I live on the West Coast in Victoria, BC, and I am so grateful to live and work in such a naturally beautiful part of the country and the world.
Image by me (Marlena Wright)
My professional side
I work with a non-profit organization that supports military families. My primary role at the organization is to help support families and friends through their loved one’s deployments and work-related absences. I assist in creating and fostering connections between those experiencing the same thing, as well as facilitate briefings and information sharing between the deployed ships and families “back home.”
I also work with a couple of colleagues to monitor, maintain, and grow our organization’s social media platforms. This part of my job came to me serendipitously after our Marketing & Communications Coordinator left his position a few years ago. Although neither my colleagues nor I have proper training in social media, we’ve managed to muddle through; however, we want more. So, a colleague and I are taking courses at Algonquin College to pursue our Social Media Certificates. I have enjoyed my journey in the program so far and am excited for what comes next. I want to continue learning and growing personally and professionally, gaining further skills to assist me in my work and life.
My personal side
Not only do I work in supporting military families, but I am part of one as well. The military is not just a career choice for the military member; it’s also a lifestyle that affects their family and friends. Living and working in this unique lifestyle has its fair share of challenges and successes, and it is something I am proud of and passionate about. It is one of the things that makes me who I am.
In my little spare time, I enjoy delving into my creative side. Baking, cooking, and needlework are passions of mine and hobbies that allow me to take time for myself and be present in the moment. Not only do I love creating tried and true favourites, but I also love pushing myself to make new recipes and test out different flavour profiles.
Learning and growing as a person are essential to me, and opportunities to do so are ones I find myself continuously seeking. I look forward to you joining me on that journey!
A flawless body and complexion, no wrinkles or stretch marks. Airbrushed with a look of no pores. Hair flowing in the breeze, but not a single strand out of place. An exaggerated smile or laugh and pose they’d only found themselves in because of the camera in front of them.
I’m honestly getting the “ick” just thinking about it.
Comparisons
In a world where social media is incredibly prominent, people have access and connections to others worldwide. Individuals can use social media platforms to follow along with content creators and celebrities and get an inside look into their lives. Although these connections through social media can be a wonderful thing, they also have their downfalls. Comparing ourselves to others is one of them.
Greater access to social media equals even more people to compare ourselves with. That said, it is important to note that although there are correlations between body image and mental health, it does not mean that social media causes these issues; multiple factors can play into that. However, social media use can exacerbate unfavourable comparisons.
These negative comparisons can lead to increased depression, anxiety, lower self-esteem, and body image issues, including muscle dysmorphia and disordered eating habits. So why don’t we stop comparing ourselves to others? Wouldn’t that…solve everything? Well, that’s easier said than done.
The Social Comparison Theory was first introduced in 1954 by psychologist Leon Festinger. In his theory, Festinger proposed that people determine their worth based on how they compare themselves to others around them. Although the process can have positive and negative effects, it is part of who we are. Sometimes, it means being our own worst critic.
Social media platforms, including Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, host filters you can add to your photos and videos before sharing them. The increased use of these filters has created terms like “Instagram Face” and “Snapchat Dysmorphia.” Some people even want to take what they see from the filters and turn it into a reality; in 2018, 55% of plastic surgeons said their patients wanted surgery because they were “motivated by a desire to look better in selfies.”
Even if you know that some social media content is misleading and projects unrealistic expectations, staying away from it can still be challenging. So, in this “comparison culture,” what can YOU do to mitigate negativity in your social media intake? Here are some ideas:
Take notice of what times of day you’re consuming social media. Is it right before you go to bed or first thing in the morning? Are you finding it’s affecting your sleep or mood for the day? Maybe you should think twice about scrolling through the feeds when you have a spare moment. Instead, take time away from your phone or computer screen and participate in a hobby or something you enjoy.
In a recent study, teens and young adults who lessened their social media consumption by 50% were compared to those who maintained their current levels. Results found that those who reduced their social media intake showed “significant improvement” in how they perceived themselves and their body image.
