I was once an attention seeker, but not the bad kind of attention seeker who did even the ridiculous things to get attention. Mine's the kind that some lonely people seek, as they can feel more alive and happy with it. The attention that they get is like validation that it's okay to be alive because there is someone who is happy to have us and communicate with us. And where's the perfect place to get attention? It's on social media, specifically on Facebook, it could be on X formerly known as Twitter or any other social media site that exist that time.
Because I want attention and to feel more loved and cared for, I am always in groups or in group chats just to find someone I can talk to. It's a good thing that Facebook can upload photos, so it's not that hard to attract more people. Just edit your photo a little in YouCam make-up, enhance the eyes, remove blemishes and eye bags, and voila, you get yourself one perfect profile photo to get more attention. I know it is so fake, but who cares? It makes me feel better when people compliment it ƪ(˘⌣˘)ʃ.
I know, right? It's really bad, and the truth is, that edited version is what makes those people say good things about it, not the real me, the ugly version of me, but I still did it. And it goes on for a very long time. Editing a photo before uploading it is really tiring, getting more likes is also exhausting, as I have to beg for "likes." You know, "FL to FL," that existed back then. I'm not sure if people still do it today. This is a perfect place to delude yourself and feel like a famous celebrity, even though it is "forced."
Back then, I saw social media or facebook as a perfect outlet for someone like me who craved attention and love. I think it still is —to some, maybe? I found friends in here too, which saved the lonely old me. I have a "Katol" and a "Pukikay" that I can still talk to today, they are people, by the way, and that's our endearment for each other, lol. We have the same vibe, we joke around too, and even though we never meet, even once, that is not a hindrance for us to get close. They are my happy pill, now and then.
And that's one of the good things about social media, even though it's rare, you can really find a good friend here. A virtual friend is not that bad, either. In fact, I feel like a virtual friend is more genuine and real than a friend that is closer to you. Well, in some cases, there are friends that can backstab you, some have a best friend that does that to them. A virtual friend can do that too, but at least it is less painful —if ever, right?
But as I spend more time on Facebook, I get so addicted to it that I don't want to do other things. I mean, why would I choose a tiring house chore when I can be more than happy just spending time with my friends and chatmate on Facebook? It came to the point that I am browsing on Facebook 24/7, and my eyes are already tearing up because of overused. It's really not just bad for my eyes but also for my health. As I focus on Facebook, sometimes I want to finish eating faster, so I eat small servings of food, then later I will just eat junk food.
That's one of the things I did because of social media, and that's just one of the bad effects a social media has. I am sure that there are a lot of people who still do this today. Like using a phone or browsing on social media, they will even ignore the foods on the table. *It's a bad habit, seriously. Although we can avoid doing it, how? *If Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or just any other social media that exists out there is ruling our lives, It's also hard to get away with the addiction to social media, I experience that, so I know that its really hard.
You'll have this urge to check and hold your phone all the time, even if you get away from it, but your mind and your hand are just itching to grab it. I feel like I'll get sick if I can't reply to a chat, and I hate the feeling. Sometimes I'll just tell myself that I'll browse for just 30 minutes, but that 30 becomes 1 hour, then 3 hours, and I will notice that I wasn't able to do something productive again because I listen to the demon in my head to just spend time on Facebook. It is seriously a severe facebook addiction back then ( ꈍᴗꈍ), aigooo.
But the good news is, I got over it already. And rather than spend time and money browsing on social media sites like Facebook, I am now using my time wisely here on Hive. Actually, this is not the first cryptoblogging site that has helped me overcome my Facebook addiction. Let me also mention read.cash because it also helps me a lot. And instead of making an effort to decide what to post on social media, I am now making an effort to decide what to publish here and share some of my not-so-pretty photographs.
At least here, I got a pretty amazing return. Effort is not wasted (ʘᴗʘ✿).
Lead Image Edited in Canva.