Crowdsourcing self-esteem

I was chatting to my son this morning, and he made a comment about a classmates social media post. He said that they were “crowdsourcing self esteem”. I thought that the concept was quite remarkable and set out to do some research. This concept was even more remarkable in the fact that my son turns 14 next week, and is very much in the demographic of not knowing a time before smartphones and internet.There have been a few articles written on the idea, and some with a greater purpose in mind. In an article in The Irish Examiner  (16th February 2018) the question was posed as to what age children can assume the responsibility and mantle of pressing “accept” on the terms and conditions of a social media website.I am taking a completely different approach - the same approach as my son.How many of us use social media platforms to “crowdsource” our self esteem? When growing up we were told not to boast about achievements; we were told to be modest and understated. Because no one likes the guy in the middle of the room puffing out their chest.Yet in today’s social media world, we see posts all the time on one or another of the platforms that are clearly defined as boasting, but posted as if providing useful information. Since when has it become acceptable to tell the world about every aspect of our lives in an attempt to perhaps bring them into our lives? Perhaps it is an attempt to tell the world how great we are, without saying look at me ‘I’m great, and my life is better than yours’.A simple example is the friend on Facebook who always put up posts of food.  Sounds informational, right? However when you consider that the posts originate from top restaurants a pattern starts to emerge. These people like to be known as someone who goes out to the newest and most expensive eateries. So, in a not so subtle way, they are boasting about this and crowdsourcing self esteem.The bigger question is whether this is what social media has been reduced to. Is it merely a vehicle to crowdsource self esteem or does social media play a deeper, and possibly more meaningful role in our lives? Or possibly, is social media a way of assuaging the natural voyeur in us, or boost the natural exhibitionist? If that is the case, then why has social media become such a significant part of many peoples lives? This approach is not a discussion on the merits or otherwise of the various social media; rather, it is a small, voyeuristic look into the lives of the exhibitionists who use the social platforms as a way of crowdsourcing self-esteem. It is for the rest of us merely a way to watch the passing of the world, and occasionally make a comment. 

I finish every blog with “why am I writing this?”

The answer is BECAUSE –

• Because I want to share the ideas, stories, anecdotes and business tips and traps.
• Because I want to pay it forward.
• Because I want to help people grow their businesses.
• Because I want managers to become better managers.
• Because I believe that I can “Give your business the EDGE”