The Trouble with the Trouble With Facebook (And Twitter, And Instagram): A Rant

It's commonly "known" that the Trouble With Facebook is the life-overshare. You can't go a day or two without hearing someone complain about social media overload; the common statement sounds something like, "I don't care what so-and-so ate for lunch; they should stop posting pictures of it."

Well, here's the thing: I do. I care what you ate for lunch. I care that your kid's not napping. Or is napping. Or that your floors are washed (go you!). I care about the couple-selfies over dinner, and I care that it's your baby's 5-month-birthday. I care where you're going and I care where you've been. Because if you're my friend on Facebook, or if I follow you on Instagram, or if I'm reading your tweets, I care about you.

I don't buy into the argument that social media is destroying face-to-face friendships or connections. When I meet up with my friends, the stuff of conversation tends not to be focused on the things that we share online: we tend to discuss the heart issues, the "how are you really?" chats. Those are the moments to be vulnerable and to open up and explain that the last few weeks have been the worst yet, or that you've never been so blessed, or that you're in a rut, and it's a safe place to cry or hug or laugh. That kind of love can't be replaced through social media, so how could social media be its detriment?

I think that the Trouble with the Trouble with Facebook is that there is no trouble with Facebook. Or Twitter, or Instagram. These social media sites present an amazing opportunity to shed light into real life, something that varies so greatly from gender to location to age to family status.

Thanks for letting me rant.