I asked some of my online friends and close friends how they differ on social
media and in real life. Some of them say that they are more talkative online than
personal. They like talking to people through social media since there is lesser judgment
from people they’re talking to since they barely knew each other. They aim to ask for
pieces of advice that focus only on a single situation and bits of advice which do not
consider what or who they are. It’s like having a confession at the church where the
priest cannot see who he is talking to. But some of my friends said that they limit what to
share on the digital platform. They maintain a boundary between the digital world and
the personal, thus limiting their input of personal information into the platform. I can
relate much to both of my friends’ answers. I am an impulsive speaker. I cannot filter my
statements, thus making a certain situation awkward or worse. That’s why social media
is my haven when I want to talk to someone especially if it’s about personal problems.
Aside from lesser judgment, it gives me an avenue to say the thoughts I cannot properly
utter in real life. But of course, I, too, limit what I disclose on this platform. I am a very
secretive person. I don’t like sharing my personal data with strangers – who would want
to anyway?