Monitor your feeds
Pay attention to the type of content you’re searching for. Although you may not be able to eliminate all of the advertisements and promotions on your feeds, you can assist in mitigating them. Social media algorithms consider content you have previously searched for to better personalize what you see on your feeds.
Be aware of the content creators you follow on social media. Pay attention to how a person or organization’s content makes you feel – are your thoughts positive or negative? Remember that not all social media content is “real” or shows the whole picture. Photos can be heavily edited, and content highly curated.
Consider following more creators who make you feel positive about yourself. Try broadening your horizons if you only follow a specific type of person or content; one size doesn’t fit all. And if you are looking for content to help you eat better or lose a little weight? Choose to follow the creators who motivate you in healthy (and professional) ways.
If you find that social media or other sources continue to negatively affect your mental health, you may need to seek out support. This could take multiple forms, from having a heart-to-heart with a good friend to seeking professional assistance from a counsellor or therapist. Remember that you are not alone and that your feelings are valid. There are a variety of resources out there for you if you need them.
Final thoughts
Social media has become ingrained in our culture, increasing comparisons of ourselves to others. But what you see isn’t always what you get. Be aware of the content being shared around you and what you choose to take in.
It may not be easy sometimes, but take a step back and find gratefulness in yourself and what you offer. What makes you, you. Although there is power in “perfection,” or at least perceived perfection, there is also power in just being yourself.
Has social media affected how you view yourself or your body image? How do you deal with the positivity or negativity that comes from it?
Facebook:
Have you ever compared yourself to others on social media? Even when the expectations are unrealistic? Learn how you can ease away from negativity in your social media intake: https://bit.ly/48y6hcH
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Is scrolling on #socialmedia negatively affecting your #bodyimage? Discover ways to help change that: https://bit.ly/48y6hcH
You’re settling in for the evening. The sun has dropped below the horizon, and it’s getting dark outside. You close the curtains before heading to the couch to snuggle under your favourite blanket. Switching on the TV or slipping on your headphones, the unfolding story begins to encompass you, and you become immersed in it. As you listen, you feel the hair stand up on the back of your neck, and you shiver, your heart beating faster.
Sound familiar? True crime is all the rage these days.
A ‘cult’ following
From podcasts to docuseries, streaming platforms like Netflix seemingly struck gold with their releases of Making a Murderer and Tiger King. To put things into perspective, on Tiger King’sfirst day of release in March 2020, it reached 741,000 unique viewers in the United States. Ten days later, that number had jumped to 34.3 million. So what changed? Well, the show was being talked about. Where was it being talked about? Social media.
During those ten days, the show was the highest-mentioned TV show on X (or Twitter, as it was known then), with 1.8 million unpaid interactions. But it wasn’t just the onset of COVID restrictions or Joe Exotic’s mullet and distinctive style choices that provoked people’s interest; the show also garnered further curiosity into true crime.
Now, there are several reasons why individuals might be drawn to the topic of true crime. One of those reasons is that we enjoy the puzzle. Not only do we want to see that a crime is solved, but we also want to play a part in solving it. And what more accessible place to do that than on social media?
Social media is critical in creating communities by connecting those with shared interests. You can post in a Facebook group to talk about an episode of a show or make a short video on TikTok to bring attention to a missing person. The latter became of particular value with the disappearance and passing of up-and-coming influencer Gabby Petito.
In September 2021, Petito was reported missing after her boyfriend returned home from a van road trip without her. As someone who had amassed a social media following on various platforms, individuals were invested in her journey. Over the coming days, the news gained traction, with her story and theories on her disappearance posted on social media platforms such as TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Reddit. In particular, a TikTok hashtag with Petito’s name amassed over half a billion views.
One particular couple following along scoured their social media videos when they discovered they had been in the same area as Petito before she went missing. After finding footage of Petito’s van in their content, they submitted it to the FBI. Not long after, Petito’s remains were found close to where their video footage was taken. It remains to be said if their footage led to the discovery, but it may have lessened the area of the search.
Unfortunately, Petito’s story did not have the happy ending that was hoped for, but this isn’t the case for all stories. Social media platforms are increasingly used to bring attention to and help solve cases, whether a higher-profile case like a missing person or something as simple as finding who stole an Amazon package from your front door.
