What I'm Thankful For: A Social Media Edition

November is the month of thankfulness and Thanksgiving. As such, we'll all have to think about different ways of celebrating this year due to the pandemic. But as I was thinking about how I'd like to celebrate thankfulness this year, my mind went – as it usually does – to social media.

Is it possible to be thankful for social media?

What does that look like in a 2020 world?

No one can doubt social media's importance in keeping us all in touch this year, but is it going overboard to be THANKFUL for platforms that clearly have issues?

Is Thankfulness Important?

Article after article has been written about the perks of thankfulness. Everything from benefitting the immune system to helping your body's other protective systems is listed as a potential plus to being thankful.

But when was the last time you heard about thankfulness as it relates to social media?

For me, it's been a while.

Most of the time, when I tell people what I do for a living, I'm often met with a sympathetic or disgusted look (really).

After 10+ years in this industry, I'm quite used to it. But this year, I developed a hypothesis as it relates to my profession.

I believe that having a positive attitude about social media might lead to a better relationship with it.

I've even written social media affirmations and other articles about the reasons I'm thankful for my chosen career path.

So while I do recognize that overuse of social media or an unhealthy relationship with it can be harmful to your physical and mental health, I also believe that improving your relationship with it can have numerous benefits.

Here are my reasons for being thankful for social media.

Why I'm Thankful for Social Media

Social media has led to a fruitful career for me over the last decade.
Social media provides opportunities for marginalized voices to be heard.
Social media connects us with people when we can't physically be close to them.
Social media nurtures communities that in joining them can benefit our sense of well-being.
Social media is a way to network with people who can boost your career or steer you towards opportunities.
Social media provides levity in a very serious or extreme world.
Social media helps people who might otherwise have trouble to express their thoughts clearly.
Social media makes good things go viral.
Social media can help people build confidence.
Social media is a therapy couch, a microphone, a megaphone, and a spotlight.

Indeed, framing conversations about social media around the good it can do for people often helps combat the negativity surrounding these platforms and burnout associated with being a social media manager.

Though we shouldn't always look at these channels with rose-colored glasses, we should ABSOLUTELY learn how to develop healthier relationships and attitudes with them.