Abraham Maslow created a Hierarchy of Needs that suggests that we focus on our upper level of needs as each lower level is met. At the core of this theory is the belief that our behavior is determined by our needs and those needs can evolve over time. At the top of the of the five levels of need is self-actualization, which few of us ever meet according to Maslow.
Quite a few people start their mornings by reaching for their phones and checking the latest social media feed. This physiological need to connect to cyberspace supersedes other physiological needs such as food, water, or rest and creates quite a dependency on technology. I, myself, in fact feel “underdressed” if I happen to walk out of my home without my phone and will always promptly return home to retrieve it to avoid the anxiety of being unable to connect to my loved ones, especially in cases of emergency.
I can recall a time in my early twenties (over 10 years ago) when I lost my phone in a dance club on my birthday. Instead of celebrating, I spent the rest of the night boo-hoo crying over the precious data I had lost. Due to technological capabilities that I have access to now, losing a phone can be remedied with a simple app like Find My from Apple or data can be transferred to a new phone via an Apple ID, granted backups are current. Apple products as well as many other technological brands/devices are up to date with their security infrastructure.
Having more friends or likes on multiple platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and other mediums promotes a sense of belonging and acceptance. Personally, social media was an unwilling migration, because of my work schedules and extracurricular activities. Known as a ‘social butterfly’ I preferred in person connections, but when I saw all my friends and family were online, I joined platforms to stay connected.
When reviewing Maslow’s theory and cyber behavior, esteem needs are met via social media. By joining platforms like Facebook. Instagram and TikTok, I gained thousands of friends and followers. It was exciting to see the interaction, but soon it became chaotic. With increased friends and followers, came unsolicited calls and explicit messages and images. This resulted in reservations regarding how I interact in cyberspaces.