Photo by Thom Weerd
Music and Social Media.
What are you subjecting yourself to?
Subliminal [sub•lim•uh•nl]: existing or operating below the threshold of consciousness.
We, as a generation, are subconsciously subjected to a world of recklessness. We engage in thoughtless posting, cyber bullying, and the desire to self-validate through others. This is also known as social networking. Through media and music we are demoralizing and shifting our perception of what is right and wrong.
Instagram is becoming the definition of “beauty” and the determining factor of whether someone is good enough or not. But WHY? We seek validation by the amount of likes and reposts we get on a picture or status. And, [tbh], it’s sometimes embarrassing to receive a seemingly acceptable amount of likes from our followers until we do the math and discover that it’s not enough. In turn, we delete the post, regardless of our initial opinion.
By habit, I’m constantly checking all my social accounts. Indeed, they are the No. 1 distracters amongst us teenagers, in my opinion and dare I say, adults. So now, it’s less like texting and driving and more like tweeting and driving! How many of you can honestly say you don’t check your Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook way too often while trying to finish an essay, project, etc. So why are we so wrapped up in other people’s lives instead of enjoying our own? Instead of engaging at an event we’re posting about it.
This poses the question: Are we living for the moment or are we living for the likes?
Do your followers know more about you by what they’ve encountered or by what you’ve posted? We are exposing ourselves to the world, subliminally. Who really has time to sit and criticize everyone else’s lives behind a keyboard? You “cyber bullies” have no chill. You don’t realize the damage that’s been done ‘till it’s too late.
It’s time to shift our mindsets into a more positive view of social networking. Social media was primarily created as an outlet to connect with friends and family, near and far. Now it’s turned into an easily accessed bully zone and possible death trap.
And what about music? Music. Music! Are you being influenced by the music you’re listening to? Subconsciously, music dictates our emotions and actions. Studies have shown that teenagers who listen to heavy metal music gravitate toward psychiatric disorders, substance abuse and it even heightens their risk of suicide. Listening to lyrics in that genre provoke a shift in behavioral patterns.
Sit back and listen to the lyrics of your music and I bet it’ll make you reconsider. We get so caught up in the beats and a good time that we don’t realize how we’re being degraded, particularly as women. The “Birthday Song” by rapper 2 Chainz is a prime example. The main lyrics are “All I want for my birthday is a big booty….” You know the rest! Ridiculous right? Instead of being offended by his music, we dance to it, we support it! C’mon ladies…
Don’t be blind to your own subconscious ways. Open your eyes and see things for what they really are. Think before you post. Listen before you sing along. When these things start to happen, we’ll move away from being a Subliminal Generation and head toward being an Aware Generation.
In Collaboration With Travanna Clark
Aaminah Ishmael
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