Catch IT if you can!

There were 4.62 billion social media users around the world in January 2022. This figure is equal to 58.4 percent of the world’s total population

My kid went on a school trip for 4 days and I kept insisting that they keep in touch at least once a day.   By no means am I an ‘uncool’ parent.  A day in, no message came but the trip organiser confirmed all is well. But the nosey mother that I am, I messaged my kids on iMessage and had no response. However, I did see a lot of snapchat notifications, leading me to believe that they were online most of the time.  I WhatsApp’ed’ on the ‘family group’, tried to call but there was, no surprise, no response!  Finally, I opened the dreaded snapchat notifications (about 100 of them!) and snapped a pic to my kid with a sad emoji.  Lo and behold! I get a response, ‘I didn’t know you were into snapping mum!’.  I didn’t realise I had become that old that my children would think I wouldn’t know how to use an application either😊! After that I got a series of weird pictures with only eyes, nose, ceiling, the less said the better!

This experience brings me to a very interesting topic on internet usage.  Let us dive into how social media influences us and has penetrated our everyday lives.  It is fascinating to realise that there is no way back. Just 35 years ago, we were excited about getting that single telephone line in our homes and now every known hand wields a phone and a computer in their palm without a physical wire!  It is difficult to know how much internet is good for the future generations, but we need to make peace with the fact that it is here to stay!

Technology is all but boring and scary

Technology nowadays cannot be ‘time bound’.  People try to limit ‘screen time’ for their kids, go on ‘digital detox’ – refrain from Facebook, Twitter, etc.  But can you really switch off your phone?  Your phone is more than your phone now, it’s a clock, it’s a diary, it’s an information center, it’s your ticket wallet, it’s your wallet!

There was a very interesting documentary on Netflix about ‘The Social dilemma’ where it was detailed on how the big technology companies manipulate you and your data, but simply put, we all as humans are happy to be manipulated if there are no serious concerns.

Technology is here to stay

Schools now prefer to go digital, especially in the wake of COVID as all the dining tables in the houses became school benches.  The teachers now prefer to give assignments online and it is easy, portable and reduces the load a child carries to school.  With remote login set up and a central server, it is easy to replace a lost or a stolen laptop for school.  It makes it very easy for parents to track the school activities and progress.  There are no more lost or forgotten notes from the teacher!

Technology is to connect

If like me you want to connect, technology is one of the best ways.  A lot of women and men now use online platforms while doing mundane chores.  Older generations are hooked to YouTube videos with many of the women relishing the experience of putting them out there sharing the culinary traits.  Content creation is the next big thing.  All your mind and thoughts can be converted to accessible and usable content.  The amount of content created relevant for each age group that benefits each age group is more than we can imagine and quantify!

Social media usage by demographic in 2022

Social Media and us

If you want to engage with 13–17-year-olds, it is Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram reels and YouTube shorts.  It boils down to the attention span!

If you want to engage with 18-25 generation, get on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook as you may get a longer engagement with this age group.

If you want to engage with generation between 25-50+ it’s Twitter, Reddit, Linkedin and Facebook as people tend to get onto the professional ladder by this time.

For anyone over 50 and the generation that has retired, YouTube videos form most part of their time along with WhatsApp to be in touch with family and friends.

Social commerce and education have had a significant change where a lot of creators are finding ways to generate revenue.  It is currently viewed as a career option as well.
There were 4.62 billion social media users around the world in January 2022. This figure is equal to 58.4 percent of the world’s total population, although it’s worth noting that social media “users” may not represent unique individuals (learn why). Global social media users have grown by more than 10 percent over the past 12 months, with 424 million new users starting their social media journey during 2021.

The Digital Global Overview report indicates that the shopping users is over 187 million on Instagram alone.  Contrary to stereotypes, the world’s internet users are not averse to paying for digital content as well.

So next time you set a screen time for your kids and complain about Technology, know that it is here to stay and there is nothing that one can do apart from ‘adapting!’ Happy living the times!

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