Social Media: Is A Tragedy Another Way For Someone To Gain Attention Online?

When something bad takes place in today’s world, it might not be long until millions of people know about it. This is because something can be shared on a social media site, and within a matter of minutes, it can be seen by people from all over the world.

In the past, people would have had to buy a paper or to watch the news on TV, for instance, in order to be informed. Nowadays, this is not longer necessary; the only thing someone needs is a Smartphone.

The Norm

The average person can then have a relatively good understanding of what is taking place in the world. So if something significant was to occur, there is a strong chance that they will soon know about it.

While some people might be pleased about this, there are likely to be others who find it a bit overwhelming. This comes down to the fact that not everyone responds in the same way, and this is partly because some people are more sensitive than others.

Detached
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One person could hear about something that has just taken place and it might not stop them from being able to function. This could be how they generally respond to what happens in the world.

What this could show is that one is out of touch with how they feel, or they could just be emotionally strong. It is then going to be the exception as opposed to the rule for them to get worked up about something.

Involved

On the other hand, someone else could find it hard to handle some of the things that they hear about on social media. Once they have found out about something, it might take them a little while to get back on their feet, so to speak.

What this could illustrate is that one finds it hard to deal with their own emotions, and this is then why the end up being controlled by them. At the same time, they could simply be someone who is sensitive.

Self-Protection

If this is the case, it might be a good idea for them to cut down the amount of time they spend on social media. Or, they could be more discerning when it comes to what pages they ‘like’ and what ‘trending’ stories they click on, for instance.

One way of looking at this would be to say that one will be less informed, and this is not a good thing. Another way of looking at it would be to say that there is only so much one can do about what takes place in the world, and this is why it won’t matter.

Ignorance is Bliss

One is then going to be less informed than someone who doesn’t take this approach, but it is not as if it will have a negative effect on their life. Ultimately, one will be looking after their sensitive nature.

This is going to be far better than one allowing themselves to feel drained over something that they probably can’t do anything about. One can look after their own wellbeing and focus on what they can do to make the world a better place.

Two Parts

However, what this overlooks is the fact that it is not just news organisations that talk about what is taking place in the world. This is something that their ‘friends’ and family are also likely to talk about.

And while someone can just share an article or a video from a news organisation, they can also go one step further. When this happens, they can share a status after some kind of tragedy has taken place.

Time for a Selfie

In addition to this, they can also upload an image of themselves to go with it, or they could simply add a filter to their profile picture. This could be a time when they will talk about how sad they are, and they could use a number of different hashtags.

It could then be said that it will be clear that this person has not only been affect by what has taken place, they also care about what is going on. This can also be seen as a way for them to show solidarity.

Self-Absorbed

At the same time, what this can show is that this is someone who is using a tragedy for their own gain. What they are talking about might not have anything to do with them, but this is not going to bother them.

So, although one can come across as though they care about what happened, there is the chance that they are just caught up in their own feelings. One is then acting in a completely selfish manner.

Attention

And though being completely consumed by how they feel, they can overlook what would actually make a difference. Even so, behaving in this way can allow them to receive a lot of positive feedback online.

Through sharing a status, it can allow them to receive a lot of ‘likes’ and comments from their ‘friends’ and family. One will then have commented on a tragedy, but it will be just another way for them to receive attention.

Another Benefit

It doesn’t stop there though, as another consequence of this is that one can prove how virtuous they are. The fact they have spoken about what has just happened can be seen as a sign that they are a good person.

This shows how easy it is for someone to create a certain persona online, and it is not going matter what they are like in the real world. What someone says is then more important than what they actually do.

Conclusion

When a tragedy takes place, one is unlikely to have much of an effect by simply posting a picture of themselves and/or a status. This is not to say that it won’t make them feel better or make them look good, but it probably won’t do much else.

If one really wants to make a difference, it might be better for them to donate money to a certain charity or to simply be an example in their everyday life. And if they know someone who has been affected by what has taken place, they could send them a private message or visit them personally.

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Oliver JR Cooper
http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk