The Post That Will Change the Way You See Social Media
Jessica Maner recently posted the words below on her Facebook feed, and I couldn’t help but share and add a few lines of my own. Her message of love and support is positively beautiful — and it changed the way I see social media in a lasting way.
A Different Way to See Every Post
— by Jessica Maner
“To the pregnant women on social media, posting constant updates and belly pictures — I love seeing how excited you are to become a mommy.
To the women posting ‘selfies’ — thank you for letting young girls know that it’s okay to love yourself and to feel beautiful!
To the mom posting a million pictures of her kids — it makes my heart so happy to see parents so proud of and loving their babies!
To the married couple constantly posting ‘sappy love posts’ — thank you for being a reminder to the next generation that all hope isn’t lost and happy marriages most definitely DO exist.
To the business owners who constantly post about their businesses — keep going! Your strong will and passion is astounding. Even in the midst of all the negative remarks, you keep on going for yourself and your family!
To the person who is constantly struggling — I am sorry. I hope you find the support you need in your online community. I should be better about offering it myself.
To the fitness fanatic posting befores and afters — you have completely transformed your life and found health. Your enthusiasm for positive change is admirable.
To the re-poster and tagger — because of you, I have read things that have changed my perspective and broadened my understanding. I appreciate you.
To the constant traveler posting exotic pictures of far off lands — I may be stuck at home behind a computer screen, but you are showing me the world and giving me places to add to my bucket list.
To the foodie who seems to eat out for every meal — your photos of gorgeous food make me want to try a new restaurant once in awhile.
To the political enthusiast — thank you for caring enough about our country to research candidates and issues and being brave enough to use your first amendment right to speak.
To the religion lover — our beliefs may be different, but your faith inspires me to find my own, especially on dark days.”
What This Changes About the Way You See Social Media
We can choose to be annoyed by each and every post, or we can choose to lift and support those we claim to be our friends. Try viewing updates through loving, forgiving, and open eyes — looking for best intentions and unwritten needs.
Changing the way you see social media can literally change the way you see the world.
Related Reading
Helpful External Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you change the way you see social media?
Changing the way you see social media starts with choosing to look for the best intention rather than the most irritating interpretation. The pregnant woman posting belly pictures is excited. The person posting selfies is modeling self-love. The couple with sappy posts is showing the next generation happy marriages exist. Choose to view updates through loving, forgiving, open eyes — and the entire platform changes.
Why does social media feel so negative?
The way you see social media determines whether it feels positive or negative — and most people default to the most critical interpretation. The solution is a deliberate choice: read each post as if you were the person’s closest friend who understood their most generous intent. That reframe is the difference between social media feeling like a burden and feeling like a gift.
How can social media make you feel more connected?
Changing the way you see social media from critical to generous is the most direct path to feeling more connected. Every post tells a story. When you choose to see people as sharing rather than showing off, the relationship with social media changes — and the people you follow become people you are genuinely rooting for.
I shared this on FB…hope you don’t mind :). I loved it!!
Of course. Thanks so much Jen!!
This is so good. I don’t tend to be super critical of what people post, but there were a few that I was guilty of being petty about. Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you! I am also guilty which was why it hit me so hard. Resolved to be better and change my perspective.
I know the person who posted this originally. This is a post she wrote a year and a half ago. Why should someone else take credit for it?
Hi, I shared this on my FB.
I hope you don’t mind if I shared it. I just loved it and it really hit me. Thanks 🙂
Of course! Thanks!
? Your friend didn’t write that. I know the original author and her post was copied and shared so many times. People took credit for her words. Jessica Maner – remember her name. Perhaps you should correct your post and give credit to the actual author. Claiming credit for another person’s words is just wrong. It’s nice you guys like them though.
I am sorry! As a writer I would never take credit for someone else’s words. The post I saw looked like the original post and I asked permission from her and was given it. If you have a link to the original post, I would be more than happy to give credit to the original author. Thanks!
My daughter, jessica Maner was actually the original writer of this post. It was shared so many times I’m sure it was easy to not be able to tell who originally posted it. ?
More than happy to give credit to the original author, which I thought I did in this post. Would love to have the original link!
https://www.facebook.com/jessica.ward.1610/posts/919007301547879
Here ya go! She really is so wise, so kind, and so full of love. Rarely does she get the credit she deserves because she’s so humble. Thank you so much!!
Thank you Annie. Just updated the post. Appreciate the link.
Jessica maner is her name. Look her up and Facebook. There is a link to her blog there.