How often have you heard people complaining that they waste too much time on social media, especially Facebook?

“It’s become an addiction. I cannot live without my mobile.”

“I keep scrolling up and down. I don’t know why!”

“I have to see it as soon as I hear ‘Ting’!”

 

During my recent trip to India, I noticed my mother has almost stopped reading books because she is often just surfing Facebook and YouTube, looking for videos on interesting veg recipes. For someone who was a voracious reader until last year, it is a drastic change. My father is addicted to Whatsapp! Even when we have guests with us, he is constantly looking at messages or videos (many of which are just random forwards).

It is a disease! Or an epidemic!

Who has escaped it? I don’t know of anyone! Do you?

But is it just that? An illness? A curse? An obsession?

No.

I’m a semi-addict. Why semi? Because Instagram or Twitter don’t fascinate me as much as Facebook. The latter is an entire world that brings the real world closer.

 

“I am able to communicate with my ex-colleagues who live afar,” said a friend, as we completed our walk. “And my relatives are able to see my son grow.”

My mother-in-law got in touch with her schoolmates after two decades. The happiness in her face as she recounted some stories was contagious.

Have you noticed how one is able to participate in one’s friends’ lives through FB? I only recently did. Late one night, just as I was about to go to sleep, I quickly scrolled down my timeline for one last look. I saw the photos of a friend’s (who is like an aunt) grandchildren. As I automatically liked the post, it struck me how I was witnessing their lives’ journeys: their achievements, their holidays, their special occasions and their funny moments. I didn’t know them. They didn’t know me. Yet, there was a sense of belonging.

Am I growing old? Too old-fashioned? Maybe.

But it’s true that in some way, we are not only all connected (that we already are because of WiFi and cheap data!) but we are involved. Yes, that the word, involved. Not by being nosy (which unfortunately some people are, they cannot help it!) but in a healthy, encouraging, ‘feel good’ way.

The family photos, the holiday shots, the business propaganda, the social appeals, all swirl in to create an intricate web of knowledge, happiness, love and success; sometimes underlined by grief and collective mourning.

Seen from this perspective, Facebook is a fantastic creation.

Getting hooked is easy!

What remains to be seen is if we can have the self-control to reign in the addiction yet dabble in the euphoria!