Are you being conditioned by social media?

[Anyanka Bunny Slayer]

For those of you on social media, do you find your actions swayed by others' opinions there? What I mean is, have you ever had a strong view about something, but either downed it down (or didn't ,post/tweet it) because you didn't want to rock the boat?

These days, I've found that many people on social media (especially on Twitter!) are REALLY exhibiting a sort of herd mentality. (Most of you know that I'm pretty outspoken, but today I actually found myself hesitating to tweet something. "Its not worth it," I thought. Wow. I couldn't believe that I actually did that)

What about you?

 

[Taake]

I’m on social media for the feel good content, I generally avoid drama and don’t bother with debates (because they tend to be pointless on insta or FB, even if I would like to have them)

Essentially I follow good news, close friends, and animals, and I always get mood lift by being on social media.

That is from experience of expressing my opinion no matter what and getting into a lot of discussions in the past. Even dog groups get vicious, beware.

 

[Fuffy]

Mainstream social media is all the same thing, just each site has slightly different features than the other.

 

[Priceless]

I am influenced by social media, but I'm on 'the wrong side of history' so I'm not sure I'm being influenced in the way you mean. But yes, I follow my political tribe, though I happily block and mute if they get too much for me.

I say things on social media that I'm not allowed to say here, so does this site have as much influence on us as social media does?

 

[TriBel]

Don't use it - but I'm not easily swayed.

 

[Skanky Vamp]

but I'm not easily swayed.

Bet you suck at slow dancing.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

I am on websites but not social media. I am waiting for the merger of Youtube, Twitter and Facebook into an entity called YouTwitFace.

There is an ad that shows up from time to time on Audiokarma that says "Join Facebook and see what your friends recommend." First of all, what's this "friends" thing I keep hearing about? Secondly, why would I give a damn about what other people recommend?

The pernicious part of social media is that some job recruiters within companies will demand your Facebook and Twitter passwords to see if you have said anything even in the remote past that would disqualify you for a job. If you don't have a social media account, you are labelled as antisocial and disqualified from working where this is done. This practice can't end soon enough.

 

[November]

I am influenced by current culture and tend to at least consider my close friends view points, although usually after I mock or not. I like to fit in as its a much easier life to go with the flow, but I never quite nail it. I cant just be myself cos myself is the wrong kind of self for the current climate. I prefer places and interactions where I know the rules so I cant muck it up.

I'm always shocked when I go for a scroll on fb. I stopped using it actively a few years ago but I will log in a couple times a year. Everyone looks the same, does the same. I guess its like looking back on 70's and 80's trends, fashions and hobbies still existed in waves then too. But it is odd just to see how "same" everyone is, even in jobs and homes. Where did they get that rule book? Cos I obviously missed out!

Instagram was just for the pet accounts, but since they started reels its sucked me into some kind hellscape of zap collar dog training and kids diagnosing everyone with autism or what ever mental diagnosis is "in" now. Its annoying and I miss my floppy hoppy bunnies.

 

[knives]

Follow up question; do you think this [internet fan forums] count, as social media?

 

[November]

Follow up question; do you think this [internet fan forums] count, as social media?

Yes, its a social space talking about media 😁
But its not the same as the big three fb/twitter/insta. You cant doomscroll here, no algorithm and a very wide range of people bonding over shared tv experience. I see more viewpoints and ideas here than on the other social sites. Its more "world wide" here than other sites for me.