Is It a Bad Thing to "Over Share" on Social Media?

I've come across several videos over the past year on YouTube that deal with topics beyond the typical skincare routine and travel vlog. Some of these videos have been of women confessing their trouble conceiving a child and going through IVF treatments; one was with a guy who recorded himself over the course of a particularly anxious day as he talked about how his body was tense, jumpy, and his heart was racing; some discuss marriages that fell apart. You could certainly argue that videos like these could be inappropriate since they could be being paid for talking about sensitive issues, but on the other hand, these videos show a shift in the "normalcy" of online sharing.

There are those memes that go something like "we all know that one person who treats their social media like an online diary." Now, I get when people go way too deep into their personal lives that involve other people—maybe to stir up drama with those involved to try and get support from others online. Then there are those who share personal hardships in order to find others who may relate, so they can feel less alone and cheer each other on. I think this is the major difference: when we share personal hardships in order to win an argument, put someone on blast, or try and receive pity—we hurt ourselves by bringing others into our problems solely for personal gain. When we share hardships in order to grow and lift others who feel the same way, everyone thrives.

The women who share their journey through IVF are courageous for opening up about feeling "less like a woman" because they are unable to get pregnant, and hopefully other women dealing with the same problem are lifted up because they see that they are not alone. The guy who shared his anxious day broke the boundary of men not being able to share their feelings openly, and maybe other men with anxiety watched it and felt relieved knowing that it's not just them going through this. Birth vlogs also show us the tremendous capabilities of the female body, and how joyous, painful, and worrisome birth can be (as a woman considering having children, this is good to know).

Topics such as these offer a glimpse into experiences that perhaps we have never even thought of, wish to know more of, or know we want to experience in the future and want different perspectives. Personally, I don't think there's necessarily such a thing as "over sharing" as long as it's meant to inform and unify. When I share my mental health struggles, it's meant to help others who have similar experiences to feel less alone, and to know that someone out there understands them and knows what they're going through. I know when my mental health was at its worst in high school, I wished I had some online resources to go to where people like me could lift each other up. I hated the feeling of being so alone in how my mental health was deteriorating, and I love that now the topic of mental health and wellness is permeating the social media space for the better. There is still stigma against mental illness, but my hope is that the ongoing discussion on social media platforms opens up more discussions on the topic and helps those struggling with mental illness to seek help and guidance.

I'm excited to see videos and hear podcasts that "over share." I want to know more about the topics that continue to be seen as "taboo", or have been in discussion and are still making their way into mainstream media. I feel that when we hear stories from others' darkest times, and how they made it to the other side, is far more inspiring than a random edited selfie telling us to feel #blessed. Social media could be a marvelous way to unite in our darkness and how we made it through, and help others do the same. I can't wait to see this growth, so that social media doesn't have to be a complete facade; it could unite us more powerfully than we realize.