Journal Entry: Things Social Media Doesn't Remind You

In today's interconnected world dominated by social media platforms like Facebook, we often find ourselves engrossed in cultivating and maintaining online friendships, sometimes overlooking the simple yet profound realities of life.

The proliferation of social networking sites—from Yahoo and Twitter to Opera and Facebook—seems geared towards one primary objective: bringing us closer together. Among these, Facebook stands out, facilitating easy meetings, interactions, friendships, and the sharing of life's moments.

As a bona fide teen, I too have a Facebook account and am deeply involved in the platform's myriad activities. I've amassed countless friends—some close, others not so much. I'm often immersed in tending to my virtual farm and harvesting its rewards. It's through Facebook that I know today is the class monitor's birthday, and tomorrow marks a classmate's special day. A few keystrokes on their walls and I become a loyal, caring friend. I know whether friends A, B, or C, who are thousands of kilometers away, are healthy or unwell, praised by teachers or scolded by parents.

Indeed, Facebook is miraculous in helping us build beautiful virtual relationships, and it's meticulous in reminding us of our friends' birthdays and anniversaries. But, dear friends, there are things Facebook doesn't remind me of:

Facebook doesn't remind me that my dad had a sore leg yesterday. He doesn't have Facebook, so there's no status update like, "Oh, my leg hurts so much," or "What bad luck, my leg and arm." Dad simply silently applies pain relief patches to his bruised areas and goes to work limping.

Facebook also doesn't remind me that today is my mom's birthday. Like dad, mom doesn't use Facebook, so how could Facebook know how special today is for her? I only see mom buying extra flowers to arrange, dad coming home early with a mysterious wink suggesting something special. Ah, today is indeed special for mom. If only Facebook reminded me, I could have done something grand for her. That's what Facebook is for, right?

Facebook doesn't teach me how to sift through things. The other day, mom burst into laughter when I helped her make banana blossom salad. You see, this salad requires sprinkling roasted peanuts on top. Mom roasted and crushed the peanuts to perfection. My job was simply to peel and sift them. Yet, I struggled for nearly half an hour. It wasn't until mom gave me hands-on guidance that I finally stopped wrestling with the nuts.

The simplest method? Gently rotate the sieve while lightly tapping it. The lighter husks will collect in one corner, ready to be brushed away. How long have I been scrolling through Facebook without finding such thorough advice as mom's?

Facebook doesn't remind me of my grandfather's death anniversary. It was only when my parents urged me to prepare things to take to the countryside—to light incense for grandpa's memorial—that I remembered. It's quite a shame, really. I've been dawdling all this time.

Facebook also doesn't tell me which key matches which lock among my bundle of keys. Our house has various locks: the main gate lock, the side gate lock, the house lock, kitchen lock, cabinet lock, and my bike lock… With so many, I often mix them up and struggle. Yet, my parents unfailingly pick the right key every single time.

The secret? "You have to pay attention, my dear," mom advises. "These keys may look alike, but they're not. Take the main gate key and the side gate key, for instance—they're not the same size." Mom has a different method—she marks each key visibly. A red thread on the house key, green on the gate key, brown on the kitchen key… And just like that, mom's keychain is colorful and easy to navigate.

Facebook doesn't tell me that my best friend has been sick and absent from school for three days. She's a diligent student, not on Facebook, and not inclined to share on social media. So, I don't know why she's been absent—whether it's serious or not. I only found out when I visited her at home, seeing her flushed face in a feverish state, that my best friend is battling a viral fever.

Sometimes, we get so absorbed in nurturing our online friendships that we forget there are things in the real world that require much more attention.

No Facebook will remind you of these things, dear teens. But remember, it's not about the notes on Facebook; it's about remembering with your heart and your own memories. Because we still have eyes to observe, ears to listen, and a heart to understand, we don't really need Facebook to remind us of these simple yet meaningful things, do we, teens?

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