Who among you has a social media account? Facebook? Instagram? Twitter? Tumblr perhaps?

Or how about a
youtube channel? Actually it’s not about a question of “do you have?” because the answer will always be “I do have”. The
question is, “do you know how to use it properly and responsibly?”

Many people say that the evolution of social media has changed a lot of aspects in one’s life. From communication,
acquiring knowledge, making projects and school requirements, up to the forms of entertainment. The emergence of social
media made things easier and accessible.

While other people say that social media has brought about many negatives than positives. The negatives outweighs
the positives. They believe that while it is true that social media made things easier, media also decreases the essence of
doing such things. Media paves way also to other immoral things.

All of those are correct. Both proves a point. But in my perspective, nothing is invented to produce a deffective result.
Everything is created with the intention of bearing a successful result. It is just the users that causes something to result
negatively. So I believe that social media will always bear fruitful things as long as we do know how to use it properly,
efficiently, and responsibly.

A striking line that will always remain with me is a simple quote said by Dave Willis, and I quote, “Don’t use social
media to impress people; use it to impact people”. For a person will remember you not for the things that you have. A
person will remember you for the things that you’ve made them do. The things that you’ve contributed in their lives.
Whether a small or or big gesture, as long as it caused something positive in their lives. “Don’t use social media to impress
people; use it to impact people” So how do we impact people? It sounds quite impossible for all of us here are only
ordinary people who don’t even have 500 followers. Maybe not really impact, but to do you role as a responsible media
user, so that you can a concrete example on how to be one. Well, start with what you have, and start now.

Firstly, remember that what you post online is not the same thing with having a chitchat with your friends. What you
post will be viewed by other users and what you post reflects you as a person. Even so if what you post is not a serious
thing, if it contains inappropriate things, then you can not control what other people will perceive of you. You control what
you post, but you can not control what they’ll think. You reflect what you post.

Secondly, know that posting online your problems, can’t help you solve your problems. So what? So what if you failed
an exam? So what if your boyfriend or girlfriend cheated on you? So what if you’re home alone? Your virtual friends can
not even help you physically. Do know that social media will not recommend you a lawyer to help you solve your problems.
You will just appear as “KSP” Kulang Sa Pansin. Rather than posting, act on solving your problems.

Thirdly, impact, not impress. Learn to let arguments go. Social media is an open arena where one is perceived as an
enemy and/or alliance. Your opinions might contrast others’ and this might light a bigger bomb. So know whether you’re
still proving a point or you’re already proving other people’s opinion are wrong. If they still urge to fight, then learn to let
go, be the bigger person to learn how to shut up, if they can’t. what’s important is you’ve expressed what your mind
contains.

And Lastly, be you. Be authentic. Build a social life that reflects you. It is hard to constantly have that responsibility of
keeping up an image. Create an image of yourself.

Social media is a social arena. There are still a handful of things that a netizen should know on using social media. And
it is now your responsibility to discover it. Things mentioned above are only a particle of what a person should learn.
Everyone is entitled of having a free life, use it. Utilizeit. Always live with this quote , “Don’t use social media to impress
people; use it to impact people.