Social Media Fast 2021
Growing up I remember the Lenten self denial folders at church, where you put a quarter in every day as a simple self denial. As I got older I found other ways to participate in Lent. One year I gave up meat (really hard!). Several times I have given up caffeine, which is always tough for the first week but then gets better. But in 2013 I tried something new.
I gave up social media.
If you know me you know that social media is a big part of how I operate. For me I saw it as a game changer for smaller schools to get their story out without cost being a barrier. I think we were able to bring a lot of attention to Philander Smith College using social media, and I think the same happens for us at Dillard.
But social media is often toxic. I unfollowed Trump during his presidency because I didn’t want to start every day reading lies and attacks. Trump modeled a behavior that many people widely emulate. I have even seen it cause people who have real relationships with real people turn to Twitter to express grievances that could be solved with a simple call.
But the appeal of an audience that can be amplified for an anonymous person is the new drug of choice for many. And it impacts people from a wide range of ages and stations in life.
Trump also weaponized social media with misinformation and straight lies. There are so many people who type in Google and the first answer they get post, thinking they own you with their tweeting of a link without context. I have seen so many people who can’t correctly spell HBCU tweet with righteous indignation. Then when you, as an HBCU president, tell them they are wrong, they reference a story they haven’t read, don’t understand, and don’t realize that YOU are quoted in it!
I think Lawrence Ross sums it up. There is great potential for social media, but folks use it too often for foolishness. I think we’re losing our humanity because people say things on social media they would never say in person. This article is great because it shares that we communicate with our faces and body language, and social media erases these key points of information.
So my annual break is something I look forward to. More reading. More writing. I post on weekends. I don’t read my timelines. I check messages, but if you want to contact me call or e-mail. And I sometimes break the fast to post for major announcements, or to wish my daughter happy birthday on March 2nd (15 this year!)
I’ll see you back on social media Easter Sunday. Until then, play nice.
The Prez
