Putting On for Social Media

People

April 20, 2015December 7, 2021

Her View

If you’re on any of the social media sites, particularly Facebook or Instagram, you see it almost daily. Somebody is putting on for social media…doin it for the ‘Gram. It may be a status update about how blessed they are with a picture of their new car or maybe even a simple update about how great their relationship is. Maybe it’s one of those negative posts where the person is sending cryptic messages about haters or asking somebody to “come see” them. Either way, chances are the poster isn’t really being sincere. They’re putting on.

Another form of putting on is found in the comment section. I’m AMAZED by how many people are soooo close to the person who posted the status. These commenters go out of their way to make others think that they have some kind of inside information or special relationship. Examples include the following:

I can’t wait for the wedding! Be sure to send me my invite!
Whaaaaat??? And I had to find out on FB?! SMH…
That’s what’s up cuz! Take me with you!

Chances are the commenter and poster only have a social media relationship and the occasional wave or hello in real life.

I guess social media just provides some people with a means to live out the life they want to live, even it isn’t entirely true. Let them live, I suppose! lol

His View

For the record I do want to say I have social media accounts, and over the last five or so years I’ve posted very little of anything. That was my disclaimer. I don’t really care for social media outside of keeping up with people, and therein lies the main reason people put on for it so much.

We all know that’s why most people use social media, and we know it will (for the most part) be the only way people know what’s going on with us. Because of this you really get two types of people who “put on”: Those who exaggerate to the fullest about doing it big every day, and those who are constantly going through the worst day of their life every day.

The people I don’t get are the latter. If I’m having the worst day ever I’m not trying to talk about it or post some sad photos for sympathy. Yea it may be harsh, but that’s why it’s done. I wouldn’t want anybody to know any of the following:

Well I’m not going to be able to pay (enter bill of choice here) because I don’t have it.
Really wish my (significant other) who I gave the world to hadn’t cheated on me with that (expletive of choice).
I can’t believe I got fired again.

Etc., etc…those type of statements don’t make you look any better and the “haters”, as these people call them, (because this type of person has so many) always know your business. Wonder why?

Then you have the type of people who “ball so hard” Jay-Z can’t even hang with them. At least I get you. You’re the same person who always has a story better, crazier, or wilder than my best story that seems to be the stuff movies are made of. With the help of social media you now get to add pictures, audio, and video to your lie.

Yea, lie…most of the time that’s exactly what you’re doing. You’re throwing your homeboy’s racks at the strip club, popping some random guy’s alcoholic beverage bottle of choice in his VIP section with your girls, flying and staying all over but you got bills to pay when you get home, you’re dodging the repo man, and got some dummy buying you the nice things in life to elevate your “put on” to another level. If that describes you, then you will be the other type of “put on” poster real soon.

If you truly got it like that then by all means enjoy. Hopefully you earned it. If you’re constantly posting negative stuff about yourself then go get some professional help, and stop embarrassing yourself and probably your family on the internet. It’s just not a good look.