The Art of Distraction: How Social Media Shapes Our Reality

In a world brimming with information, it's easy to overlook the subtle ways in which we are constantly bombarded with messages designed to manipulate our emotions. Colonization, a term often associated with history, has found a new home in the digital age, where the weapon of choice is distraction. This isn't talked about enough, but it's crucial to understand. The power of colonization lies in keeping people in a perpetual state of fear.

So, what does all of this mean for you? It means you need to become more conscious of what you consume. Pause and reflect on how you feel after encountering unsettling or morally ambiguous content. If you find yourself in a constant state of unease or longing for an escape, chances are you'll seek refuge somewhere else. This is where the captivating allure of social media comes into play, luring us into its never-ending scroll.

Social media has become one of the most potent distractions and optical illusions of our time. It serves as the lifeblood of capitalistic consumer culture, thriving on our attention. We're drawn into the meticulously curated worlds of others, where pictures and videos paint a seemingly perfect life. The rise of social media has been nothing short of fascinating, and in 2015, I embarked on my own study of this cultural phenomenon. My focus: Instagram, a platform where people were beginning to engage in novel ways.

The consumption of Instagram and the pursuit of crafting a picture-perfect image had, in many ways, devoured society. Some were so engrossed that they became mere spectators, mindlessly scrolling through their social media timelines on autopilot. It felt almost like a zombie-like trance, with people constantly reaching for their phones, whether it was Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Snapchat. The distractions and illusions woven into these apps are too tantalizing to resist.

The facade is that, although people are aware of the illusions, they can't help but buy into them. After all, it's easy to believe what your eyes are showing you. However, we must always remember that optical illusions exist. The ease with which people follow trends comes into play here as well. When someone appears cool on Instagram or other platforms, they receive more engagement – more likes, comments, and views. This visibility can lead others to believe what they see through a series of carefully crafted posts.

Let's take a simple example: If you constantly see someone on Instagram portraying a life of luxury, it's natural to assume they are well-off. However, appearances can be deceiving. That person may not actually be able to afford the lifestyle they portray online. This isn't to say that everyone displaying luxury on social media is insincere, but it highlights the danger of using these platforms as a benchmark for real life.

People are easily enticed by a lifestyle that looks more appealing than their own, to the point where they start resenting the beauty of their own lives. This transformation isn't limited to the online world; it seeps into our daily lives. Online personas enable individuals to be bolder, crafting personas that often differ from their real selves, as they don't always grasp the consequences of their actions on the internet.

The internet isn't a lawless realm, but it operates under its own set of rules. People may not fully understand this, but they do recognize concepts like the law of attraction, albeit to a limited extent. What you consume and engage with online affects your real-life energy and experiences. The obsession with reality television paved the way for a civilization that, over time, has become less intelligent than it could have been. We were presented with a constructed reality on television, sparking a desire for more excitement in our lives. Add social media to the mix, and you have a potent cocktail.

So, what's the connection to colonization? Distraction is a powerful tool of colonization, and social media provides the perfect means of distraction. It allows you to immerse yourself in a world of your choosing, often blinding you to more authentic content. Instagram, in particular, is known for curating content, making sure that certain posts get seen. How is this achieved? At first, people used apps to boost their posts – the like-for-like (L4L) and follow-for-follow (F4F) apps. The more likes and followers you gained, the more engagement you received, creating an illusion of popularity.

Here's a secret: Many celebrities and even your favorite personalities used these apps to inflate their numbers. I noticed this trend during my study, particularly with celebrities. I downloaded some of these apps and found myself liking pictures, only to immediately see the same celebrities' posts appear on my Instagram feed. They used these apps to bolster their likes, encouraging genuine users to double-tap their content.

This practice continued for years before Instagram took action. Even today, it's possible but costly, as companies have found new ways to offer these services. People are like sheep; they tend to follow the herd. When a post has many likes, more people subconsciously want to like it because of the perceived popularity. It's vital to understand that much of the content you consume on Instagram is carefully curated to make it appear real.

The worrying part is that this all started with reality television, which then melded with the world of social media, creating illusions that seem more real than reality itself. Thankfully, 2020 has begun to lift the veil on these illusions, but we've only scratched the surface. This is about my findings regarding Instagram and social media as a whole.

Instagram can be an incredible marketing and business tool if used wisely. Many big influencers can attest to this, but the landscape has evolved. Companies are now turning to micro-influencers for authenticity and consistency. Micro-influencers may not have a large number of likes but often have meaningful interactions, such as comments and shares. This quality engagement translates into more effective recommendations and, ultimately, greater profits for sponsors.

You might be wondering who benefited most from the L4L and F4F apps. In no particular order, celebrities, businesses, news channels, Instagram personalities, and everyday individuals all jumped on the bandwagon. People were looking for connections, and virtual communities allowed them to over-connect, to live in a world that wasn't right in front of them, but rather behind a screen. This has its merits and drawbacks.

As humans, we yearn to connect because it's a spectrum of emotions bundled into one. Connections can bring excitement, joy, fear, anger – you name it. The issue with our modern connections is that they often lack authenticity. People might feel comfortable connecting online, but in person, they struggle to maintain the same level of connection.

While I haven't fully conducted an extensive study on this, I've observed this pattern repeatedly. My advice is to start by connecting with yourself; only then can you truly connect with others. Authentic connections are born from shared experiences or a curiosity about them.

In closing, be mindful of what you consume. The energy around you is influenced by what you take in, and this extends to your food as well. Stay conscious of the content you engage with, for it will shape your reality, both online and in the real world.