Twenty years ago, I couldn't have imagined messaging a former classmate in another city every day. Or showing my drawings to people I’d never meet. Or finding like-minded souls—people who love old maps with the same quiet, quirky passion that I do.

Social media gave me that. It erased distances. It allowed me to stay in touch with those far away. It gave a voice to those who used to be silent. That’s true. And that’s a good thing.

But there’s another side to it, too—something I think about more and more often.

I see people stop talking to each other. They sit side by side, yet each is lost in their own phone. I see sincerity being replaced by a polished image. Life turning into a performance for an audience. I see my friends getting upset over likes, comparing themselves to other people’s filtered lives, and growing exhausted by a race they invented themselves.

And I’m part of it, too. I post photos and wait for reactions. I scroll through my feed and feel like my life isn't exciting enough. I spend time on other people’s stories instead of my own. I’m being honest here—this isn't about others; it’s about me.

I’m not quitting. I’m not deleting my accounts. I’m not making grand, dramatic gestures. But I am learning to live with it. I set boundaries. I turn off notifications. I put my phone away when I’m with a real person. I try to use social media not to show off, but to share. There’s a huge difference.

Social media is like fire. It can warm you, or it can burn you. It all depends on how you handle it. I’m still learning.

Have you noticed this in yourself? Or do you have it all under control?

Alexandra