By Judea Lyn Bernardo
Considering that times have changed, it's unequivocal how our extant days have been swayed by the mere presence of social media, a platform where presumably most would do as much to fend their faces. This sense, as many would have thought, does not entirely pertain to the physicality of the “face” alone, but the positive public image one nurses. As mentioned by Erving Goffman‘s Face Theory, the face is an image you seek to establish in social interactions. Later on, this account has opened sociolinguists Penelope Brown and Stephen Levinson’s Politeness Theory who explains human interactions with their arguments that individuals have two faces; the Positive Face which is centered on a desire for approval and acceptance by others, and the Negative Face which leans on one’s desire to proceed without being inhibited upon.
Showcasing the positive face, Facebook is seen as the perfect virtual terrain where everyone shares, posts, views and comments on a wide range of subjects. It has paved an avenue for an enriched twenty-first-century form of social interaction. However, more than its purpose of strengthening communication, it has eventually led people to complex influences that have shaped human identity.
Undeniably, It’s good, great even, that people learn to adapt to the movement of human learning through time. However, we also have to take into consideration that there was never an existing guarantee that “all” of these changes are always for the betterment of the common good.
Just like how it has presently affected our perspectives. Instead of using Facebook to accentuate an improved communication, aside from it unconsciously becoming your new culture, it alchemized you to be indecisive rather than becoming divisive. Individuals mostly post under the foundational idea of “what impression would they like this virtual sodality to have of them?” “ What face or image would they hope to establish on this platform?” or their ill at ease “if they are setting themselves up for embarrassment or to something that would click everyone’s interest?” Most thinkers in this timeline would post and expectantly bide to the feeling of approval from the people who react to their status, who throws positive comments, who shares their insights, who view their story and sends responses to it.
You might be wondering what’s wrong with exhausting the means of this platform, there isn’t actually. There’s nothing wrong with using Facebook to nurture one’s esteem, as esteem is an essential component of human motivation.
However, when one considers Facebook as a “lengthened” identity of them as a being, they are directing themselves to an inconsistent path. When people like your posts, share it and sees you in a positive light, self-esteem cultivates, but when they don’t, you start to question yourself. This leads us to the forgotten integer, that Facebook is a partiality of the internet, and not everything we see on the internet can help us to either grow and improve.
In a much specific sense, people who have gone under the presence of Facebook have been seeking validation from the wrong page. It can be said that the impression of the digital mass towards an individual affects how the self sees itself. However, there’s no need for self-doubt despite people not giving you a thumbs up or a heart reaction. Why would you question your worth when others are seeing things differently from your perspective? Why would you need someone else’s approval just so you can do things your way?
Diversity exists for it balances humanity. Differences are inbred to mankind therefore, you must keep in mind that Facebook may have encased one’s positive face, but not a person's entirety.
Nevertheless, the only validation you need is from yourself.
Judea Lyn Bernardo is an incoming 3rd Year AB Broadcasting Student. Her passion for Arts and expression are the only constant thing in her life, which somehow is reflected through the years she’s spent as a Theater Actress, an active Event Host, a Freelance Writer and Voice-Over Actor. With this passion, it led her into being involved in student organizations because she believes that in her journey as a student leader, her competitiveness would encourage her generation to always do more beyond their expectations
YSPACE is a platform open for young writers to contribute their worth-sharing thoughts and stories to the world. It is a space for young people and by the young people which aims to promote a strong sense of empowerment and inspiration to young Filipinos.
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