In some situations, time can be of the essence, which is why using social media is crucial. It can spread information fast; it’s essentially crowdsourcing to solve a crime. But, like with anything, there are pros and cons. What social media sleuths bring to the table is no exception.
The topic of using social media to assist in solving true crime stories has garnered a fair amount of chatter lately, but it isn’t all positive. Increasingly, ethics are being brought into the picture, including in Petito’s case, with a term referred to as “missing white woman syndrome.” The term brings attention to prejudice in the media, showing that it may not pay as much (if any) attention to minority communities, especially when it comes to missing persons.
Additionally, revisiting crimes such as cold cases can “open wounds” for victims and their loved ones, potentially bringing unwanted attention, memories and feelings. Drawing attention to crimes and the sensationalized nature that media brings to them can even lead to copycat crimes.
Crowdsourcing crime-solving through social media can hinder investigations because it can interfere with them. Often, attention is called to someone or something investigative forces might not want to release information on. Speculation about a crime can also lead to unwarranted accusations. With social media being accessible to such a massive audience, once theories are put out there, that information is available for the world to see. Accusing someone of a crime when they may have no part in it can negatively change and affect someone for the rest of their life.
Closing thoughts
Social media positively and negatively affects true crime cases. Although armchair detectives can sometimes bring crucial evidence and information to light, they aren’t trained professionals. Whether you’re listening to or posting information on a crime or on a completely unrelated topic, it is essential to remember that real people are involved. Information and repercussions from accusations put on social media can affect individuals and groups, so be cautious about what you share and believe.
How do you feel about true crime stories being shared on social media platforms? Do the positives outweigh the negatives, or vise versa? Why?
Facebook:
True crime stories and solving them has become all the rage on social media. Learn about the positive and negative effects of doing so on my blog: https://bit.ly/3USVJBL
X (formerly known as Twitter):
Attention to #truecrime stories on #socialmedia has positive and negative effects. Find out why: https://bit.ly/3USVJBL
Have you ever gone down a theoretical rabbit hole? You may have been bored and started scrolling through your favourite social media app. Maybe one thing led to another, and suddenly, you’re deep in Reddit-land or watching a YouTube video, confounded or intrigued by someone’s thoughts and opinions on a conspiracy theory. Who knows, maybe that’s just me.
Whether you’re getting a laugh out of a completely outlandish one or starting to think about one that has some truth, they can be interesting to read about.
A rise in popularity
You might ask, “Do people just come up with these things because they have too much time on their hands?” This may be partially true, but not always. With social media at our fingertips, information – fact and fiction – has become more accessible than ever before.
Being a connection piece is one of social media’s main selling features and is something it thrives on. TikTok, Facebook, Reddit, YouTube and X, to name a few, have been major players in helping connect people with similar interests and mindsets.
Although conspiracy theorists may have once been considered a niche community, social media platforms allow a more vocal and widespread approach to sharing information. So, that eccentric man living in the woods when you were growing up? The one who was prepping for “the end of the world”? He might not feel too alone in his thoughts and beliefs anymore.
Diving in
In a 2003 article for The Washington Post, David Rothkopf coined the term “infodemic”. The term didn’t become prominent until the past few years, during the COVID-19 pandemic, which in and of itself has several conspiracy theories attached to it. A prime example is when Joe Rogan, a YouTuber and one of Spotify’s most popular podcasters, added fuel to the fire.
In his podcast, Rogan interviewed Dr. Robert Malone, a virologist. Interviewing someone knowledgeable and highly trained, like a doctor, should hold some merit, right? Not necessarily. Even if someone comes from a science-backed field, it does not automatically mean that the information they provide is entirely accurate. Sometimes, it can be misleading, and sometimes, it can be based more on personal opinions and beliefs.
Social media platforms are taking steps to help combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation, but is it enough? Maybe not. After TikTok took measures to ban specific hashtags on their platforms, conspiracy theorist group QAnon purposely started misspelling and slightly altering wording to continue pursuing their agenda.
