It’s an undeniable truth: without us—its users—no social media platform could survive. We’d love to say something bold like, “Social media exists because of us!” but let’s face it: when we’re not staring into that blue-lit screen, we feel incomplete, like we’re missing out. Sitting on the couch and endlessly scrolling through our feeds has become, admittedly, our favorite unspoken hobby.
Just recently, there was a massive outage on Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. For hours, access to these apps was cut off. Users couldn’t post stories or photos on Instagram, refresh feeds on Facebook, or send messages on WhatsApp. While such outages have occurred before, this time it lasted longer than usual. Instagram saw 10,761 outage reports, Facebook had 6,341, and WhatsApp received 1,630.
Thankfully, everything came back, and we reunited with brand campaigns, our friends’ coffee photos, and, of course, those funny cat videos.
But What Was It That We Really Missed?
Let’s think back to the days when the height of technology was a toaster or an iron. Socializing back then meant meeting people on the street, chatting on the way home from work, attending family gatherings, or visiting neighbors. In fact, the product endorsements brands now achieve through social media were once done by neighbors or relatives who had tried and recommended the product. They were the original influencers of their time.
And Now?
Today, we see and interact with people (brands, potential acquaintances, etc.) on social media. Our primary medium for communication isn’t the streets or homes anymore—it’s the digitized, new world.
Yes, let’s admit it: the way we communicate has evolved with the times. But social media doesn’t make us socially isolated, insecure, or lonely. Instead, it allows us to adapt to the new forms of communication and, in its own way, helps us stay social.
We love the new. We embrace innovation. And as the new generation, we’re not just changing; we’re transforming. Let’s hope for a generation that embraces transformation without fear—and for social media platforms that always work seamlessly. 😊