Having access to the media can be both a blessing and a curse when it comes to making life choices. It can be a beautiful thing because one can finally see people that may share the same interests or opinions when one may think their view is rare. It can become a disastrous nightmare when people either choose to proceed with or opt out of a decision that can potentially leave a devastating effect on one’s life. I feel that this all comes down to the mentality of any person. A study completed on four generations of Internet users examined the effects of social media and seeking advice and decision making. Out of 1783 subjects, approximately 38% of respondents said they were likely to seek travel advice on social media. About 21% of respondents said they were likely to seek advice in decision-making related to financial services, and healthcare (25%) and retail purchases (18%). There was also more considerable influence in the younger generations (DiStaso & McCorkindale 2017).
Sometimes it irks me when people frame their entire life decisions based on the actions of their favorite celebrities or social media influencer. I always wonder “Where is your sense of self-identity?” I have no problem with people admiring the actions and work of some celebrities because I am guilty of doing this myself. However, I do draw the line when it comes to making important decisions regarding my life. I would not simply go with the mentality “Well…Jane Doe did it and had this outcome so I should too,” or “I saw this on this FICTIONAL television show so it must be true.” It truly makes me roll my eyes sometimes.
During the episode “Outbreak” of the television show ER, there was a simulation of a smallpox outbreak. One thing I learned and appreciated was the rapid response from public health teams involved in the case. The big topic of discussion during this episode was to whether one would stay home or seek emergency care if they develop signs and symptoms of a life-threatening illness, such as smallpox which was simulated in this episode. I, personally, would not have hesitated to go to the nearest hospital because time can be such a critical component when it comes to life-saving measures. When it came to the two children that were diagnosed with smallpox in this episode, there was an initial delay in the parents bringing both of them to the emergency department because there was mention that their symptoms had been ongoing for three days. Once they were finally brought into the ED and evaluated, their downward spiral began soon afterward. The fact that one life was lost made me wonder if her life could have been saved if her parents had brought her to the hospital sooner. It also made me wonder if the young boy not had possibly decompensated so quickly if he had been taken to the hospital sooner. This is where I would draw the line when it comes to making life decisions based off of a media source. I understand people not wanting to rush to the hospital anytime they notice something abnormal, but I would have at least consulted my primary care physician for advice. On a side note, I find it interesting now because I am seeing more and more articles surrounding the panic of a measles outbreak.
On so many social media platforms, I see so much controversy surrounding cosmetic surgery, especially in females. I feel that this stems from the idea of people wanting to create “the perfect body” that is being depicted in the media. It has become so popular that people are even traveling to outside countries to have procedures completed for a much cheaper rate. The concern is the number of risks that come from having procedures completed by surgeons outside of the United States. For example, a 43-year-old woman traveled to the Dominican Republic to receive an abdominoplasty or “tummy tuck.” She had hopes of returning with a much firmer midsection but, unfortunately, what she left the country with was massive open sores and an antibiotic resistant-infection that ultimately left with a deformed abdomen (Mozes 2018). I know there is a show, Botched, that is focused around failed attempts at cosmetic surgery. By no means am I being judgemental against people who have opted to proceed with cosmetic surgery. I am a firm believer that everyone should be confident in their appearance as I know self-image is something that most people tend to struggle with at some point in their lives. In my personal opinion, seeing outcomes such as this put more fear in me than joy knowing that I could return to the United States with a “perfect body.”
References
Mozes, A. (2018, April 11) Some patients pay high price for seeking cheap plastic surgery abroad. Chicagotribune.com. https://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/sc-hlth-plastic-surgery-abroad-risks-0418-story.html
DiStaso, M. W., and McCorkindale, T. (2018, February 16) The Science of Influence: How Social Media Affects Decision Making in the Healthcare, Travel, Retail, and Financial Industries. Institute for Public Relations. https://instituteforpr.org/science-influence-social-media-affects-decision-making-healthcare-travel-retail-financial-industries/