Social Media Likes  --  Our Currency of Choice?

Social media likes are our currency of choice. Some are good, more are even better of course.
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The online world is a strange and crowded place at times. Everyone vying for some sort of attention in their own way.

Social media likes are our currency of choice. Some are good, more are even better of course.

We court controversy to get more of these likes.

We attack others to be heard above the ever increasing noise. Taking pot shots from the safety of our screens.

We make political comments from our virtual soapbox, often armed with minimal facts, only to change our tune next week.

We take pictures of ourselves in the gym with phrases like 'Go hard or go home' attached.

We take pictures of every meal before digging our fork in to taste.

We feverously look for a WIFI signal so we can check in, to let everyone know what fantastic place we're in now, missing a moment or two of where we actually are.

We get more followers so we must be doing something right.

Virtual Fairytales
The problem with these online snippets is we rarely get the real story. We just get the highlights, the sunshine shots. The edited, and often heavily posed, moments.

Not many are brave enough to share their darker moments. Their failures as well as the successes.

Maybe it's time we got down from our virtual soapboxes. Maybe it's time we left our online ivory towers. Maybe it's time to be real.

The World is Watching
The world is now open to us at the mere flick of a switch. We can connect with others around the globe. Make new friends and keep in touch with old. Collaborate with people in all time zones on business ideas. Forge new partnerships online that lead to partnerships in real life.

We can let our feelings be known across oceans. Share our words and ideas with people around the world.

These are wonderful advancements. This new world should be breaking down barriers, not creating new ones.

Let's use these wonderful tools for good. Let's make our world a better place.

Social media should be social. Your likes are not currency, your character is your currency. Use all this wonderful technology accordingly.

Note: As a writer wanting to get my work out into the world, I've made my mistakes with how I use social media. This piece is as much a reminder to me as to you.

Carl is a writer. He writes short books full of big ideas. He is also the proud owner of Frictionless Living which is focused on helping readers live a simpler and more personally satisfying life.

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