As 2016 is drawing to a close, and 2017 is fast approaching, I have been thinking about the amount of time I spend online, specifically on social media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc....). There are just so many of them, it's easy to just get lost on your phone (or computer) for...ever.
I personally only really use Facebook or Instagram with any real regularity. Even those two are more than a drain on my time. So I've been really thinking about what it is that I enjoy about each of them and how to make better, more productive use of my time online and shave off the pointless, waste of time, constant checking of social media that is so very tempting when you "only have a minute here or there anyway".
Instagram is by far my favorite. It's mostly pictures. Little tidbits about someone's day or a small peek at their heart. Mostly beautiful and encouraging. There is a main focus on positivity, beauty, and the joy in life. There are bits of heavy and heart-breaking, which balance the scale and make it a realistic and honest, yet still encouraging and upbeat place to be.
Facebook is mostly a drain for me now, but I do still see it's positive attributes, so I plan to stay on there, though in a more limited capacity (meaning I won't be wasting my time there, just checking here and there to see what family and friends are up to). I dislike the negativity that seems to prevail and the oversharing. I enjoy being able to share and read blog posts, pictures, and quick messages, but there is a lot to wade through, so and quite frankly I need the time I'm wasting scrolling to spend with my family and friends around me.
One thing I'm not a huge fan of about Instagram is the fact that you can link it to Facebook and then it's like a double post. I do sometimes choose to share a photo on Facebook that I've shared on Instagram, but I try to do it infrequently because otherwise people who follow me on both have to see it twice. All the time.
*Note* This next section isn't meant to offend- it's meant to shed light on my personal views of Instagram and what I like and dislike. Everyone is different and don't judge people based on these things. I merely enjoy certain Instagram accounts more or less because of my own personal views and tastes.
I also view Instagram as a "best of" sort of place for pictures. I admit that it annoys me just a little when people post like 5-10 (or more!) pictures from the same place, event, photoshoot, activity, day etc. I also get a tad bit annoyed when people share really poor quality photos. I mean sometimes you captured a moment and it's a little dark, so I get it. But I see Instagram as a photographic snapshot of my life and poor quality, dark pictures as a regular thing aren't my favorite. Admittedly I'm not a photographer nor do I consider myself to have an amazing natural ability in it, but I do try to think about the moment and perhaps add a little beauty here and there (or crop the photo so that the dirty laundry isn't in every shot).... I feel like Instagram has helped me to become a (slightly) better photographer because I see so many beautiful photos taken by many people and I think, "Hey! I could take a good shot of my baby with a little extra work, a couple props or a cute blanket, and some decent lighting."
On that note, this is totally a plug for Instagram for any of you who are not on there. Even if you don't want to post very much (once a week or once a month), I find it to be a more uplifting place than Facebook for the most part and I personally share a different way there. My Instagram posts are often a tiny little snapshot of a moment in my day. I might share a quick Bible verse or thought that was on my mind, I might share a brief story of something that took place that day, I might share something that made me laugh, cry, or smile. I might share a beautiful view that caught my eye. Just little snippets that I don't often share on Facebook or even on our blog in the same way. So, for all of you who are interested in that sort of thing, find me on Instagram at @mamalaurarose
This is just a snapshot of the pictures that I've shared there in the last month or so, but each of them does have a little description too (you just can't see it in this particular frame screenshot). Anyway, I just thought I'd put out a little shout out for Instagram because I plan to spend less and less time on Facebook (and use it merely for networking and keeping in touch here and there). I certainly won't be spending crazy amounts of time on Instagram either, but it's my favorite Social Media platform, so it's where I'll be most active and I'd love to connect with anyone whose on there and share little snippets of your life and be encouraged by you as well.
God bless!
