If you are lucky enough to have been born into the technological world of the 21st century, you'll probably be able to relate with what you are about to read. You do not necessarily have to agree with me as everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The motion to be discussed today has raised a few hairs for quite a number of years now.

It has been said, more than once, that Social Media, despite its look of harmlessness, is but a danger to society. Some may disagree and very often we tend to let it slide without having given it a second thought. But really, how bad can it really be?

How about we go back -- way back! For hundreds, and even thousands of centuries, man has used communication as a way of passing information. Naturally, human beings are social creatures. Even when we cannot speak to another person face to face, we have always found a way to adapt communication to suit our needs.

Postal Services can be dated back to 550 BC. Yeah, letters are pretty old. Somewhere along the line, in 1792, the telegraph was invented. I know what you're thinking, how does this have anything to do with the app on my phone? Well we're almost there.

Some time in 1890 we saw the introduction of the telephone and a year later the birth of the radio.

In 1960 we saw the rise of the Internet and in 1997 the first recognizable form of Social Media (Six Degrees) was born. The 21st century gave birth to the Social apps that we now know and use today -- MySpace and LinkedIn (2003), YouTube (2005) and Facebook and Twitter (Made available worldwide in 2006).

The question left is 'HOW is Social Media dangerous?' To be honest, Social Media has and still continues to serve it's original purpose, it brings people together. But there is a limit to how together it can possibly bring us. 

If you are reading this, what are the odds of you actually using another app at the same time? Are you listening to a playlist on Spotify, scrolling through your Twitter feed and yet are somehow still here? Well, my point is: we are never fully anywhere. We are torn apart between two [or more] worlds. I could be talking to you on WhatsApp, DMing yet another friend on Instagram and simultaneously watching a video of I don't know -- fainting goats.

Simply put, Social Media isn't really harmful. The way we use it; that's what's harmful. The solution, believe it or not, is just being H-E-R-E. Be in the now. Be MINDFUL.

Images courtesy of Pexels.