I happen to tip toe that fine line between being almost too old for social media, too optimistic to watch the news, and too much of a MTVs Real World and Road Rules fan to appreciate reality television. The reason I say almost too old for social media is because even though I don’t slide in and out of DMs, use Snapchat since my memories almost gone as is, or use Tik Tok is because I don’t like being viewed from any lens except one thats focused on truth. With all that being said there are so many wonderful things about social media that I do like…mainly the interconnectedness it provides and the sense of wonder it can create. CNN, Foxnews, and MSNBC however are forums that although at times can be boring the information they provide to viewers creates a sense of grounding that can help put certain circumstances in a perspective that helps form healthy opinions.
MTV’s The Real World, and MTV’s Road Rules are two shows that birthed reality television along with CBS’ Big Brother following not too long after that took place in the 90s and early 2000s. The show bridged mainstream societal issues that were hampering America with young people trying to establish who they were and how they could contribute to the social paradigm from which they belonged…with lots of partying and sex in between of course. The show started many conversations and highlighted many taboos that would make most uncomfortable if they happened to be faced with them in real life. In the history of television I’m not sure if any show covered as many real life racial, homophobic, misogynistic, or religious differences that usually resulted in no real resolution but to agree to disagree.
Therein lies the issue I find with social media lifestyle that inevitably at some point brings me back to a real-life news forum because in contrary to my timeline which is partially comprised of uncorroborated facts that seem real but are usually based on opinion…the news has things I don’t necessarily want to know or hear. Most posts are presented in a professional fashion that after a while seem real because its tailor fitted to my liking and those who share that same thought process. At times to my detriment and favor I’ve coped using social media forums to create a mental utopia as a shield from the real-world horror that gets highlighted at nauseum on news outlets. The danger with viewing things that are tailored to your liking is that it can alter the perspective your living in and how to use discernment when faced with real life scenarios.
Major issues that take place in real life create ripple effects that are felt directly and indirectly by people living life offline and the News oftentimes make that fact more real than a double tap or caption meant for click bait. Healthy balances exist in all aspects of a healthy life and when social media is the main ingredient for most of if not everyone of a certain age for news and social theorems then its safe to say it may be time for a way to blend the worlds of social fantasism and real world trauma.
“The Real World” and “Road Rules” kept me intrigued because a disagreement in one minute highlight form with a brief summary vs a heartfelt one with real emotions give two different experiences to the viewer and the latter oftentimes makes you somehow appreciate both sides because a back story has never absolved anything or anyone, but it helps provide understanding. Pursuing the truth is ultimately regression to the mean and what brings me back to major news outlets which oftentimes puts the optimistic rose-colored lenses I use in proper focus. Having a way to merge the world of social media and real-world news reporting could help open a door to what sometimes gets swept under the rug because of lack of attention or unpopular opinion…on a major news outlet there is never anything trending its simply what’s to come.
iLL Take That to gO 