Snapping Turtle in our backyard this morning
Every once in a while I come across topics that I feel are worth sharing even though they have nothing to do with photography, creativity, presence, or beauty. Today is one of those days. I need to talk a bit about social media. We now know that social media, because of the algorithms it uses, has polarized us even more than we were before it burst into our lives in the early 2000’s. The “news” that I might see on social media, tailored to my previous “likes,” clicks, and time spent, does not look at all like the “news” one of my conservative relatives sees. It is as if we are living in
Alternate realities
and it’s only going to get worse if we don’t start seeking out opportunities to examine our world together through the lens of truth, not through a distorted lens based upon our personal beliefs and preferences.
Several years ago I shut down my Facebook account because I realized that being on social media was an addictive process for me that did not improve the quality of my life. It’s an action I haven’t regretted. Last year I was part of an online class that was using a Facebook group in support of the class. So I briefly came back to Facebook to participate in the class group. I found participating in the Facebook group did not enhance my participation in the class. In fact, it detracted from my experience in the class so I quickly left Facebook again.
Cottonwood leaves on white background
My husband has a Facebook account but has only friended relatives and close friends. He is sort of a unicorn on social media, ignoring and hiding everything that is suggested for him and refusing to “friend” people he doesn’t want to stay in touch with. I love the way that he uses Facebook but I know that I’m not like him. Most of us adapt easily and go with the flow. I know I do. But, Jon, known as “Little Bull” as a child, does not adapt easily or go with the flow. And I think that is precisely why he is able to use social media instead of it using him.
Social Dilemma
A friend of mine recently told me about a new Netflix movie, Social Dilemma, which examines the negative impacts of social media. I haven’t watched it as I don’t subscribe to Netflix and I’m not sure I can handle any more “good for me” reality right now. I know that social media is a problem, I’m just not ready to hear how much of a problem it is. But if I had young children right now I would definitely watch it.
It’s a marketplace that trades exclusively in human futures.
— from Social Dilemma
Instead, this morning I listened to Maria Shriver’s interview with Social Dilemma’s director, Jeff Orlowski. It was a less intense version of social media reality that I enjoyed seeing. And I was very impressed with Orlowski’s advice to get your news from real, quality journalists with paid subscriptions, not from social media or so-called free news sites. As Orlowski pointed out, “If you’re not paying for the product, you are the product,” and “Your time equals their money.” Social media is designed to keep us on it. The more time we spend there, the more revenue they earn through paid ads that are targeted to us specifically based upon our use of the platform.
Social media is not just a tool that’s waiting to be used. It has its own goals and it has its own means of pursuing them.
— from Social Dilemma
Other Alternate Realities
And now for some alternate realities of a totally different kind. Earlier this week I picked up a fallen branch of cottonwood leaves and brought it in to photograph against a plain white background (see image above). Then I played with adding texture backgrounds of different sorts to make the photograph more interesting. I must have tried a dozen different texture combinations and ended up with four that I liked. Which is your favorite?
May you walk in beauty.
One more snapping turtle image
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