Technology

Honestly, I'm constantly asking this question regarding most social media platforms. What will it take for people to stop using platforms they don't like? It's not just the support, it's the actual monetary value of their interactions with those platforms -- you're handing those companies money by utilizing their "free" platforms. I teach online undergrad courses in mass communication, visual literacy, etc. Students talk about their use of social media platforms and many complain that they don't even like them or don't like their policies. When I ask them why they continue to use these platforms they don't like, they say it's easier to keep in contact with grandma, or military member, or someone overseas (or similar response).

Is call, text, and email not covering those individual communications? Are there not other formats that could be used instead of platforms that you don't like? It's much deeper than just that "simple" question. For many, it questions their idea of how culture and society. Especially younger people, who grew up with social media all of their lives, it's difficult to picture an existence without it, to live with the "FOMO" (fear of missing out), etc.

It's honestly a really interesting topic, and it will be necessary to question our idea of culture and what's "normal" when it comes to social media usage.