Embracing the Memories: A New Perspective on Social Media

Embracing the Memories: A New Perspective on Social Media I’ve never been a big fan of social media. In fact, as an educator, I’ve written several articles about its negative impact on today’s generation, particularly on mental health. For the most part, I’ve kept my presence on Instagram limited to a close-knit circle of friends and family. But today, I find myself thankful for one platform in particular—Facebook. Lately, Facebook has been showing me memories of Sana, pictures and moments I didn’t even know existed or had completely forgotten about. What was once just a space to share daily moments has now turned into a treasure trove of memories, a timeline of her life that I now cling to. These notifications, once trivial, have become poignant reminders of her presence, bringing back moments of joy and love that we shared. Thanks to social media, we’ve been able to gather photos and memories of Sana that will go into creating her memory book. It’s heartwarming, yet bittersweet, to see how these digital fragments of her life now serve as a lasting testament to her spirit. Today, my dearest friend sent me a message expressing how much they miss her, and her son—Sana’s childhood friend—can’t imagine life without her. These messages bring both comfort and sorrow, but they are also a reminder of the incredible impact Sana had on so many people. I realize now that social media, while often criticized, has given me a gift—an archive of moments that I can revisit whenever I need to feel close to her. The pictures and posts that once captured fleeting moments of happiness now hold a lifetime of memories and, at times, pain. In an effort to keep her presence close, I recently bought a digital frame. I plan to fill it with all of her pictures so that I can see her smiling face every day. It’s my way of holding on to the memories, of keeping her with me, even as time moves forward. In moments like this, I am grateful for the way social media connects us to the past, to the people we’ve lost but never want to forget. Though I still see its flaws, today, I’m choosing to embrace the beauty it has offered me—memories of my beloved Sana.