If you didn’t post it, did it even happen?

I have been an active user of social media for many years, especially Instagram. It is one of the tools I use to stay in contact with my friends and family who are in other parts of the world, as well as keep the contact with the new friends I make while living abroad. Nevertheless, during the time I have been living in Munich for my Erasmus exchange, the use I give to these platforms has changed. I am no longer posting pictures of everything I do, which used to be the case some years ago. As I grow older, I started to value my privacy a lot more. Nowadays, I only post a few things every now and then, but I prefer to send the videos and pictures I take directly to the people I want to update; my closest circle.  I do have to say, social media platforms have a great way to discover new places and events taking place in Munich, and they have also been a big source of entertainment during the first weeks of my exchange when I got Covid and had to stay home alone.

Last month I considered deleting all my social media platforms. Even though I am not posting as much anymore, I have realized that they can also give me a false feeling of connection. What I mean by this is that as much as they keep you “up to date” with your friends and family everyday life’s, it might also reduce the urge to call them or actually get in contact with them, which in reality is so much more important than just liking or commenting on their posts.  On the other hand, as much as I like to see what other people are doing, it can also take me out of the present moment and create anxiety. Most of us use social media to show only the best moments, and sometimes this put pressure on me to not miss out on anything and to portray the amazing experience I was having here in Munich, while in reality, there were a lot of days when I felt sad, homesick and alone (especially at the beginning). But these of course are also part of the experience, and I learned to see these moments as opportunities for growth.

Another way in which I have used social media platforms during my exchange, particularly Pinterest and YouTube, is to learn how to cook new dishes and learn how to play the ukulele. Two of the biggest challenges that come with living by yourself are keeping a healthy and student-friendly diet as well as finding things to do when you are home alone. Luckily, today we have these tools that help us learn almost anything we can imagine with just one click.

or good or not, social media is a big part of today’s life and the way we interact with others. In my personal experience, these tools have been a great way to stay in touch with my loved ones and somehow involve them in my daily life. I am also aware that once I go back to the Netherlands, this will be a great way to stay connected with all the people that I met here. However, if there is something I have learned during this exchange is that true connection comes from real personal interaction and during those moments when we are having so much fun that we completely forget about our phones.