Is Your Phone Lowkey Sucking Your Soul? (The Tea on Social Media)

Hey Viva Fam,

Let's keep it a buck. We gotta talk about the elephant in the digital room – social media. We're all glued to our phones, scrolling through the 'gram, TikTok, whatever. But have you ever stopped to think if this whole thing is actually… good for us?

Like, think about it. Social media's kinda like that friend who always needs to borrow your stuff but never pays you back, ya know? You're constantly pouring your energy into the system. You're posting your fire selfies, your chaotic vids, your deepest thoughts (sometimes maybe a little too deep lol). You're liking, commenting, sharing – basically feeding the beast with your time and your vibes.

And what do you really get back? A few hearts? Some fire emojis? Maybe if you're lucky, a viral moment that lasts for, like, a hot sec before the internet moves on to the next thing. It's like chasing clout that never actually fills you up. You hit that follower milestone, and you're just like… "Okay, now what?" The happiness is mad temporary.

Honestly, it feels like these apps are lowkey energy vampires. They promise you fame, connections, all that jazz. But really, they're just breadcrumbing you with little hits of dopamine to keep you hooked. It's a whole system designed to keep you scrolling, refreshing, and comparing your life to everyone else's highlight reel.

And here's where it gets a little spooky, no cap. It's like social media is this massive portal, right? But instead of taking you to another dimension of fun, it kinda traps you in this endless loop. You get in a trance, just mindlessly consuming content. And while you're in that daze, who knows what kinda thoughts and ideas are seeping into your brain? It's like they're controlling the narrative without you even realizing it.

Okay, so peep this too: remember when your abuela would warn you about the mal de ojo, the evil eye? That whole thing about people throwing shade or being envious and it messing with your good vibes? Yeah, that's kinda a thing online too, for real. You put your wins out there – your cute vacay pics, your new boo, that A on your test – and even if people don't mean to be hating, sometimes that energy can still hit you. It's like you're opening yourself up to everyone's opinions and, let's be honest, not all of 'em are gonna be positive. It's like the internet version of someone giving you a side-eye that just feels… off. You might not even realize it's happening, but it can leave you feeling weird or insecure, even after posting something you were hyped about. So yeah, the "evil eye" might sound old-school, but the negative energy online is definitely a thing.

Even if you somehow manage to go viral and get your fifteen minutes (or maybe even more!), does it actually make your life feel, like, fulfilled? Usually not. You're still the same you, just with more notifications blowing up your phone. The validation's all external, fam. It doesn't fix your real-life problems or suddenly make you feel super secure.

And let's be real, this whole "online community" thing? Sometimes it feels kinda fake. You got all these followers, but how many of them would actually be there for you if things got real? The likes don't translate to genuine support, you feel me?

And on a darker note, let's talk about the anonymous corners of the internet. You ever get those random burner accounts sliding into your DMs with weird comments? Or seeing vague, kinda threatening stuff from profiles with no face and zero followers? It can feel like you're being watched or messed with by people you can't even see. It's like the digital version of those "gangstalking" stories you hear about, where people feel like they're being systematically harassed. While it might not always be some coordinated thing, the anonymity online makes it easy for people to be straight-up creepy and get away with it. It creates this vibe where you don't know who's lurking, who's watching, and who might be trying to mess with your head from behind a fake profile. It's a whole other level of energy drain, the kind that leaves you feeling paranoid and vulnerable.

In the real world, gangstalking is a really disturbing and often hard-to-prove phenomenon where a group of people systematically harass and monitor an individual. The intention behind it is usually to isolate, intimidate, and mentally break down the target. It can involve things like stalking, psychological manipulation, spreading rumors, and making the target feel like they're constantly being watched and messed with.

Now, think about how that could translate to social media with anonymous accounts. Imagine a situation where you start noticing a pattern of weird, negative interactions from accounts with no profile pictures or identifying info.

These accounts might:

• Leave targeted, vaguely threatening or unsettling comments on your posts.

• Spread rumors or misinformation about you in comment sections or DMs to your followers.

• Mimic your posts or online behavior in a mocking or disturbing way.

• Coordinate their activities to create a sense of being overwhelmed by negativity.

• Send you creepy or harassing DMs.

The intention here, much like in real-world gangstalking, could be to make you feel paranoid, isolated, and under constant scrutiny. The anonymity of the internet makes it easier for people to engage in this kind of behavior without facing real-world consequences. It can be incredibly damaging to someone's mental health, making them question their sanity and feel like they have nowhere to turn.

It's important to note that experiencing isolated incidents of online harassment is sadly common. But the idea of coordinated and systematic harassment from anonymous accounts, designed to make you feel intensely targeted and unsafe, is what aligns more with the concept of online gangstalking.

Even if it's not full-blown gangstalking, a barrage of negativity from anonymous sources can still have a seriously negative impact. It erodes your trust, makes you hesitant to share, and can overall make your online experience toxic AF.

And let's go one level deeper: destiny swapping. This is a spiritual or metaphysical concept, but it's got a super unsettling digital parallel. Destiny swapping is this idea that someone sees your potential, your gifts, your purpose, and they try to take it for themselves—to swap your life for theirs. It’s a very manipulative and envious act.

On social media, this could manifest in a few chilling ways:

• Stealing Your Online Persona: This is more than just copying a hashtag. Someone might start using your exact content, your captions, your unique style of speaking, or even your name to build their own following. They're essentially trying to steal your identity and the success you've worked for, using your hard-won online presence as a blueprint for their own.

  
  

• Impersonation: This is the most direct form. A fake account is created to look exactly like yours, often with a subtle name change. They might message your friends, post harmful content, or just confuse your followers. The goal is to sow chaos and confusion, and to steal the trust and relationships you’ve built online.

  
  

• Content Siphoning: This is when someone sees your creative ideas, your blog posts, or even your video concepts and recreates them as their own, often without credit. They're essentially "swapping" your creative destiny for their own, riding on your original ideas and vision.

In the digital world, this kind of behavior can feel like a violation of your very essence. You've poured your soul into creating a persona and a presence, and someone else is trying to take it without any of the work. It's a reminder that even your online "destiny" can be a target for people who want what you have, but don't want to put in the effort themselves.

Plus, peep this: every single thing you do online – every like, every post, every search – it's all data. These platforms are building a whole profile on you, and they're using it to keep you engaged and sell you stuff. You're not the customer; you're the product. Big yikes.

So, what's the move? Should we all just ditch our phones and live in the woods? Probably not realistic for most of us. But maybe it's time to wake up and realize what's really going on. Be more mindful of how you're spending your time and energy online. Remember that what you see isn't always real life. And most importantly, don't let the digital world drain your actual soul.

Important Note: If you or someone you know is experiencing targeted harassment or believes they are a victim of gangstalking (online or offline), it's crucial to seek support from trusted friends, family, and mental health professionals. Document everything and consider reporting the behavior to the platform and, if appropriate, to law enforcement.

Stay woke, fam. ✌️