What We Lost When We Gained the Follow Button

The invasion of social media has fundamentally reshaped our daily lives, our society, and even our emotions. Because these platforms are so immediate and influential, we’ve almost forgotten what life was like before them.

Think back to the days before Facebook. If you liked someone, you actually had to call their house. There was a good chance a parent would pick up, forcing you to introduce yourself, be polite, and show respect before asking to speak to their son or daughter.

Did that add value to our character? Absolutely. It was often the first time in our young lives that we had to show real courage. We had to step out of our comfort zones and practice "polite persistence" to get something we wanted.

Those awkward phone calls were training for adulthood. They prepared us for the big moments—asking for a promotion, interviewing for a dream job, or proposing to a partner. Today, that growth has been replaced by the "easiness" of social media. We no longer have to expose our true selves; we can just hide behind a profile..