I have several ideas for posts about Social Media and how they impact our daily lives. Today I want to focus on photographs.

Scrolling through my Facebook stream this morning, as I do every morning (full disclosure–as I do every five minutes or so), I read posts of pride, grieving, outrage, support, and humor. Some personal, many memes.

It occurred to me as I liked a friend’s adorable Facebook Memory photo of her child, that this kid has only ever lived during the time of social media. I won’t pretend to know how that will affect the youth of today in years to come, but I felt a little jealous that this mom has these digital memories so easily accessible.

I mean, I’m sure you all read my post regarding big bins full of printed photographs. Update: I did not continue to go through the pics and assign them to boxes for my kids. Instead, I returned the bins to the closet and stacked stuff on them.

My friend will never know the frustration of having BIG BINS of printed photos. Don’t get me wrong, I still believe that printed photos are important, but now you only print the GOOD ones. Back in the day, for those of you young ‘uns who don’t know, you had to print ALL 24 photos–oh yeah, that’s right, my youthful readers, cameras used FILM that came with a limited amount of exposures! And you had to have it processed BEFORE you could see the pictures! You had to have the whole roll of film developed even if half were blurry, double-exposed, or *gasp*, unflattering. Sometimes you got a second set of prints FREE, so you did it because, you know, FREE, but then you had twice as many crappy pics. How many bad ones were thrown away? Not enough. Just check my bins if you don’t believe me.

I’m curious–
how many of you still print photos? To share or frame.
Between selfies and filter aps, are these the kinds of pictures you would hang on a wall in your home?

Old people, just imagine–
the oval class photo collage that your mother filled in every year?
Now envision it with kindergarten bunny ears, first grade puppy tongue, second grade cat face, third grade big eyes and mouth, fourth grade flower wreath, etc…
LOL

But I digress.

I also liked a photo of a friend’s mother who had recently passed. An old-fashioned print, scanned and posted. And I thought, how awesome is it that she can share this wonderful image of her mother as a young woman? Quite awesome, I think. Very touching. And the resemblance! I would have never known. (I’m pretty sure I loved this photo.)

There are social media sites dedicated entirely to photography. Food Porn is its own genre. People take pictures of EVERYTHING now. Digital technology gives everyone the ability to take a spectacular photo. Camera phones make it delightfully easy to snap, edit, and share.

It’s so convenient to be able to post pictures.
To share the fun times, sad stuff, and revisit memories.
But is it distracting from other aspects of our lives?
Are we over sharing simply because we can?
And, if you’re so inclined to consider–how is this openness affecting the generations growing up within it?

What are your thoughts on social media and photos?
Maybe you don’t think about it at all?
Maybe you will the next time you post or like a picture?

Let me know in the comments.
Thanks!