allows you to engage with friends and family. Moreover, these services provide a platform upon which bloggers such as myself can communicate with their readers.

I still have a soft spot for long, well-researched articles; however, I recognize that the internet landscape is changing and that most people, myself included, have a pretty short attention span when they surf online. They prefer to get their information quickly; they rarely take the time to read long articles. This is one of the reasons why social media, which is filled with memes, pictures, and infographics, works so well – it stimulates your senses and delivers information in a neatly packaged format.

I hope to see you on Instagram!

– Eirik