Why do people use social media?

ancapailldorcha

I just don't get it.

I use the Facebook messenger app to keep in contact with my friends and plan trips with them. That's about it. Since it's separate from Facebook's webpage then I need never see my news feed, such as it is. Nowadays, it seems to be nothing more than a deluge of ads and dodgy political messaging.

The only things it seems to be good at are stoking pointless outrage over issues affecting a tiny minority of the population and selling advertising. These corporations don't even pay tax so what's the point of wasting your time supporting them?

For narcissistic purposes mostly

thomasm

Vanity and the need for endorsement

LaFuton

i heard its like a kaleidoscopic window into the hidden soul of a filtered people...
but that was probably the auld fake news

arccosh

arccosh liked your post

Lundstram

Attention seeking.

I find teenage girls and uneducated men 30-50 to be the worst offenders.

MarkY91

I use my Instagram mainly as a little hobby travel blog. I mostly follow meme accounts, half naked women accounts and travel blog accounts.

It's just a bit of fun and I do enjoy seeking out cool photos during my travels. Of course an element of narcissism is involved but I'm not affected if I get 10 likes or 10,000 likes.
99% of my photos are of beautiful scenery while traveling or around Ireland.

I think it's mostly harmless in my personal experience but I couldn't say the same for all those "fitness models" and "influencers" I think the likes and attention influences too much of their lives and general happiness.

Wibbs

Humans are a social animal and will use any means to express that.

Auguste Comte

I just like to stoke some pointless outrage.

Charlie19

Isn't boards.ie a form of social media.

Gamer Bhoy 89

I use it to keep photos, share articles and maybe post a few jokes and funny imagery/videos on the news feed. I also use it to follow all my closest friends and family over in Scotland.

In terms of who/what I follow aside from the above, it's usually news pages and entertainment news (movies, TV and video games).

I have also used it to buy games and movies from other people using the marketplace tab.

It's kind of a jack of all trades kinda thing - everything in one place.

As for blatant vanity and self absorbed posts by people, I tend to unfollow those individuals.

Long story short, I use it to keep up with friends, family and news articles tailored to my interests

It beats having to actually talk to people..

ancapailldorcha

Wibbs wrote: »

Humans are a social animal and will use any means to express that.

I find it very anti-social though. It's an appalling substitute for meeting people IRL.

Charlie19 wrote: »

Isn't boards.ie a form of social media.

Emmm... Yes and no. It has few of the trappings of social media like the narcissism-promoting features like photo sharing, likes (beyond the thanks button) and the way posts are displayed. Reddit would have anything against the prevailing mood or opinion downvoted to oblivion where it would never see the light of day unless you specifically filter for those posts. Here, everything is displayed like an actual conversation.

mcgragger

thomasm wrote: »

Vanity and the need for endorsement

Yep. People put up fake personas for acceptance and endorsement by people for the most part they will never meet.

Social media is very dangerous. I despise it.

Church on Tuesday

Lundstram wrote: »

Attention seeking.

I find teenage girls and uneducated men 30-50 to be the worst offenders.

Yeah but we were all guilty of that in the early days and kids are like that anyways.

It's good to see the novelty factor is wearing off and people are deleting in their droves. I still have my main FB page although I don't know why TBH as I barely engage with it. Can't be arsed deleting I suppose.

Don't have Twitter or Instagram. Bebo veteran.

Alf Veedersane

#fomo

Gretas Gonna Get Ya!

Some people enjoy the perverse feeling of being watched 24/7... in everything they do!

In fact, I will go a step further and suggest that some people don't even see the point in doing certain things unless there is someone to watch them doing it!

And then there is the "watchers"... don't even get me started on those bunch of social voyeurs!

Gretas Gonna Get Ya!

Gretas Gonna Get Ya! wrote: »

In fact, I will go a step further and suggest that some people don't even see the point in doing certain things unless there is someone to watch them doing it!

This kind of gets at the real negative consequence of social media really..everything is done for an audience these days..everyone has the phone out for everything, therefore the reaction or whatever is exaggerated a bit..Nothing is genuine anymore..This has led to just a more superficial society in general..and people that are only surface..It's a tragedy really..

Potential-Monke

Used to use it to see the sun holidays pics of women I worked with and wouldn't have minded getting to know better (but would never have had the chance). Then that changed as they all started settling down, and the pictures went from half nekkid on a beach to family holidays and pictures of kids doing boring, kid stuff (I'm also of the opinion that kids should NOT be posted on it). Don't really open it much anymore, and if I do, it's to get the latest from PlayStation, a few game devs I follow, some comedians and other pointless stuff like Proper Tasty. I usually scroll past what people I know IRL post, as it's boring or attention seeking, or spreading false truths (do get a kick out of calling these people out on it tbh, and if they argue at all, it's remove time).

Wanderer2010

Omackeral wrote: »

For narcissistic purposes mostly

100%. Was just about to post this. Narcissism was largely hidden before they were given a mirror to reflect their illness on to the whole world. People like Vogue Williams and Sinead O Connor love the social media outlet as its an excuse to pretend they are just like everyone else when in fact they are deeply ill with self obsession and self promotion.

Hopefully the dark side of social media will result in it being moved on or evolved to something less self obsessed and more practical.

KiKi III

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

I just don't get it.

I use the Facebook messenger app to keep in contact with my friends and plan trips with them. That's about it. Since it's separate from Facebook's webpage then I need never see my news feed, such as it is. Nowadays, it seems to be nothing more than a deluge of ads and dodgy political messaging.

The only things it seems to be good at are stoking pointless outrage over issues affecting a tiny minority of the population and selling advertising. These corporations don't even pay tax so what's the point of wasting your time supporting them?

For the same reasons people use Boards; to pass time, to share and exchange views, as an online extension of their social lives, for fun...