Over the past decade, the society has been wrapped up tightly in social media. Around the world, millions of people use social media on a daily basis. It’s hard to even imagine that Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and other social networking sites didn’t even exist 10 years ago.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways social media affects our society.
The good
Communication
Our time is being stretched thinner and thinner by work, school activities, family and other duties. Most of the time, people are so busy that they can’t even find time to hang out with family and friends, let alone make a phone call to see how they’re doing. Thanks to social media, connecting with family and even old friends has never been easier.
Social media can be used to revive and preserve our relationship with other people. It puts you back in touch with friends you haven’t seen since school or since you moved away. Family and relatives, who lives abroad, can be kept abreast of the latest happenings. Students can collaborate with their peers, make new friends and participate in campaigns and activities of their choice.
The bad
While there is no doubt that social media has some positive impact on society, there are also some drawbacks. Every ying has its yang, after all.
False sense of connection
The idea of being friends used to be so simple. You would call each other from time to time and then hang out whenever you’re free. While social media allows us to have easy, casual conversations with our peers, face-to-face communication ultimately diminishes because of this. Less people are communicating in person.
Distraction
Most students and employees rely on the internet to get their tasks done. But it’s hard to stay focused on the task at hand when you have access to social networking sites, trying to seduce you into wasting time. It keeps you from paying attention to all of the things that really matter. Closing your Twitter, Instagram or Facebook feed can seriously help you get some work done.
Addiction
Can’t stay away from social media? You are not alone. Studies suggest that 27% of people check their social media profiles as soon as they get out of bed; while 51% of them would log in periodically throughout the day.
Our love for social media is not just changing the way we communicate; it also affects our personal relationships, productivity and self-esteem. But the power of social media is decided by the user. Exercise caution to avoid falling prey to these online dangers.