Culture

Social Media: The Fractured Self in a Fractured Digital World

What’s the first impression you want to give people?

I’m everywhere and nowhere at the same time. At least, that’s what it feels like on any given day as I bounce between Twitter, Instagram, BlueSky, Threads, LinkedIn, Tumblr, TikTok, and beyond. The wild part? I didn’t even remember I was on BlueSky or Threads until I stumbled across my profiles, apparently dormant for over a year! When did that happen? I must’ve signed up during a social media spree, chasing after that elusive idea of staying “relevant.” And now, here I am, fractured across more platforms than I can count.

I’ve been on Facebook for 16 years, Twitter for at least 12, and back in the day, they felt novel—like a new world to explore. Twitter, in particular, was my space for breaking news and quick thoughts, but now it’s more of a love-hate relationship. I wonder, am I the same person on all these platforms? On LinkedIn, I’m the consummate professional, sharing mental health updates and industry news. Facebook is private, a digital scrapbook of memories shared with close friends. Instagram? A curated snapshot of my life.

It’s wild to think that my digital persona splinters depending on where I’m standing in this vast social media landscape. And now, learning these newer platforms, it feels like I’m constantly evolving—or maybe just adapting out of necessity. But does this fracture my true self? Or is this multiplicity a reflection of how fluid identity can be in today’s hyper-connected world?

While I don’t post anything political, avoiding the inevitable landmines, the question remains: Who am I online? Is it even possible to be fully authentic when you’re simultaneously a version of yourself on every platform? Maybe it’s not the platforms that are overwhelming; maybe it’s keeping track of all the versions of me.

Maybe, like my forgotten threads profile, some aspects of our digital selves are meant to be left behind.

1 reply »

  1. “I’m everywhere and nowhere at the same time.”

    Profound So True Dear Miriam The Advantage

    Of Artisans Creating Pyramids and

    Pictographs Taling the

    Stories of Pharaoh’s

    True the Artisan’s Souls

    Live on in the “ArTiFacTS”

    They Shed To Create Spring

    Long After THeir Leaves Decay…

    Pharaoh’s and Initials Like DJT on Golden

    Towers Nope There is No Soul Only What’s

    Left of the
    Artisan’s Then

    Who Create the Art Now
    No Different than Getting
    Worshipped as A Ghost Author
    Every Sunday For Thousands of Years FOR REAL

    With Books of Their Words Vaulted to the Temple Ceilings

    Ah Yes Dear
    Miriam Now

    We Have Avenues
    That Skip ‘City Hall’

    Almost All Together

    Where Even in the Most
    ‘Backwoods’ Of CuLTuRE’S

    Around the World Even Women
    With No Voices May Sing What’s
    Free Deeper Within Their Souls

    Yet on the Other hands Modern
    “Mozart Beethoven and Einstein”

    And Oh Lord Even “Jesus Michelangelo Buddha

    Lao Tzu And Krishna” If they Could Be Real Now

    Getting Stuck at the Bus Stop Playing

    ‘Candy Crush’ Without Any Dance And
    Song of SouL to Relate to the Health Clinics’
    Non-Profit CEO

    at Her
    Bus Stop onLine iN NY

    So many Way Stations

    Now to Master the Tools

    To Avoid Becoming used by the Tools

    And By God NOT to Be Replaced By Initials as
    Small as

    AI

    Without
    Original

    Creativity Set Free..:)

    Liked by 1 person

I welcome your thoughts