#Social Media
CHAPTER FIVE
#SOCIAL MEDIA
Alexa continues typing until she sends the next hashtag topic to others.
#Social_media
Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, WhatsApp, X, TikTok and Pinterest...
Which do you prefer? How do you use it? And how does it influence you?
What's your online influence like on a scale of 1-10? How often do you post your life?
REPLIES;
MABEL: (Collecting coffee from a café attendant)
Mmm! I like Instagram and WhatsApp.
(Giggles)
WhatsApp mostly.
(In a sing-song voice)
So I can talk to my boyfriend all day.
I scroll through posts on Instagram, reply to messages on WhatsApp, and also view a few statuses or do video calls.
(Sighs loudly)
Yeah! It does influence me a lot... like, I do wish to be like these people I see on Instagram. They look perfect and as if life goes well for me...I do wish to be like them every single day. I'm working hard towards achieving that.
(Nods)
My online influence is five. Just on WhatsApp tho. I post every single pic I take. Everything that happens in my life every day is a reason to post something.
KATHERINE: (In a taxi, looking out of the window)
(Rolls her eyes in excitement, looks up at the options, and touches...)
Snapchat, Whatsapp, TikTok, Pinterest. Fullstop.
(Giggles)
I use them fairly well especially Snapchat to filter me and WhatsApp
(Gasps)
OMG!!! That's the real deal.
They don't influence me that much. Whenever I see what I like...I might go for it or not.
(Looks sideways)
Depends.
My online influence is a 4. Not very much.
I post a lot but it depends on my mood sometimes.
(Gives a small bow)
Thanks.
RUTH: (Walking gently by the roadside)
(Sighs)
Just WhatsApp and maybe a little of Facebook. I'm mostly online. And it doesn't influence me. Why?
(Smiles)
Because it's controllable...for instance, I control the people I have in my contact list, so...
(Shakes her head)
No oppressions whatsoever.
My online influence is 1. I rarely post except on special occasions such as birthdays.
CHLOE: (Taking a walk down a very busy street)
I do all apps and more of it you didn't mention.
I don't go offline and nothing influences me. I'm just a bored girl cuddled up on the bed all day, scrolling through other people's stories to know something about them. Period.
(Raises an eyebrow)
My online influence is 3. I post daily, but not about myself. Thank God for memes.
JESSICA: (In a lecture hall)
(Walking towards a seat, she chuckles softly)
(She uses her palm to cover her mouth as she looks around)
(Whispers)
I use Facebook...only.
I don't even know what Pinterest is, but I guess it's interesting.
(Rolls her eyes shyly)
I don't use it that much, and... it doesn't influence me that much because I only reply to messages...besides, the people I see around me are enough to give me pictures equivalent to those on social media. You want me to see people with very perfect lives, huh!
(Blinks dejectedly)
Influence is one over two (half) and I don't post much.
ALEXA: (Sighs)
In this time and age?
(Adjusts her glasses)
TIARA: (Back seat of an Uber)
WhatsApp, Telegram, X, and Pinterest. The Telegram wasn't mentioned, I'm a busy person, and I don't do childish. I am always and rarely online at the same time. But when I am I just reply to my messages.
(Shakes her head, pursing her lips)
I don't think I'm ever influenced. Duh! Don't look at me the wrong way...
(Flaps her long lashes)
Well... my online influence is a 4-5 and I only post the good times. I can't be caught mushy.
KIM: (In a fast food restaurant)
Ha! Instagram, first...WhatsApp, Snapchat, for pictures, and X for news and vibes.
I try to use them as often as I can. I'm kind of busy sometimes.
(Nods slowly while scrunching up her nose)
Well... I do wish to be like those celebrities I see on Instagram most of the time. Their fashion sense and styles...their lifestyles, fake or not...IDC.
(Shakes her head and continues eating)
My online influence is a 4. And I don't post so much about myself. Just a few here and there stuff.
CYNTHIA: (Typing...)
(Washing plates in the dishwasher. Then pulls off the hand gloves she wore)
WhatsApp and TikTok...I am always online. I don't want to miss out on both people's daily life or the trends. When I view stories, I make sure to be like others by trying to get anything beautiful I see them wearing or posting. I do mind my business sometimes. For TikTok, well...
(Glances sideways)
I'm doing that...
(Shrugs)
because most people are doing it.
My online influence is 6. And I post daily. I don't miss it.
CHARITY: (At a bus stop, leaning on the stand)
(Pouts and sniffs)
Well, I'm not on any for now, just Facebook. I don't want the stress. And besides, no one's gonna support any other lifestyle I want other than the one I have now. So I'm out.
Zero online influence. But then what would I post?
(Blinks and looks away)
[There was a brief side-eye silence]
GRACIE: (In the dining room, eating cereal and scrolling through her phone)
(Looks up and then back at her phone)
Wait! Me?!
Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, WhatsApp minus X plus TikTok!!!
365 days in the year...Gracie...I am online. Duh! I can't miss out.
My online influence is an 8-9 and I post daily. Myself, memes, happenings. Everything. Besides, I'm an online creator, so get ready to follow me.
