Facebook > Pinterest

This websites are not novel. Everyone has known about them for a while now. It's not super-trendy anymore to say, "Like our company/band/nonprofit on Facebook!" It's just standard. The concept of social media is old news, normal life. But I feel the need to talk about these two: Facebook and Pinterest again.

I've been addicted to Facebook for the last five years.
My profile picture has gone from looking like this:

To this:

To this:

There's been times when it's been terrible for me, this addiction, but most of the time I don't think it's even really a problem. There have been times when Facebook has been such a blessing, in fact.

1) Facebook people share all kinds of articles that I can read. Sometimes they're just stupid time-wasting buzzfeeds, but other times they shine a bit of wisdom or insight into my life, which I love to just soak up. I also learn a little bit about the person who posted it.

2) Connections with old friends, relatives, whatever, are priceless. Nobody has the time to talk on the phone or write letters anymore (quite unfortunately, although the latter I still make an effort to do sometimes), and even texting isn't something you normally do with people you aren't already in contact with on a daily basis. However, when that person you haven't heard from in a while but still care about posts something on Facebook, you get a glimpse into their life. You can leave a comment. You can simply "like" it. Boom, done. Connection made. Maybe it's a cheap connection, but it's still a connection that wouldn't have been made at all if not for Facebook, and that's worth something to me.

3) Following that up, conversations--yes, actual (albeit digital) conversations--pop up all the time if you're trying to make it happen. If my friend posts a status about how they're not having a good day, it doesn't take much for me to message them and ask them about it. I've made friends this way. Friends I've never met in real life but have an invaluable relationship with over Facebook. (Don't worry; I'm wary of creepers.) Maybe this isn't really all that different from texting, but sometimes it's easier.

Facebook is, I believe, good for me overall. I have thought about getting off before, because I truly believe it's an addiction sometimes. I'm not really afraid of "radical" life change, remember? But I legitimately think the pros outweigh the cons.


Pinterest, on the other hand. Wow. How can any modern lady not love Pinterest, right? DIYs, ideas for snacks and our hair and our future wedding and entertainment for our future kiddos. It's seriously the best thing ever. At first glance.

But then, for me, the longing starts. I start hating my life and everything in it because it's not as picture-perfect as Pinterest tells me it can be.

I don't have gorgeous long hair that I can braid and try all these adorable fancy up-dos on. My hair is short and straight and looks the same almost every day.

I'm not actually planning a wedding, and even if I were, a day is only 24 hours and a party's just a party. In fact, marriage is not even a first priority for me right now (until I see all those pretty wedding dresses on Pinterest, am I right?).

I can't just make an sweet potato avocado burger, even if I want to. I just can't. I don't even have my own kitchen yet.

I can't just pack it all up and go on a month-long backpacking trip in the mountains of Ireland like the pictures tell me I can. I have real-life duties, even if those duties are still just going to class.

I can't actually have a house with a backyard patio that somehow magically turns into a swimming pool or have a huge entertainment center with a rustic fireplace and ombré pink walls for the baby's room.

And I really just can't make 90% of the adorable DIYs that they say are easy-peasy and cheap. I literally lack the creative capacity, finances, and time to do them.

When I look at all these pictures, I get jealous. A lot of people experience Facebook envy, but not me; for me it's Pinterest. I don't even have a one person to be jealous of. I'm just jealous of an ideal. I become dissatisfied. It's disgusting. Not only is it one of the biggest time-wasters ever, it's one of the biggest breeders of discontent. Awesome.

Then again, when I go home (and have a kitchen at my disposal) and think, "Hmm, what should I make for breakfast?", I will know exactly where to find a recipe for homemade strawberry nutella poptarts. And...is that really so wrong??

Be cognizant of your use of social media.


God bless.