5.22.21 // following versus unfollowing

Yesterday I wrote...
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"It's assumed that by ‘following’ our friends on social media, we are 'connected to them'. Sure, a small part of this could be true, but idly sitting by watching someone's highlight reel feels wrong. Friendships aren't as simple as a follow or unfollow and I am pained when others boil it down to something so simple."
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I want to dive into this more because I've been on both sides of this coin...
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I've been on the side of someone I really liked or admired unfollowing me, and I've actively chosen to unfollow friends.
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And while I don't question the emotion or the "hurt" (mine or others, because emotions are real and deserve to be respected) I have to wonder, why the hell does this matter?
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Social Media isn't someone, not wholley. Sure, you see parts of people and more and more people are being authentically themselves on these apps, but the sliver of someone you see on the internet is not someone’s whole being...
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And I stand by the thought that idly sitting by and watching someone's highlight reel isn't a true judge of friendship or connection. It is one layer of connection, but in a pyramid of acquaintances -> friends -> best friends -> family (I just made that up, roll with me on it), watching without interacting or moving beyond social media is merely on the level of an acquaintance. Because there is no responsibility, no back and forth. There is no mutual engagement, there is no mutual learning from one another, there is no seeing the whole person including what "isn't beautiful."
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So while I was disheartened when someone I liked and admired unfollowed me, I don't think it's a reflection of me. I don't think it reflects the relationship I have with that person. It took me a long time to understand that too.
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Social Media creates a false sense of connection. The fact that we have the option to "mute" stories and posts is really wild to me too. It just solidifies how much control the app has over what we define as friendships and partnerships.
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So let's take back our friendships. I mentioned this yesterday, let's take back our friendships with connection, vulnerability, truth, communication, and action towards growth together.
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Let's stop putting worth on following and unfollowing. Because, if we stop to think about it for a moment, it's pretty messed up that we as complex humans are boiled down to the number of followers who may or may not be friends participating in our journey.