The primary driving force behind facebook’s massive success is the insecurity of 700 million* technologically advanced people who still live as emotional infants craving external validation.
It’s something everyone who uses facebook deals with, some more than others. Acknowledgement is the first step toward understanding one’s self and learning where true self-esteem comes from.
Within.
But man, they sure did make it easy, eh? If there was a “Dislike” button we’d think twice about posting. But because reactions are either “Like”, “Make a disagreeing comment and start a flame war” (which still in allows us to validate ourselves and our viewpoints, in fact our defending them makes them more powerful), or the dreaded…”Crickets”.
Silence. Indifference.
Facebook really does allow each of us to live our insecurities in public. I’m not saying it’s horrible, just that it exists. I don’t believe external validation should be anyone’s primary source of self-esteem, but it’s a natural human tendency.
It’s just not the best route. Personally, I make it a habit to avoid the temptation. My goal is to post something because it must be shared, regardless of reaction.
For example, if I’m too excited, or pissed off, to hold it inside. Maybe nobody hears me yelling “summer is finally here, whooooo hooooo!” but I feel better getting it out of me and into the universe.
Just a thought that my good friend shared, and I concurr.
*[actually 800 million]