(Her mood changes and her face falls)
Well... these things influence me a lot because I do wish to be everything I see. I watch my mates wear good and clean, classy dresses. Go on drives and hols with their boyfriends. Cruising, living happy and large.
(Smacks her palms on her face and sighs heavily. Then look up and smile)
But you know what?... Come depression, come oppression...I'm gonna do it to the end. I must strive to be like one...
KENDRA: ( Eyes her)
Oh! She spills a lot. Gosh!
LARA: (Gasps)—(Smiles)
(Opens the fridge and collects a bottle of water, closes it, and leans on the fridge while uncorking the water bottle)
Instagram, WhatsApp, X, Pinterest, and Snapchat.
I'm not a steady user of social media apps but when I do...it takes the whole of me. Like, I get so fucking engrossed I don't care about anything else. Especially Instagram and Pinterest.
(Sighs heavily)
My online influence is a 5, and I don't post very much about myself. Maybe other stuff but not me.
(Rubs her left eye)
I do wish to be like the people I see on social media...I wish for their perfect families, palatial homes, five-star holidays, and expensive luxuries...it makes me think of things I'm not supposed to be thinking about.
(Blinks rapidly)
It's...deep. Like deep down, I find myself doing some unhealthy, negative self-comparisons after browsing through their social profile...
(Rubs her forehead as she gulps down water)
I think I'm getting a headache...I can smell it.
MABEL: (Replies Lara)
What a story!!! Wait... it's possible to smell a headache????... Are you a dog? You sniff...
LARA: (Replies back)
I'm sorry but MYB, please. I'm not in a very good mood after pouring out all that shit.
KENDRA: I'm typing...
(In a big house. By the balcony)
I love Instagram...Snapchat...and WhatsApp. Maybe a little of Pinterest. I make sure I'm up to date, and what I mean is that I'm always online, but I also visit other apps.
Social media's influence over me is just depression, and that's it. Especially...oppression, I forgot to add. The Kardashians and so many others I can't even mention. They are just out there to get me.
(Sighs)
My online influence is 5. I post daily depending on daily happenings.
WENDY: (Enters her well-decorated bedroom and rushes to the bed)
For me...Instagram for viewing celebrity stories and blah! Blah! Blah!
WhatsApp for messaging and viewing of random statuses.
Pinterest for interesting aesthetics.
TikTok for my videos and recent trends.
Ohhhh! Snapchat. Can't miss it and the amazing filters it gives me.
#Fine_Girl_Vibes
My online influence is a big 7. And I'm an online influencer. So I post daily.
I'm hardly oppressed and if I see anything good online... I get it and probably in another color...dresses, shoes, bags, clutches, pieces of jewelry, makeup, mention it...my wardrobe has it all. Holidays and trips, too... girl—I'm the influencer.
Hello!!!
(Flaps her long eyelashes)
(Suddenly excited)
And for TikTok...I hashtag all the beautiful girls out there... I love you all. Keep motivating me.
(Blows an air kiss)
ANNABEL: (At a supermarket doing grocery shopping)
(Picks up a sanitary pad and inspects it)
My online influence is a solid 7 and I post daily. Either myself or my business.
Just Instagram and WhatsApp and...maybe X.
(Drops the pad and continues her walk)
I try to be online every minute. At least, I don't want to be left out, especially during talks, so I try to be updated.
Social media does a lot to me...I'm always prone to a sense of hopelessness especially wishing and dreaming.
I'm always filled with feelings of self-harm and suicidal thoughts because I always feel very bad about not being enough... should I talk about my negative body image of mine?
(Sighs heavily)
Let's just drop it...I'm tired.
(Picks up some toiletries and drops it into the trolley)
Wendy, you are lucky...I just read your reply...can we be friends?
WENDY: (Replies back immediately)
I'm sorry, my friend list is already full so I'm declining your proposal...you know there's a lot of friends around me and...
ANNABEL: (Interrupts Wendy with her reply)
You should have dropped it in the first statement. Don't rub your ego everywhere.
WENDY: (Rolls her eyes)
Duh! You're so pained!!!
ERICA: (Hugging her boyfriend from behind as he was preparing food in the kitchen)
(Sucks her teeth)
Social media...Facebook, Snapchat and WhatsApp.
My online influence is a 3, but I post depending on what the day brings.
Nothing moves me anymore. I've seen a lot. I've cried. I've prayed...I've healed...I'm sorry, I just don't want to go through my self-rejection thoughts...I'm just beautiful.
(Closes her eyes and places her head on his back)
ALEXA'S BEDROOM
ALEXA: (She was staring at the computer screen, reading through the comments as more messages beeps in)
So this is how competitive it is out there. People trying to be who or what they are not. Striving so hard to look chic and in style just to impress people. What turnout of events?
(Sighs)
(Looks around the whole room and swallows. Nods and starts typing again)
Wow, that was...Inspiring. We move to the next hashtag topic...
(A message pops in)
KATHERINE: Invisible Curie...show us a pic of you...No wait! Tell us about yourself.
ALEXA: (Reads the message but ignores her and continues typing)