ANNOUNCEMENT: Don't make any announcement

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Funny thing, that I'll make an announcement to let the reader read this blog posted the day it'll be posted.

For your information, a thing these days or maybe even before?

Social media say so.

So here's the thing I've seen—posting and updating before are for birthdays, anniversarys, weddings to the food you eat and the clothes you wear today. It has become totally different now. Let us call it an "announcement" for the sake of this blog.

I know, I miss the good old days. Missing the good old days means things aren't exactly as simple as they were. But there's growth, I swear. So let's come back to the topic. Probably on social media, different people have different intentions for their announcements. This led me to say, upon my observation, that people often post for the sake of "time-treasure" or the cliché word "memories". Others may showcase their talents or their self growth to inspire their friends on Facebook. But sadly, let's bring brutal truth that others use it—pornography, online quarrel and inappropriate dance or let's just say for fame (you can name other stuffs) and these are the bad sides of social media.

But it all sums up my own don't-know-where-it-leads-thoughts that making no announcement is peaceful and fun. Though we respect people's choices and their own social media shenanigans and usage. But prior to that, it's better not to make any announcements. No announcement brings peace and present-mind and sometimes nobody has to know anything more than yourself. I'm actually talking about my experience. I become more mindful of my surroundings and people around me. The moment I stop using Facebook. I notice their clothes and their faces more than if I face myself on screen. I become aware and had mental clarity.

Not making social media announcements means no screen time. But even though we don't use applications for broadcast, still other cellphone applications take place in our everyday life and the consumption is immensely higher than what it should be.

Frankly speaking, I often watch YouTube vlogs about those vloggers who gained benefits from not using social media platforms and are offline or inactive. Lol, but suddenly it pushes me to obsessively regulate my social media consumption and question myself about its benefits.

I'm a firm believer that the choices we have make a difference. But these choices can be affected and be influenced by those announcements made by us and others on social media and all these trends. Our own "announcements" and people's "announcements" about the highs and lows of life have the ability to make someone's day bright or dull. (The reason why I stop scrolling down to Facebook lol)

Other announcements from people can add up to pressure and make us forget the process and at times it can build up our self-doubt. I think the social media or digital world now impact us more than should only stay as social media.

Now they say, peace has become a luxury nowadays and I like to define it each time I find myself indulging online. I redefined its meaning, that I only use it for important purposes such as talking to my grandma miles away, friend updates and my hobbies. But not making my life dependent on it, because still, our real life is off the screen and we should enjoy our daily lives. Because life is here and despite it all, life is still happening and we need to experience it fully offline without these unnecessary announcements and also don't forget to make peace both online and offline.

Journaling time:

(Journal your thoughts with a piece of paper and a pen; choose from any of these prompts)

• How much time should I spend using social media?

• Do posting on social media builds up my self-esteem?

• What are the benefits of social media to me?

• What are the negative effects of social media to me?

• How will I respond to negative posts I saw online?

• Is often staying online good for my mental health?

#mentalhealthmatters

(This blogpost consists of 559 words)

2022 | L. M. | Tinta by Lianna