Could We Ever Survive Without Social Media?

Fun fact: I’m as old as social media.

According to Hootsuite, the first recognized social media came about in 1997. The site called SixDegrees allowed for users to create a profile page, connect with others, and send messages. The design was similar to what Facebook is now.

Though the site shut down in 2001, it paved the way for the current slate of social media that we have today.

I find it hard to believe that I am the same age as social media. In the grand scheme of things, 23 years is not that long of a time. Now, social media has become a vital part of the culture that we now live in.

Our lives revolve around social media and our character and persona are often impacted by the things we see online. We are shaped by the online webs we weave.

I first got social media when I was in the 8th grade. I created a Twitter account because I felt as if I was already falling behind in the times. Now-a-days, students even younger are creating social media accounts.

With this increasingly younger audience and growing dependency on social media, would we ever be able to survive if all of the social media sites suddenly disappeared?

The answer to that question is a resounding NO.

Our society has become too dependent on social media to be able to survive without it. The majority of people use social media as a way to connect with friends, follow news stories, or keep track of their favorite brands.

Though social media is not essential, it has become vital.

Whether we like it or not, we have become dependent on it in our daily lives. In a sense, it has turned into a sort of drug that we must take in order to function.

There are plenty of people who still do not use social media, and that will probably always be the case. However, as time continues, our dependency on social media will continue to increase all the more.

If social media were to suddenly disappear, many businesses, brands, individuals, and economies would falter.

Even though many people view social media as an escape from reality, it has quickly become a vital part of our current, everchanging reality.