Fatherly Chats on Social Media

To my 14-year-old son,

I wanted to share a few insights I've come across regarding social media.

While social media platforms may appear free, they come with hidden costs.

Always remember, my son, that nothing truly free is without consequences.

The price we pay here is that we can become beholden to algorithms. I’m not dismissing the benefits of social media, but I urge you to consider its darker aspects.

Young people everywhere are focused on how to dominate social media, but this conversation is about how to avoid being dominated by it.

These platforms want us to think they profit from likes and shares, but in reality, they profit from our desires and insecurities.

Your generation seems preoccupied with who likes or dislikes them online, with the belief that everyone should approve of them. This simply isn’t true, and it's perfectly okay for not everyone to like us.

We feel pressured to regularly feed the algorithm, leaving us anxious and exhausted as we worry about losing followers.

Don’t become a prisoner to your phone; remember that it’s called a CELL phone for a reason.

Brooke Willson once said: “How wonderful to live under a sky painted anew every day by the greatest artist.”

Strive to be unique, different, and even controversial. Dream big.

There’s no replacement for hard work. Set your sights on being the best—not just in Lebanon, but globally.

Engage in any form of art—music, singing, dancing, acting, painting, sculpture, poetry, fiction, and more—not for money or fame, but to explore what’s within you, to nurture your soul’s growth.

We’ll discuss the positive aspects of social media later, but for now, may the Brown Thread guide you in connecting with Nature and the greater intelligence around us.

With love,

Dad