Behind Closed Screens

Everyone wants to feel wanted, it is literally in our genetic make-up. No one wants to trying be alone, even though every once in a while is nice, it is also nice to know there is someone there for you when you need them. Social media has taken our need to feel wanted to an entirely different level. We post things that do not even pertain to us just to get the likes. We do things on live videos that we would never think of doing, just for the views. Anyone ever stopped to think about the fact that our grandchildren will eventually see some of the stuff we have posted on the Internet. We see black and white photos and newspaper clippings of our grandparents, but no they will see us acting like a fool in front of the entire world. We desire social connection, because we need the approval of others. We need to have human interaction, like I said before it is just part of our mental make-up. We were made to be social beings, even from the being according to the bible, Adam needed a companion, so God made Eve. We just have to have someone to share our day with, gossip with, and go places with.

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

According to an article on Future learn homophily is love of the same. (Homophily in Social, 2017) When I think of homophily, I think of online gaming clans; you know like a bunch of nerds sitting around playing World of Warcraft, much like I did in high school. They all have the same interests, gaming. I am sure this also plays a role in online dating. You are typically looking for someone around your own age and someone with similar interests, but on very rare occasions opposites do attract. Another thing is Facebook sharing, you tag your best friend because she/he too knows the joke or truth behind the meme. Because you too share this information together you think it hilarious, while Billy Bob, your Facebook Troll does not find the post remotely funny.

Most of the people we send friend requests to are close to us. For example most of them share the same locality as you, maybe even the same employer as you, or the same family as you. Regardless, we all love the same, AKA homophily. We love our town, we love our jobs, and we love our family. Whichever it is, social media can almost always link you to someone else. I could not tell you how many times I start looking at someone’s Facebook and an hour later I looking at the 5th cousin twice removed fiancé’s Facebook page, and this happens all because we have one person in common.

The main benefit of homophily in social media is that having things in common with other people makes us happy. It helps us make new friends, and it also helps us meet people that we may have never met outside of social media.

Hello?! Is that you Big Brother?!

Ever wonder why things you have searched on the internet you suddenly see advertised all over you Facebook? It is all collected with algorithms…. While I am not throwing out the fact that Big Brother might truly have their eyes on us, I am going to blame it on algorithms. The more you search and interact with things they more they pop up, same way with people. I have noticed while sometimes Facebook posts things on my time line by when someone posted it, I have also noticed many people I never seen in my newsfeed, yet they are making posts? Those apparently are the people I do not interact with much on Facebook. I do know as a former small business person on Facebook, I can tell you that if you pay Facebook they will boost your posts, therefore reaching more people and getting your business out there.

I am not familiar with Twitter, but according to Forbes, Twitter started something known as “the best Tweets you may have missed” that has posts that you might have missed previously but Twitter has tagged them with some importance to you. (Agrawal, A., 2016, April 21) Instagram just saw you it all! They give you a big story that they think you may like and then everything smaller behind it.

All I know is there is defiantly a lot of work going on behind the scenes with all of the social media platforms. It’s like a bunch of little hamsters running on hamster wheels somewhere in the World Wide Web.

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