The definition of the word “opinion” is a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.
Do you remember a time when you went on social media and saw some trend or idea that made you change your mind about the topic at hand?
This is becoming more and more common among all social media platforms. Take the election, for example. There were so many different opinions and ideas out there. Many of which were people being upset that others did not agree with their opinions.
About three years ago, I made the choice to delete Snapchat as well as mute all of the notifications on all of my other platforms.
If my career didn’t rely on social media so much, I would probably have gone as far as to delete all forms of media and get a flip phone instead.
This was the best choice I made. The reason for all of this was because I was being influenced too much by other people’s opinions and ideas. I didn’t feel like I had any of my own original ideas or thoughts. I felt like a puppet on a string.
Social media is taking over our lives. I do not remember a time, nor can I think of a time, when humans were so attached to something as we are to our phones now. Social media is a part of every single second of our day.
Do you remember a time when you went out to dinner, went on a trip or to an event and didn’t take your phone out once to post your thoughts about it or take a photo?
Believe it or not, this never used to be a problem. People left their houses without phones in their hands. But now, we can’t even go to the bathroom without our phones.
The opinions and ideals we surround ourselves with as we carry our phones and social media with us everywhere can hinder our own opinions and ideals.
I admit, over the years, it has been harder and harder to decipher my own opinions that I had created myself vs. those which had been influenced on me.
There is a big difference between an idea or opinion that comes into your head on its own based on your day to day life vs. an opinion or idea that you saw online that you have adopted to be your own.
Think about the election. Did you vote for who you wanted to and do your own research on the candidate, or was your choice made based on what the media was making that person out to be? It is really eye opening once you realize how many opinions or choices you have made that weren’t entirely your own and were, in a way, shoved into your head.
So, I beg you, dear reader, please take the time to think about your opinions and ideas. Take the time to understand if they truly are your own or someone else’s. Be your own person with your own ideas. If they do so happen to align with those you see online, then that is a different story. But then, at least you’ll know that it was originally an idea you came up with on your own.
