Recently HBO star Lena Dunham called Twitter, "The dark side of the internet."
That idea got me thinking. While I somewhat agree with Lena, the idea is incomplete. I do not believe that Twitter is inherently bad, or that the entirety of Twitter is the dark side of the internet; there are several dark sides of the internet. ALL social media has a dark side. It's true that social media can be used for good, However it is that dark side that brings out the worst in people. In my experience there are three parts to the dark side of social media.
1. Feelings of inadequacy: How many of us are guilty of comparing ourselves to a friends Facebook post, or thinking our lives will never be like a Pinterest board.
2. Social media first; family and friends second: How much of our valuable time is spent checking Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Pinterest? Now how much time is spent...intimately spent...with the people we love. DON'T EVER put your social media relationships in front of your real relationships.
3. Cyber-bullying: Some people justify hurtful comments on social media because there isn't a personal interaction. People become two-faced by being incentive and/or passive aggressive. What kind of comments are you leaving?
Use social media for good. Don't turn to the dark side.
