There’s always been talk of how social media can be toxic and distracting or how everything you see online is fake, but with Instagram crashing the other day, I was able to appreciate the positives of social media a little more.
My friend needed to contact her friend who only uses Facebook messenger, but during the crash, she didn’t know how to reach him. We often take social media for granted and forget how life was without it. Social media plays a large role in how we connect to those around us. Not only is it a place to share pictures, but it is also a place where we can communicate, whether that be personal one-on-one conversations or sharing posts about topics we care deeply about.
Looking back to the past year, social media has been a place for voices to be amplified. As a minority seeing posts from other Asian American creatives made me feel seen and heard. Even just accounts like Subtle Asian Traits create a community where the Asian experience is shared. Social media has become a platform for creativity, education and community especially for minorities whose voices are not typically in the spotlight. In honor of Instagram and Facebook coming back, take some time to appreciate the creatives and online community that inspire you, or just laugh at another surprised Pikachu meme.
