Social media has redefined the world we live in, creating global interconnectivity that provides instant insight into world events. It unites us, helping people from vastly different backgrounds find common ground. As hypocritical as I may sound, however, I truly think social media does more harm than good.

Social media homogenizes areas, cultures, and people who were once unique. When I was 2, my family moved from Rhode Island to Washington State. My parents tell me that even 10 years ago, children on the East Coast dressed, played, and interacted in ways completely different from children on the West Coast, and that pop culture’s influence and saturation was delayed and minimal compared to today. Today, we are accustomed to the instant gratification that social media provides. We’re hyper-aware of what is popular, and how we do or don’t fit into that popular mold.

The coalescing of culture and custom that unites us globally also allows us to categorize ourselves into haves and have-nots, creating chronic dissatisfaction with what we possess and the way we look. It makes us shallow and impossible to please; and rightfully, how can we be satisfied if the image of the Perfect Life is always changing? Social media facilitates obsession with material, insubstantial things, and enables free thinkers to invest their thoughts and talents in the wrong ways. Understanding this, the only way to break from its grip is to focus on what truly matters: intellect, ambition, empathy, and meaningful relationships.

The Kardashians, celebrity drama, and the Instagram accounts we all secretly stalk and envy don’t matter. Be conscious of how much energy you invest in those areas and make a point to engage in meaningful activities with loved ones instead. Dare to challenge the popular perception of what matters in this world.