Shared Experiences Bring Togetherness
Over the course of the COVID-19 global pandemic, it was a challenge for people to stay in touch with friends and family. Our means of communication turned to social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and more. Social media became a huge news outlet in gathering the latest details about the deadly disease spreading across the globe. The pandemic became a common interest that everyone was talking about. To return to normalcy, we had to remain separated from friends and family. Strangely enough, that united us. Karen North, a professor of digital social media at the University of Southern California, said, “One thing that brings people together is shared experiences … All of a sudden we all have a shared experience.” As social media use continued, many people became uncertain what was considered appropriate to talk about as the world crumbled around us.
Use and Successes of Social Platforms
Americans spent around 80 minutes per day on social media in 2020 — a seven-minute increase from 2019 (Molla, 2021). Facebook took the lead with 34 minutes. Each platform allowed people to share thoughts and experiences differently. Instagram stories became useful for social justice slideshows and mental health awareness. TikTok became a huge success in 2020 (growing nearly 600% compared to 2019), because of its appeal in sharing short videos and types of content that felt real to everyone struggling during the pandemic. Messaging apps and messaging portions of social apps grew during the pandemic and allowed for a more private feel. Social media use will likely decline in the coming years but will remain higher than before the pandemic.
Unrealistic Portrayals: A Thing of the Past
As many of us shifted to work-from-home culture, the frequency of social posts varied. Some reported to be posting less — being stuck at home doing the same thing every day and simply not having engaging content. On the other hand, some were posting more due to isolation and boredom. Social media content went from depicting unrealistic portrayals of people’s lives, to a more accurate representation of a day-to-day life (children making a mess in the house, dressing down, wearing less makeup, etc.). Then there were those who didn’t post at all, simply because they were afraid of sharing content that didn’t follow COVID-19 safety guidelines.
The global health crisis was at the epicenter of surrounding other historical events in 2020. We shared feelings of sadness, fear, and uncertainty across the board. However, our shared experiences online and in real life gave a settling perception of togetherness that helped push through the thick of it all. A more realistic standard has been set for the content we publish online. The expectation to lead a perfect, polished lifestyle in our online presence is no longer as strong as it was prior to the pandemic. Our behavior online will continue to change in years to come — hopefully for the better.
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