I think about how much social media has influenced our lives as Latinos. We are known for having strong ties to our family… now we are even closer when our mom, brother, aunts, long distance cousins in Latin America are on facebook, instagram, twitter, etc. Before all this social media existed we would to wait for certain peak hours to call our overseas family and wait every other or few years to be able to travel and physically see them. And yes, emails existed, but it’s still not the same as this current communications technology, you know what I’m saying. Now we can see what our family is up to via photos, status updates, and instantaneously talking to them on Skype. I know for the younger generación you may not have even thought twice about all this since you were born into this world of instant communication, but I hope you can see where this sense of thankfulness and reflection is coming from.
For example, my mom has become quite facebook and skype savvy in like no time! She comes from a generación of mostly phone calls and hand written letters so it amazes me every time when I find her on Skype for HOURS upon HOURS talking to our family in Colombia. She can keep a close connection with her brother, nephews and nieces in between our visits to them every other year.
And for me, I’m able to learn more about my overseas family members by what kind of topics they talk about on FB, what kind of pictures they share on IG or what makes them sad or happy from day to day. And keep in mind that some family members cannot visit us from their countries or we may not be able to visit them as well, so all this social media is a big deal for keeping our family ties. And I’m grateful for that!!
I’m also grateful at the fact that social media allows us Latinos to educate ourselves about current topics that most affect us such as politics, health, finances, etc. Particularly information on immigration. It’s a hot topic and we can stay connected to as it unfolds in our daily lives. We can learn about when the policies and laws are made and changed right when it happens and disseminate it to all of us around the country in seconds! Knowledge is power and the more we know, the more we can help make changes… positive changes in our Latino community. It also gives us a safe space to comment on what’s going on, how it makes us feel or even brainstorm political/social activism ideas.
So overall, I say THANKS to social media! You help keep families connected, keep us on the pulse of the nation, and help us stir the “political/ social pot”! Can’t wait to see what new technology comes up in the future…. any of our Glincsters up for creating something new?!!!! :)
- Melissa Gutiérrez
For example, my mom has become quite facebook and skype savvy in like no time! She comes from a generación of mostly phone calls and hand written letters so it amazes me every time when I find her on Skype for HOURS upon HOURS talking to our family in Colombia. She can keep a close connection with her brother, nephews and nieces in between our visits to them every other year.
And for me, I’m able to learn more about my overseas family members by what kind of topics they talk about on FB, what kind of pictures they share on IG or what makes them sad or happy from day to day. And keep in mind that some family members cannot visit us from their countries or we may not be able to visit them as well, so all this social media is a big deal for keeping our family ties. And I’m grateful for that!!
I’m also grateful at the fact that social media allows us Latinos to educate ourselves about current topics that most affect us such as politics, health, finances, etc. Particularly information on immigration. It’s a hot topic and we can stay connected to as it unfolds in our daily lives. We can learn about when the policies and laws are made and changed right when it happens and disseminate it to all of us around the country in seconds! Knowledge is power and the more we know, the more we can help make changes… positive changes in our Latino community. It also gives us a safe space to comment on what’s going on, how it makes us feel or even brainstorm political/social activism ideas.
So overall, I say THANKS to social media! You help keep families connected, keep us on the pulse of the nation, and help us stir the “political/ social pot”! Can’t wait to see what new technology comes up in the future…. any of our Glincsters up for creating something new?!!!! :)
- Melissa Gutiérrez