Social Media for the Soul

I am introvert. It took me a long time to realise that I really don't like people much and I don't really desire their company or time. I like to be alone and social situations tire me out. However, I started a new job about four months ago. I get on with my colleagues well and we always have a laugh. I'm not particularly interested in socialising with them outside of work and I thankfully haven't been asked. That said, not one of them has added me on social media, but more recent additions to our workforce have been added. For instance, one member of staff who has been with us for three weeks is friends online with everyone who claims to be my friend, but not one of them has me as a friend online. Despite all of my desire to be alone, this has bothered me. It also bothers me that it bothers me. I should be above such petty concerns, but I'm not. 

I wonder, and please weigh in with opinions, does it bother me because, despite my need to be alone, I also need to be liked? Is my recent flare up of depression causing me to overthink and adopt a more negative view of myself in light of objective opinion, both real and imagined? Is social media so pervasive that we literally define friendships and social health by our performance therein? Is there simply a greater need for social interaction than I am consciously aware of or does it all just come down to an egotistical need to receive social validation?

Thoughts?

I think that a need for social validation is pretty common, even among loners that enjoy solitude. I would wager that there are many people who measure others' worth by the number of social media friends, connections, and followers they have. I have issues with wanting to not be left out or ignored by people on social media too, but it has come to the point where I have found minimal usage of social media is best for me. I got so sick of these feelings that I hid my friends list on facebook and I have many times tried to go off and on that site. Right now I have been off for the past week, we'll see how long it continues. I have found finding other sites and things to occupy my time keeps me from worry about those things as much.

My advice would be to recognize when you are feeling those feelings and find something to distract yourself with, preferably with something that you enjoy. Just a thought.

wallflower79 said:

I think that a need for social validation is pretty common, even among loners that enjoy solitude. I would wager that there are many people who measure others' worth by the number of social media friends, connections, and followers they have. I have issues with wanting to not be left out or ignored by people on social media too, but it has come to the point where I have found minimal usage of social media is best for me. I got so sick of these feelings that I hid my friends list on facebook and I have many times tried to go off and on that site. Right now I have been off for the past week, we'll see how long it continues. I have found finding other sites and things to occupy my time keeps me from worry about those things as much.

My advice would be to recognize when you are feeling those feelings and find something to distract yourself with, preferably with something that you enjoy. Just a thought.

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That's usually my default reaction. Bothered by something? PS4 on. It was just strange because socially related things don't usually concern me, but this bothered me. Getting over it now. Returning to my normal position of "Better off without."