As for the Joe Rogan podcast episode? It’s still up and available for anyone who wishes to listen. After the backlash from the episode, Spotify released some guidelines on how they choose to deal with shared information, especially about COVID-19; however, they have also made it quite clear that they do not want to be a “content censor.”
So what are you supposed to do with all of that? How can you tell fact from fiction, especially on social media?
What comes next
Whether you’re a conspiracy theorist or not, not everyone out there will have the same belief system. Humans are curious beings, and when faced with problems or events that are new or that may not add up, they might try to “fill in the blanks.”
But what can YOU do? Don’t believe everything you read, see, or listen to on social media! Conspiracy theories aren’t the only things that can be classified as misinformation or disinformation. Although you’ll still have your own personal beliefs, thoughts and feelings, you can still try your best to ensure that the information you’re basing those opinions on is research-based facts and not fiction.
Have you ever read or listened to something on social media that you thought was true but later found out wasn’t? How did you learn that information was incorrect? What made you believe it in the first place? Let me know in the comments below!
Facebook:
Having a tough time telling facts from fiction on social media? Learn what you can do to ensure you’re not getting sucked into a world of conspiracy theories: bit.ly/3UtV2hK
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Social media has changed how #conspiracytheories are spreading! Find out how by reading my blog: bit.ly/3UtV2hK
Military deployments are a different level of difficulty.
Waking up at zero dark thirty to go drop your loved one off. Holding on just a bit tighter during that last embrace. Saying “see you later” because “goodbye” has too much finality. Watching the ship sail into the distance until it’s just a blip on the horizon. Feeling yourself sigh because it’s only just the beginning.
During such an emotional time, you may feel alone and that no one else will understand what you’re going through.
That’s where we (and social media) come in.
HMCS Ottawa, HMCS Vancouver and MV Asterix leaving for deployment, August 2023. Image by me (Marlena Wright)
A little background
I work for a non-profit in Victoria, BC, that supports military families; my primary role is to assist family members and friends through their military member’s deployment or work-related absence. Why do I say this? A large portion of what I do is fostering connections and sharing information. Social media, mainly Facebook, plays a large part in making that possible.
To help with all this, we use what we call Family Networks. A Family Network comprises families and friends whose military members are connected to the same unit (i.e. each of the Royal Canadian Navy’s West Coast frigates has their own Network). Where does social media play into all of this? Well, each of these Networks has its own closed Facebook group.
Fostering connections
Right away, the use of Facebook groups creates a space for connection through mutual experience and interest. With families and friends spread out across Canada (and sometimes beyond), having a space to connect is crucial.
Connections through these groups can take many forms, from asking questions and sharing ideas to creating friendships. Whether you choose to partake or are more of a lurker, these groups foster connections in ways social media has revolutionized. Not only do they create a connection between like-minded families and friends, but they also create a connection between the clients, “us” (the organization), and the military unit.
Sharing information
Often, we need to share important information or updates with the families in the Networks. This can include promoting an upcoming program or sharing resources the client can access during the absence. It can also include sharing information or visuals from the unit with the families.
During some absences, ships will utilize their own social media platforms to share images and comments about what they’re up to (with operational security in mind, of course). Considering that WiFi (and therefore social media) was prohibited onboard until changes in 2017, this is a monumental step in bridging the communications gap between deployed military members and those “back home.”
Another large part of information sharing is the use of live streaming. With such a geographically spread-out group, families and friends can’t always travel to witness a ship’s departure or homecoming in person. Livestreaming via platforms like Facebook and Instagram creates real-time coverage of these momentous events, once again creating connections that may not have otherwise been made.
Has social media changed the way you form connections? What types of connections has it allowed you to make? Let me know in the comments below!
Are you experiencing the deployment or work-related absence of your military member? Learn about how social media can connect you with others experiencing the same thing: http://bit.ly/3HBu4Nx
X (formerly known as Twitter):
Looking for connection while experiencing a #deployment? Find out how social media has changed the game: http://bit.ly/3HBu4Nx
Algonquin College Social Media Certificate Program 