so for some reason everyone i know uses some form of social media (Facebook, twitter, whatever an instagram is) and i'm just wondering, why is that? i understand staying in contact with all of your friends and making new ones, but why do you have to update statuses and take embarrassing pictures of yourself in an attempt to gain strangers approval?

i guess because i'm a bit of an introvert (love that word. so much better than shut in) that i feel a need to be alone every so often, because there's a point where socializing feels more like a task than fun. but is that viewed as abnormal nowadays?

I mainly use Twitter to follow some video game publishers like Bethesda and Bungie. I also like keeping up with the latest "trends/funnystuff". I only lurk and follow. I never post my personal stuff.

but then why are you a goat?

sorry now im just curious as to the picture and sig.

People as a whole constantly seek the approval of other people. It's part of why we're still alive today. We want to be liked so that we can stay a part of the group, we want to be a part of the group because if we don't we get eaten. Humans aren't the strongest or the fastest or the sneakiest. We live because we are smart and because we breed like rats. We are a pack animal, we need to be part of the group. We don't have much need anymore maybe but the fact that we don't have to be in a group now is partly due to the fact that we feel the need to be part of a group. You follow? It's a survival instinct from a previous era.

Plus everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame and acting the part of a fool gets people's attention and good lord is there a plethora of ways to act the fool and broadcast it out to the world now.

i make an ass of myself every time i open my mouth.

Various reasons

1. They want to stay in touch with family or old friends who live far away

2. They want to stay up to date on both news of what's going on in the world and what's going on with their on group. Social media is a lot more than just looking at your aunt post pictures on facebook.

3. Professional connections

As for posting embarrassing things: It's what humans do sometimes. There is actually some evidence to suggest that doing stupid/embarrassing things strengthens bonds between people. Also what you see as embarrassing another may not.

It all really boils down to humans are quite social creatures by nature. We've evolved to form connections as it helps improve our chances of survival and we love information because it's what has always given us a competitive age. From a purely biological standpoint, Social networks are the equivalent of a high-fat, high-sodium, high-sugar all-you-can-eat buffet (Which, btw, are also things we are all biologically programmed to love)

Face Book, societal junk food. An apt metaphor.