If you didn’t photograph it, did it even happen? If you didn’t tag your location pin, were you even there? If you didn’t produce a minimum of 100 photos to document the entire holiday, what evidence is there to prove that fun actually transpired? Social media, along with the cameras embedded in our smartphones have made us hypersensitive to the fear of missing out and by extension has forced us to adapt a digital recorder reflex.
If I am to be honest, there were many times when I felt conflicted as to whether or not I should whip my phone out or trust my brain enough to remember. There were so many occasions where I was surrounded by people who were so focused on getting the right shot that any other type of other behaviour made one feel as if one wasn’t participating in the right way. And of course there were those moments when I wanted to record but felt too insecure because the environment/crowd was different.
Social engagements sometimes now tend to feel like a blur. It’s almost as if so many of us are physically there but still not present. Our desire to record digitally is still a double-edged sword because I would be lying if I didn’t admit that instant documentation has made it easier to share and update friends. I would be lying if I didn’t say that Facebook reminders tug at my heart strings and always manage to reignite memories that I thought had disappeared; and dare I say make me develop even more appreciation for certain things.
How much we involve our phones and how often we choose to use them as digital recorders while trying to both savour and capture the moment is a one predicament that all of us find ourselves in. So many of us recognise social media to be a second place where we live and really, as cringeworthy as that sounds, it is true.
This reality has shaped the way we interact, project and present ourselves to our audiences. The term soft launch has even been coined to demonstrate a slow introduction to life updates, a strategy used by brands, celebrities and now ordinary folk to keep their audiences and friends engaged. By altering the way we communicate we have essentially slowly become calculated people unconsciously and by extension operating mini brands.
Last week I found myself incredibly shy about documenting my “Barbie” movie outing; something that I wanted to do for my inner child. I probably resisted because I was in the company of my sister-in-law and didn’t want to seem self-centred or come over as a terrible movie date. But it made me reflect on etiquette and a few do’s and don’ts when we try to strike that balance between capturing the moment and living authentically in it.
Time social media usage
There is nothing more annoying than going out with someone and not being able to connect over the event because one more is more interested in documenting the event to re-experience at home. Set a designated amount of time for photos or videos and stick to it. If you are having your pictures taken by friends or family members, try not to overburden them with constant requests until you get the right shot ( there are professional photographers for that) – and even when they say it’s not a problem.
Fake happiness
I will never forget once being on holiday and watching the partner of a woman annoyingly take endless Boomerang videos of her ‘happily’ running out of the water. It was evident that projection was taking place and this was hardly an authentic moment. There is a difference between acting to project an image and just having fun. If your perfect moments need to be orchestrated to the point where they not only become frustrating for the photographer but you, they are not moments worth documenting. Practise asking yourself, ‘who am I doing this for?’ and ‘why am I doing this?’ before you start the charade. Your reasons should be rooted in personal joy or joy dependent on the reactions you anticipate to receive.
What should matter most is that the result is entirely for your satisfaction or your happiness and not determined by how you may be perceived.
