VIRTUAL INSANITY T
here is no doubt that the rise of social media in the digital age has brought about many perks. It benefits our world on both professional and personal levels. The internet has the ability to engage a large audience and connect people globally in a way that is seemingly simple. For some reasons, I am grateful for this; the ability to use a single device with multiple platforms to communicate with friends, family, professionals, and even celebrities is undoubtedly remarklable. Just as many others during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was spending triple the amount of time on my phone, quarantined in my home with no agenda, an internet connection, and an entire world of news and entertainment at my fingertips. This left me with a lot of time to
BY RACHAEL MOORE
think as well. If I want to see, hear, or read anything, I use the internet. So, yes, this is definitely an advantage that living in the age of technology has given us. However, I also considered how detrimental this saturation of media is to my life and the way my brain works. With this being said, I think it is more than fair to argue that even though the internet has given us a way to be proactive, it is also prohibitive. Millions of people use social media. It allows users to connect globally with one another just by the simple sharing of a photo, video, or message. In the age of smartphones, this sharing can be done in an instant. According to Marketing Land, almost 80 percent of social media time is spent on smartphones. This network between mobile devices has opened up a window of op-
portunity to keep the entire world, every circle - no matter how big or small - and individuals completely connected at all hours of the day. What I find to be so impressive is that social media does not discriminate among ages. The internet and media platforms are not only easily accessible, but also easily adaptable for people of any age, which allows them to be connected and contribute to the global community. Older generations might have at one time been intimidated by the mere idea of the internet and social media, but by 2019 people aged 65 and older made up 40% of social networks. There is also something to be said about the increase in cultural awareness that the world gains through widespread media. The internet offers more insight to different cultures
