Social media: How it shapes people’s perception

TOYIN KOMOLAFE

The need to document and share our lives is part of our nature and it is beneficial. However, the advent of social media have taken it a step further with its numerous advantages and drawbacks. No doubt, what we see have a way of influencing our views and perception about life. Social media plays a big role and it has been a major factor in shaping people’s perception in the contemporary society.

Families such as the Kardashian’s, who make millions of dollars putting all their business out have influenced how people see fashion amongst other things. Now you see a lot of people who want to start their own reality show. Social media have become a platform where lies are served and unfortunately many fall prey to this deception.

According to many Social Media specialists people tend to lie about their names, gender, photos and status updates. Most just do it for fun but others have ulterior motives. Most will be amazed when they get to know of the numbers of potential fake profiles they have had to interact with.

There is this trend that you have to keep up with the joneses, we live our lives in such a way that we try to keep up with what others are doing, and break our bank accounts because we feel that is what is in vogue because we feel wind is blowing in that direction.

The Kardashians have influenced the dress sense of millions of women across the world through their reality programme and on their various social media platforms. It is amazing that despite the fact that this family has no tangible claim to fame, many still want to be like them. A lot of start-ups have even tried their hands on reality programmes having seen the success this family has made.

The question, however, is that is everything we see on the social media true? What we even see is not always true. Recently, Kim Kardashian told media mogul Oprah Winfrey that she is misunderstood.

“I hardly drink, I go to church on Sundays,” Kardashian told Winfrey during part two of “Oprah’s Next Chapter.” “I’m so far removed from my image.” She added.

It is amazing how social media can overnight turn people who apparently lack talent into a super star and a household name. An issue is that many of them even triumph over life  through rollercoaster of public perception as they often build a brand afterwards from quite negative and uninspiring backgrounds.

The question is why do people still embrace the social media hullabaloo despite getting their hands burnt. Millions of people still embrace various social media activities, online dating is the most common of all, although some truly want to date or start a relationship, some just need companionship till someone better comes along, and some may be having a bad week and looking for a quick fix probably because their ex got married or their boyfriend left them for another girl.

Millions visit online dating websites every year hoping to find a companion or even a soul mate. The other side is that many have turned these sites into a platform to perpetuate criminal acts, looking to turn the lonely and vulnerable into a money making venture through a variety of scams.

Criminals however trace people probably based on personal information their victim uploaded online or on their social media sites. They, on their part, may have fake their profiles, carefully crafted to deceive people.

Social media create a world where we can recreate a version of ourselves that we believe is attractive and enticing to the world. We edit our photos, write up a witty status to make ourselves appear adventurous and well-rounded, all in an attempt to garner as many “likes” or “retweets” to validate our online existence. Most of the time, theses are lies and falsehood. Mnay do not have what they claim to have.

Months ago, Nollywodd actor ChidiMokeme bought a Range Rover for his beautiful wife to celebrate and appreciate her on Mother’s Day. He took a picture of the brand new car and uploaded it on his Instagram page. However another person from an African country saved the picture, uploaded the same picture on his own Instagram page while claiming he bought it for his mum as a gift on mother’s day. He was however busted by those who had seen it on some other blogs.

Many get used to this pretentious life, while they take pride in their own illusion which seems to gradually become a part of their reality. The lies on social media actually lead to creating false memories that begin to make it difficult to separate fact from illusion. Often the desire to live this life they have set for themselves on social media often lead many to committing several activities all to make money and keep up with the Jonses.

Users of various social networks have the right to reveal as much or as little as they want to, and in some ways, can create whatever persona they choose. It’s not just the creation of fake social media profiles, it’s also the exaggerated status updates, pictures, and videos that are deceptive.

We shouldn’t spend all the time building large networks of shallow connections, potentially at the expense of building bonds and growing true friendships. Social media serve as a reflection of how people perceive us and the appearances we have to those in our social media circle. Hence caution needs to be exercised, in the way we give our personal information and portray ourselves online