Page 15 - ADU Voice

SPRING 2023 · voice 15

catch your attention. Keeping you hooked are all guilty of that. Social media never fails
on these platforms for extended periods of to entice us. However, if we look beyond the
time is their goal. Why? Because that means surface, we will find an ocean of lies and
more income for them. manipulative tactics strategically designed
to distract us from reality.

What is the problem then? Social media plat-
forms are no longer tools. A tool is defined as Due to social media, many people have
anything that lies quietly ready to be used. become fearful of missing the latest news
However, when you observe the mecha- and updates. They become easily distracted
nisms behind these platforms, they do not and would interrupt their duties to catch up
fall under the literal definition of a “tool”. In on what they have missed. Who would have
fact, you are the one being exploited here. guessed that a phone notification would
Not only do you get manipulated into buying become much more important to us than
more products, but you are also taken in by studying and completing our work?
this platform’s “charm” to give up your pre-
cious time.

In a world where time is our most trea-
sured possession, it is disappointing to see
how fast it keeps slipping through our fin-
gers. Growing up, we have all been warned
about addiction and its horrid consequences.
However, not consuming toxic substances
does not mean we have steered clear of
addictions. Look closely around you, what

else do you see except people’s eyes glued to
their devices? Unbelievably, we are all vic-
tims of addiction; however, many of us are
either oblivious to it or simply in denial.

Seconds turn into minutes, minutes turn into
hours, and the everlasting cycle continues.
What was previously used as a communica-
tion medium is now being used to brainwash
our gullible minds. Instead of doing some-
thing productive that will help us flourish as
individuals, we would rather scroll for hours

and hours consuming meaningless content
for the sake of entertainment.

How often have you made empty promises
to yourself that you will use social media
for just five more minutes and then end up
losing track of time? Frankly speaking, we