Pictures

I usually love looking a pictures because they can tell so many stories. The emotions, the setting, the people- it all provides details into that snapshot of a memory. Unfortunately, after seeing picture after picture of sloppy, crazy teenagers that pop up on my Facebook newsfeed I have lost the excitement. Pictures on Facebook tell stories, but the story is shaped by the user. He or she can upload certain photos from an event, yet leave out others. Thus your interpretation and ability to create an accurate story based on the photos is impaired. One example of this is a girl I used to know. Her Facebook photos always show her with a smile from ear to ear. Her moods always seem so light. I didn't know for sure if that's what she was like because she always kept to herself. I believed her to be a cheerful, giddy person until I found out that the reason she'd missed school for two weeks straight was because she was severely depressed. She was attending a clinic to aid her with her illness. There's no way anyone could tell she suffered from depression through the many photos that showed a smile that could light up a room. Ever since this happened I have always been weary about judging someone based on the pictures they chose to upload onto Facebook. Facebook can either be a place to break out of your shell and show your true self, or it can serve as an extension of the mask you wear in public everyday.