Social media in a political season is … interesting.
It seems to reveal that some in our sphere of influence do not think deeply about what is shared and/or may not care if it offends.
Which leads to an awkward situation. Those you follow may in fact seem more like those you intentionally DON’T follow.

narrowing-your-sphere-of-influence

The political season for adults who never grew up on social media is dicey. Those of us who never sat through a Digital Citizenship course ourselves are looking a little lousy at social media right now. And I’m not just talking about that clever meme you reposted without checking the source.narrow-your-sphere-of-influence

Okay, maybe I am trying to bust you on that meme repost. But you may need a critical friend, in truth we all need a critical friend right about now.

Seriously, by this point in the political season you likely have a strategy for handling social media posts which offend you. Many mute or unfollow, without blocking or unfriending. And while I may or may not be guilty of this myself, I wonder if that is the right thing to do?

When we intentionally narrow our sphere of influence we decrease our exposure to ideas other than our own. With a narrowed sphere of influence, we also falsely reinforce the universality of our own thoughts. Aristotle said: “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” Our friends can sharpen our ideas if we are willing to engage in productive inquiry with a safe person – your “friend.”

Your social media friends may make some faux pas, some fabulously gasp-worthy faux pas, but there is a reason you are friends with them. And their ideas do not diminish your ideas. Closed-mindedness on their part instead of differing ideas would be a better reason to unfollow or mute.

Have you been guilty of narrowing your sphere of influence this election season?