The Escape Drug…Social Media

Posted on by serenitisparkles

Intertwined with the digital space all around us, we sit, lifeless as our minds expand. The question is, do they expand for the betterment of all of us, or do they destroy our pieces and chip away at our bodies, one quick high at a time? Some might say, social media brings us together, that social media unifies humanity, allowing us to see the inside of each part of our world. Others might say, it is the greatest danger to all of mankind. Few will say, I don’t actually use it.

When most of us hear someone say, “I don’t really use it”, for a moment we delve into their mindset. But how? How do you stay connected to the outside world? What could you possibly do with your day then?

The actuality is that those people have filled their day with other kinds of moments within their life circle. Moments of life happening around them. Is what they do more fulfilling? Maybe not, but it is different. What we do within social media is escapism.

From the moment we log into the “network”, we are connected. Our mind races through the content and our bodies stay still. Hours can go by, and you are still locked in. You’ve lost yourself, in the physical world, and flew off into the digital realm. Using your imagination to keep the inquiry into others lives going. Like a fantasy, that can take you anywhere with the mere tap of a finger. You find answers to your thoughts. Reality is heavy, but Tik Tok so light, thus you dive into to the fluff.

The strings of our hearts being plucked with every post. We escape. Into a different world then what is in front of us.

But what IS in front of us? Like so many people struggling to put their family before addiction, we need to remember that to use this for connection is powerful, but to allow the “network” to connect you is a tragedy.

I didn’t know speaking about equality would get me REJECTED from FB

Posted on by serenitisparkles

I have always been a person of deep spirituality. Prophetic some might say. I have always thought about what it means to live with purpose. Purpose is what drives me to write. I’ve never been paid to write or encouraged to go against the laws of the land. But what happens when my free speech, and sharing it with others is rejected.

For the first time in my life, power has silenced me. My voice is no different than any other average American. I am not famous or powerful. I am humble. I want nothing more in my life than to leave a valuable message for the generations that live beyond me. I want nothing more than to right the wrongs or at least try to.

Never would I have thought that one of my blogs, written from my heart with only good intent, would be rejected by a platform. Speaking truth to power is important, but what happens when power won’t let us be heard.

I wrote a blog yesterday about supporting my Black brothers and sisters in their fight to gain true equal rights from a system that has silenced them for too long. It was nothing more than what every faith lives on; Treat others how you want to be treated. It is so simple, yet so complex in the world we are living in. An opinion is all. An opinion that spoke of love and support was rejected by FB. I didn’t understand it so I dug further.

I found that in order for me to write about equality, I must first disclose my name, phone number, and address to the platform for approval. Why would I do such a thing, when I watch whistleblowers from around the world be silenced and forgotten. The people in charge want to know who I am before I can speak about what is right. Why? I am not a politician. I am not organizing the resistance. What is the resistance anyway? Isn’t this something we ALL want to see before we take our last breath?

I had to write about it, like so many other things. More than ever, I had to speak up for what I see as wrong. I had to speak up for those who can no longer speak. I had to speak up so that the day I take my last breath, I know I never walked away from the truth. We should all be working towards love. We should all be working towards a better future for each other. These blogs are for my friends, my family, and anyone that ever needed confirmation that love is the way. You can silence me today, but just know I will keep writing, unapologetically.

The Influencer; The NEW type of Celebrity

Posted on by serenitisparkles

An Influencer is an individual who has the power to affect purchase decisions of others because of his/her authority, knowledge, position or relationship with his/her audience.

Social media has created a new kind of celebrity, the INFLUENCER.

In one of my past blogs, I wrote about getting 100% off if you are famous.  The Influencer knows all too well what that means.

There are people that make funny videos, do makeup, play video games on camera, that have gone “viral”.  These people aren’t necessarily extremely talented or skilled in any unique manner.  They do what we all do.  However, for one reason or another they have captured our attention.

Once they become an influencer, they have power to work the barter system.

Usually, one needs money to purchase products, attend shows, nightclubs, restaurants, etc.  The Influencer is able to use their influence to obtain all of these things, for FREE.

Why do they get so much free?  Easy.  Brands have become very calculated on knowing their demographic.  In fact, they know which influencers are followed by their demographic. They also know things like, what kind of music, what days they work, who their friends are etc.  There is an enormous amount of data that tells the brand everything they need to know on how to get the consumer’s attention.  Using an influencer, is the most economic way for a brand to get in your vision.  The greatest thing about influencers, is many don’t get paid from their promotion.  They get free things from the company, they promote those things, they create sales for the brand.  Even the Influencers that get paid for promotion are way less expensive than an actual Pop Star or Icon, and many times just as effective.  This is because influencers are people like, your next door neighbor, the lady who works for Macy’s, the couch potato.   Influencers have content that has gone viral, gained a substantial social media following, and are now able to capitalize off of everything they do once they reach their “influencer status”.

Some influencers have even turned that notoriety into multi million dollar companies.  These Influencers are definitely business savvy and had a plan.  They cashed in on their Influence and Power.

Either way, the Influencer is the new “Famous”.  It is what many young people aspire to be.

Tech Savvy and Braindead

Posted on by serenitisparkles

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If you were born after 1992, your life will be completely consumed by the technological world around you.  You will have at least one device on you at all times that connects you to an invisible world called THE INTERNET.  Instead of physical interaction with people on a daily basis, you will communicate alone with a device that holds your entire life in your hands.

If all you know about the world is being connected to what many elders would call, technology, how are you in control of the world around you.  For a moment observe your surroundings.  Look at the person next to you sitting a few feet away and watch as they glare into that device.  A device so powerful it drains all of our attention.  Try interacting with that person and watch as they are drawn back to their device.  Will you ever really cherish life’s precious moments, or will you be expending all of your energy into a mindless piece of humanity?  Look around you once more and pretend it is 50 years ago.

The same person sitting next to you would have no choice but to look up and transmit the energy we all need to morally survive.   Real physically energy between us as people is necessary for humanity to survive, yet we can’t help but be connected.   Watch as the internet desperately sucks in your energy by creating standards that are soulless.  The commercials on every site flying by at every moment, put forth by the same companies that strive for your addictive nature.

You are a generation of young people absorbed by a non-living entity that has found a way to trick you into believing it is a way of life.  Run by private executives, with personal goals and purpose, the internet  has found a way to take life’s most precious gift in your life.  TIME is all we are given.  Time to experience and enjoy the warmth of each other.

Try to remember in your young life the last time you sat down and spent a significant amount of time disconnected to the internet and connected to a loved one.   These moments won’t happen very much in your life, if at all.  Your memories as you grow old and near the end will be spent mostly with a “thing”.  You won’t even understand life without the internet.  And if the private entities that run that “thing” decide to shut down or turn off, will you be left BRAINDEAD?