Drugi jezik na kojem je dostupan ovaj članak: Bosnian
By: Ekrem Dupanović
Nowadays, we live two parallel lives. One is earthly, physical life, the other one is social network existence. If you die in real life there’s always the chance that you might carry on in heaven or hell depending on what you deserve. But if you leave social networks you are stone dead, no possibility of afterlife because there’s no such a thing on social networks.
When I posted on Facebook that I am leaving, it was almost as if I was announcing that I was about to commit suicide. Messages started to pour in (FB, Messenger, emails) from friends saying don’t do it, don’t give it up, think again, wait till the wind changes. Some messages were so emotional as if I was announcing my suicide.
When I’m six foot under, and if my friend Planinko Kapetanovic is at my funeral I’m sure he’ll scatter some earth on my coffin and say “I‘m really sorry, my dear friend”. He sent me the same message on Facebook. Just like that, I’m already dead to him. Romeo Drucker, of Slovenian quartet Tartini said he wanted to take the last chance and wish me and my family all the best for the festive season. He also reminded me not to forget to see the quartet play in Sarajevo, in May next year at Sarajevo Music Evenings. Blimey, you’d think I was leaving the planet; as he if he can’t ring me, text me, email me. Ivan Brezak Brkan sent me a link to an article giving me all the reasons I shouldn’t leave Facebook, that I will miss some events, a photograph or two and some coupons?!
The only sensible message I received was from Dusan Drakalski: “Ekrem, it’s no big deal not to be on Facebook, the big deal is not having Facebook in your life.” And that’s how it’s going to be.
I’m leaving it behind as quick as I can, and you carry on. We became slaves to social networks and apps. I’ve met people who don’t seem to be able to do anything without checking an app first: when is the business meeting, parents evening, how many kilometers was run, how many calories did they eat, what to eat, when to drink water… As soon as they get into their car, they open Google Maps just to get home.
Every day we are offered new services and new apps. Who’s that really for? Could it be for our data we leave behind wherever we move? Data on who we are, where we live, how we live, what are our habits, how much money we got, what we buy etc. Google, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Viber et al sell our data to brands at great profit and then we get pestered by their messages. Bland people become influencers, people barely old enough to hold a driving licence have hundreds of thousands of followers, they talk drivel and get likes for it.
At Moscow airport, it is possible for young women to hire a plane for a two hour photoshoot including make up artists, stylists, cameramen and photographers. They plonk themselves into the comfy chair, all breasts and legs, gazing wistfully out of the window. In front of them champagne and caviar. At the end of two hours off they trot with their memory stick, next one ready to take their place. Money changes hands and the plane doesn’t move. We view it on Instagram and press likes. More likes more money. The more money they get the more they want. For that they need more of our likes and our stupidity, and it all becomes a vicious circle.
Me, I’m an open book. People have my contact details and they can reach me any time. I didn’t join social networks to make my career. If I haven’t done it by now I won’t achieve it in the few years left to me now.
So, we live two parallel lives. One in the real world, one on social networks. For me the former is sufficient and that’s hard work enough. For the latter, I have neither time nor energy.
Ekrem Dupanović ekrem@www.media-marketing.com
+387 62 57 67 87