Grateful 21 Feb: Social Media

I’ve been on social media since the late-1990s. It started with gay community sites like Fridae.com and SgBoy (later Trevvy). Then came Facebook, Tumblr, Grindr, Hornet, Scruff, Jack’d, Romeo, Blued, Twitter (now X)… and probably a few I’ve forgotten along the way. I have left most of them. The one that has truly grown with me and survived the test of time is Blogger. So today, I’m giving thanks to the following: 

• Social Media (in general). It has become an integral part of my life. I use it for entertainment, pleasure, information, and of cos, connect with people beyond my usual circle - sometimes actively, and sometimes quietly "stalking" them and observing them from afar. I note the endless debate about the pros and cons of using social media, the dangers and all. But to me, social media is just a tool. What we get out of it depends on how we use it (and how much drama we’re willing to tolerate). We can always remove ourselves from it - just like how I deleted my Facebook profile or hide my X app when I found myself too attached to it. On the whole, for me, the positives of using social media outweighed the negatives. I’ve learnt, connected, laughed, cried, occasionally rolled my eyes and, not to mention, grown. So yes, I give thanks for it.

• Blogspot/ Blogger. I’ve been on Blogspot/ Blogger since the early 2000s. It’s a space to capture my life's moments - the highs, the lows, the breakthroughs, the heartbreaks and all. Journaling these moments helped me process my emotions, reflect, and make sense of my experiences. Blogger also allowed me to record my past and my heritage - the personal and cultural layers that shape who I am. I would even go as far as to say that Blogger allows me to share thoughts that I would not have shared so openly in real life. Now, when I revisit old posts, I am able to see how much I’ve come through my experiences, how much I’ve grown, and how judgmental I had been at times. It gives me a sense of my own evolution over the last 2 decades. I’m thankful this space has been with me through the years. It’s little archive of myself and I’ll probably continue for as long as Blogger is around. 

• Blogger Friends. And then there are the people. They add another layer of meaning to my blogging experiences. There are readers who quietly read my blogs and there are those who occasionally share their thoughts - just like how I would read and contribute to their blogs and keep up with their lives. I appreciate all their comments and sharing. Amongst my blog readers, some have, over time, become real-life friends, just like the few whom I will meet up whenever I visit KL. Similarly, I have hosted a couple of blogger friends who visited Singapore. Blogging has certainly widened my world beyond geography, routine, and circumstance. And for the connections I’ve made through blogging, thank you.

So yes - Thank you, social media. Thank you, Blogspot/ Blogger. And thank you my blogger friends if you have shared even a little bit of this journey with me, whether loudly or quietly. It’s been a good ride.