NEW YORK: The brief outage on Meta’s social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Messenger on March 6 may seem like a mundane event at first glance. However, the widespread attention given to the incident highlights a deeper significance of social media platforms beyond being just sources of entertainment. These platforms serve as modern mediums for storytelling, connecting individuals, sharing experiences, and fostering relationships within communities.
The human inclination towards storytelling is deeply ingrained in our nature, as it helps us understand and relate to others. Evynn McFalls, vice president of marketing and brand at the NeuroLeadership Institute, emphasizes the importance of narrative capacity in connecting with one another. Social media platforms have become the modern equivalent of traditional storytelling, allowing users to share their experiences through various forms of content like photos, videos, and text threads.
Jonathan Gottschall, in his book “The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human,” acknowledges the profound impact of storytelling on human culture. Social media platforms have become the primary channels through which stories are told, news is disseminated, and connections are made. These spaces have evolved into essential components of daily life, shaping how individuals communicate, interact, and engage with the world around them.
Samuel Woolley, an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin, highlights the integral role of social media in modern communication. The disruption of these platforms can lead to a loss of connection, interruption of routines, and hindered flow of information and storytelling. Imani Cheers, associate professor of digital storytelling, underscores the advocacy aspects of social media platforms and the impact of outages on information dissemination.
Andy Stone, Meta’s head of communications, acknowledged the outage on social media and expressed apologies for the inconvenience caused. For many individuals, the outage went beyond mere inconvenience, affecting their personal stories and online presence. Taylor Cole Miller, an assistant professor, shares his initial security concerns and the panic that followed upon realizing the potential loss of two decades of Facebook history.
Melanie Green, a professor in the department of communication, emphasizes the profound effect of social media platforms in shaping personal identity and connections. Losing access to these platforms can trigger a sense of disconnection and loss of belongingness. The outage during a critical moment, such as Super Tuesday in the United States, further underscores the significance of social media in information sharing and communication.
In conclusion, the outage of social media platforms serves as a reminder of the intrinsic role these platforms play in modern society. They are not just tools for entertainment but crucial avenues for storytelling, connection, and belongingness. The incident underscores the deep impact of social media on individuals’ lives and the need for continued access to these platforms for communication and community engagement.
