I’m not exactly sure the exact moment. Maybe one random afternoon browsing blogs or perhaps after searching for methods of distraction…all definitely sometime while I was in college & procrastinating.
But then, it happened. I, Kelsy Leah Black, met BuzzFeed.
Needless to say, I was changed forever (as well as my friend group, who slowly but surely got hooked too). The insatiability of the content stream, funny lists, viral information, breaking news…it never stopped and I never wanted it to. (And yes, maybe I actually applied to a job or two there & perhaps even had an interview too but…different blog post.)
Maybe it’s just me, but…isn’t the constant stream of information getting a little exhausting? Looking at it from a critical Communication Studies standpoint, BuzzFeed is endemic of the gluttonous appetite our society holds for EVERYTHING. (Not that an appetite for life & understanding more about culture, etc is a bad thing in moderation; there’s a huge difference in a healthy curiosity and mindless consumption [and I am a part of the latter].) Sometimes, such as the case with BuzzFeed, the problem becomes the old “quality vs. quality” debate. Surely the quality must decrease if a site posts 8234 new bouts of content a day (thus we have posts like “34 types of cat smiles” and “How to Know If You Grew Up in Dunwoody, GA in the 2000′s.” Mindless, vapid entertainment–but harmless right?
I’m not so sure anymore.
The constant source of new, fun information & trivia so easily becomes an addiction–and to what? Nothing that really matters. I don’t want to look back (especially during this horrible 12 weeks of having a broken foot ordeal) and wonder what in the world I did with all that time. Surfing Buzzfeed (/Reddit, Gawker, the list of insatiable websites goes on forever)?
I want my life to be a bit simpler, richer, and purer–in which I mean I’m tired of “learning” through the Internet. I’m tired of wasting time on things that are entertaining, but invaluable. Being present in real life, especially going into this Advent season.
Maybe I’m just writing this for myself (as with so many of my blogposts), but I want this December to be a little sweeter than usual–full of little joys, gratitude, and the quiet, expectant hope that comes with this season. Maybe by dispelling the cacophonous, unnecessary Buzzfeed lists, Twitter feuds, and other time-wasters, we (I?) will experience true contentment. (After all, there are tons of books to read!)
