Click, share, connect: the power of sharing

In the frenetic and relentless network of connections in which we are immersed, digital technology is not just one aspect of our existence, but has become the epicenter of our daily reality. The very experience of connection is a natural part of our routine: we wake up, quickly check our notifications, have breakfast, and so on for the rest of the day; every break from our duties and appointments is equivalent to scrolling through social media, reading a post, or watching a reel.

And just like connection, sharing has also become an integral part of our lives, an act whose power cannot be underestimated because it is precisely through sharing that we are able to create emotional and social bonds, to reach out to others. This can range from simply calling a friend to update them on the latest news to sharing that makes us feel we belong to a larger entity, a community spread across the globe.

Of course, until a few decades ago, sharing was limited to well-established actions, but social networks have completely changed the paradigm, expanding its scope in terms of both distance and time. However, like any powerful tool, sharing must be used with due caution.

Media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram have allowed us to express and share feelings, thoughts, and experiences with unprecedented speed and ease, creating a flow of incessant exchanges that give life to virtual communities every day, forge relationships, spread universal messages, and thus manage to transcend the boundaries of the physical world.

All this is just part of the benefits that the power of sharing can bring: you can share to pool knowledge or learn from others. But let’s think back a few years, to a world at the mercy of COVID, with everyone holed up in their homes but united by the possibility of bringing their lives together, at least virtually. Sharing makes us feel less alone, like a piece of a puzzle that fits into the bigger picture.

However, there is also a downside to digital sharing. The ease of sharing can sometimes lead to tension and misunderstandings, especially when published content is not interpreted as intended. Additionally, social media abuse can lead to addiction and isolation, undermining the quality of real-life relationships.

It can lead us to shut ourselves away in what are known as Filter Bubbles, a concept coined by writer and activist Eli Pariser. Pariser defines these as bubbles into which algorithms drag us, relegating us to specific categories of use, based strictly on our interests, which can however cause us to lose sight of the vastness of opinions and close ourselves off in our convictions, creating an environment in which we are mainly exposed to content that confirms and reinforces our pre-existing opinions.

The real danger in the digital society is that these bubbles not only limit our exposure to different ideas and conflicting opinions, but that they can also subtly influence the way we think and perceive the world.

In a world dominated by overexposure and constant connectivity, it is therefore important to preserve an open-minded attitude and actively seek out diverse opinions, in order to foster inclusive and informed dialogue that helps us avoid falling victim to the downside of this coin.

The key to effectively navigating the sea of social media lies in maintaining a healthy balance, understanding one’s limits, and respecting others, which are fundamental building blocks for forming meaningful connections and preserving one’s privacy and security online. It is also extremely important to exercise discretion when sharing personal or third-party information. As the Romans said, in media stat virtus, the right path always lies in the middle, and while social media can be powerful amplifiers of positive causes and messages, collective actions and voices, they can also be a cause of social isolation.

That is why in the digital age, where the pace of life is marked by the beat of our online clicks, the art of sharing can serve as a bridge to unity and mutual understanding, but only if used wisely!

And from here, it’s our turn!