Social media platforms becoming modern-day diaries, memory albums

By Ghadeer Ghloum

KUWAIT: Social media platforms have revolutionized the way individuals communicate, share experiences and document memories of their lives. Due to the rise of its multiple platforms, social media has transformed into a digital modern-day diary or memory album for many people. Similar to a traditional diary, people use social media platforms to keep memories of their past, celebrate their achievements and challenges with their friends, family and even strangers.

However social media platforms also provide users with special features that allow them to document their feelings and express opinions in an easy and more appealing way, which may encourage individuals to unleash their thoughts and feel a sense of validation. Kuwait Times interviewed Al-Kawther Ghloum and Zainab Dashti, two young adults who shared their thoughts on social media’s role in documenting their experiences in life and preserving beautiful memories. "What makes social media a better alternative for preserving memories is that it gives you easy access to visual content.

For instance, platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok enable us to post pictures and videos that are visually appealing, and at the same time give us the option to write a caption alongside our posts, as well as other features that can add beauty to the memories, such as adding music and filters,” Ghloum said. These platforms also keep our memories documented and saved in the digital archives.

So basically, instead of relying on physical photo albums or written memories that might be kept away and uneasy to find, we can now easily access our digital archives through our social media accounts and recall our nostalgic memories of the past, in addition to having the option to choose who views our content and share with them whatever we like,” she added. According to Ghloum, unlike old school diaries or photo albums, which are usually shared with a limited audience, social media allows individuals to connect with a vast network of users.

This allows fostering a sense of community and connection among people who may share similar interests. On her part, Dashti said social media works as a window that introduces one’s character to the world. "Social media platforms often provide tools to present one’s life in a way that reflects their desired image to people. Users can present their interests, achievements and experiences selectively by carefully crafting a narrative that represents who they are or how they want to be perceived.

Therefore, social media is a double-edged sword that users should be careful with,” she said. Thus, social media platforms provide individuals with an opportunity to build their social image and presentation by carefully shaping the image they portray to the outside world, cultivating an online character that has significant achievement and even failures.