Let’s be clear: participation in social media is not compulsory. In these times of endless, meaningless chatter, it might seem otherwise.
We’ve already had years of incredulous reactions to any reluctance to join in the banality.
“Whaaaat? You’re not on Facebook?”
I am, but I don’t need to be happy about it.
Now, as social media platforms continue to be huge business, their only manufactured product a line of bland billionaires in casual clothing, the pressure is only increasing.
Either you sign up for the latest thing, or risk being considered out of date, out of touch or, most frightening of all, old and out of time.
It’s a difficult issue when you suspect you have better things to do.
So I beamed with pleasure at the contrariness of humans when I read of the outcry against the social media policy of an apartment complex in Utah.
One of the conditions of tenants’ leases was to click “like” on the building’s Facebook page.
People were unhappy until a social media outcry forced a change. Ironic.
Once the Pythonesque enjoyment of a good argument wore off, I found myself interested in the reasons it took place.
In this case, people were annoyed because their right to choose was taken away.
To gain housing, a basic human need, they had to alter their Facebooking, adding their landlord to the cat pictures, Game of Thrones spoilers and people showing off that they have gone on holiday.
It’s a first world problem writ large. I dislike Facebook, and have tried to quit. I use it because its benefits outweigh its annoyances, but only just.
I enjoy Twitter more, because it’s a big wide conversation and seems more egalitarian.
I’ve resisted many of the newer platforms like Snapchat and Instagram, perhaps showing my age.
But I’m busy, and I just don’t need another thing to do.
And that’s what gives me pause. If I really wanted to, I could ditch all social media platforms and go out and do something less boring instead. Checking Facebook really isn’t compulsory. Nobody wastes our time for us. We do this ourselves.
