Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, Vine, Tinder, Snapchat, Tumblr … what is it about these social networks that we find so fascinating? Is it the attention? Or the amount of followers? Or how many people like us? We voluntarily share personal information about ourselves, for what? Attention? There’s nothing to feel ashamed about, we have all done it.

However, where do you draw the line between public and private? Living too publicly may not seem like a big deal, but in the grand scheme of things, it destroys morality, ruins relationships and offers a false sense of reality.

Morality in today’s youth is almost non-existent, and social media is a place that offers positive reinforcement to those who publically live life with no filter. We live in a society where people care more about how many “likes” they have than about what their GPA in school is. Am I the only one who finds something sad about that?

What is right and what is wrong is something that differs between each individual. What makes women want to post scandalous pictures of their bodies for the whole world to see?

A question you should ask yourself before posting it is, is the image you are portraying to your social followers for attention or for respect? Am I just craving attention at the moment, or do I genuinely want people to know what I am about to post?

However, respect is something that doesn’t give users that instant gratification high. Respect is something you have to earn in time, and sadly most don’t see the value of respect in life.

Another thing to think about is how much you allow others into your personal relationships. Keyword: personal. It only feels natural to complain online about how someone is annoying you or how your ex cheated on you. Yes, it may be true, but does that mean the whole world needs to know about it?

Are social networks just another way to validate one’s relationship? I, personally, will never understand couples who write intimate messages on each other’s Facebook walls for all to see. Why do they need to write it publicly instead of texting or even calling? Maybe it means more if others are there to read what you have to say to the person you are in an intimate relationship with. But, does that even make the relationship intimate if you are allowing others into it?

Again, we live in an attention-craving world and living privately is something that is considered abnormal. Wouldn’t relationships be that much more treasured and meaningful if you limited what you share? You gain all these moments with someone, but not the experiences, because you are too busy thinking of a clever way to post how “awesome” your life is.

Lastly, one last point to think about before clicking the upload button is, are you being honest? Is it just a tool to broadcast yourself in a way that gives the illusion of how perfect your life is? Many people that use social networks are not even who they appear to be. They become what people will like most.

Just take Instagram for example. We take our original photos and alter them into something more captivating. What’s crazy is that it’s accepted in today’s world. We find it sickening that photographers use Photoshop to make women appear prettier or skinner when we are doing the same by adding filters.

Now, the changes aren’t as dramatic. It’s like we are scared to face the reality that life isn’t always beautiful, so we constantly need these social media outlets to escape our real-life problems and enter into this fake, superficial world.

Sometimes I find myself feeling nostalgic of the past when things seemed to be more real and genuine. I never would find myself over-analyzing why someone didn’t like my last Instagram picture or why the guy I am talking to has so many girl “friends” on Facebook.

All these social media are distracting us from living in the here and the now, which makes it almost impossible to be grateful for the life you have. I encourage us all to honestly seek our motives of posting for the world to see. Is it for attention? To feel wanted? To become famous? Yes, social media will fulfill those wishes temporarily, but in the long run, those fake followers and likes leave you feeling unsatisfied.

Don’t forget the person you were before you joined the social media bandwagon. And if you have forgotten, it’s never too late to jump off. Remember, you were born with a purpose and are so much more valuable than the standards of this world.