We’re Using Social Media Wrong

Why Social Media Is Warping Your Perception—And How to Fix It

Social media was supposed to be about connection. A way to stay in touch, build relationships, and expand networks. Instead, it’s become a battlefield for brands, news outlets, and outrage.

We take it for granted, yet we take it too seriously. We rely on it for news, but we don’t question what we see. We scroll, consume, react—rarely pausing to think.

The Headline Trap

A tweet goes viral. A headline sparks controversy. A trend takes off.

And people assume they know the whole story.

They don’t read beyond the first paragraph. They don’t check the source. They don’t ask, Is this even true?

They just believe. And worse—they spread it.

Junk Food for the Mind

Think of information like food.

If all you eat is pizza, your body suffers. If all you consume is sensationalized, incomplete, or biased content, your understanding of the world suffers.

Yet most people don’t filter what they take in. They binge whatever is trending, convinced they’re getting the full picture. They’re not.

What If It Was Called "Communities"?

Here’s a thought: what if social media had been called communities instead?

Are you on the Twitter community? The Instagram community? The Facebook community?

You’d think of people first. Not companies. Not brands. Not media outlets. Just people. The way it was supposed to be.

But now, the lines are blurred. We get company updates, news, entertainment, and personal connections all in the same feed. And we treat them with the same level of credibility, which is insane.

There should be a separate space for companies. A dedicated feed for news. A clear distinction between social interaction and corporate messaging.

Stop Taking It So Seriously

Not every piece of news requires your outrage. Not every trending topic needs your opinion.

And most importantly: reading one article doesn’t make you an expert.

If you really want to understand something, go deeper. Seek out primary sources. Talk to people directly involved. Otherwise, accept that you don’t know the full story—because you don’t.

Know When to Move On

Some things are worth digging into. Most aren’t.

The smartest people know when to step back and say, this isn’t my battle.

Consume information wisely. Think critically. And, for the love of sanity, stop believing everything you read online.