Chances to interact, make new friends, and freedom to express themselves; that's how social media sounded like years ago. And if you are new, that's what you may immediately think of social media. But, most people prefer to avoid online social media networks. Since Elon must introduce the Blue tick to verify their accounts, more users are motivated to deactivate their Twitter accounts. That's just about Twitter; there are many platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Tumblr where people have called it a day. The pros and cons of social media are not limited merely to these platforms.
You'll certainly benefit from social media use if you have a genuine purpose. These include:
Living away from your family and friends while studying or working abroad is hard to cope with, but social media bridges this gap easily and keeps us connected. With the help of new video calling software and applications, you can stay in touch with people regardless of geographical distances.
Social media is where you can get relevant information from international events to local areas. You can receive updates and news for whatever content you prefer. You don’t have to wait for the morning newspaper.
Social media has been able to eliminate the cultural divide as it gives you the freedom to meet and interact with people sitting oceans away from you. You can connect with people from different backgrounds and share ideas, creating a more unified global community.
You can also use social media platforms to create movements that celebrate your culture. Once you get noticed, you create a trend bringing attention to issues that may have been previously overlooked by mainstream society.Social media is also beneficial for people who are looking for jobs. You can create professional profiles on LinkedIn and get noticed by employers or recruiters. LinkedIn currently has over 930 million active users and has grown as an excellent platform where you can showcase your portfolio of work. You can also get feedback as well as recognition from peers or mentors in the industry.
If you are skilled at something, why not turn your passion into a paycheck? Social media platforms are a foundation for influencers and startups to gain attention from global audiences. You can promote your products, and services, or showcase your skills to the audience within your circle and maximize your outreach. You can also market your business ideas or projects and get potential customers.
Despite its numerous advantages, certain negatives associated with social media make it not so desirable for some users. These include:
People tend to use abusive language and bad-mouth others while hiding behind the anonymity of social networks. This kind of behavior is known as cyberbullying, which often results in depression among youth who experience such bullying online.
People spend hours scrolling through their social newsfeeds, commenting on posts and videos but forget to do any productive work in the process. As per the study by NCBI, social media addiction is as dangerous as Alcohol or tobacco.
People often share too much personal information online, which hackers or other malicious elements can easily access. It happens when you share too much personal information online which is easily targeted by prying eyes. Many users often forget that the details they share on social media are kept as a permanent database. It cannot be erased once it has been put out there. Any posts or photos that you share can easily be retrieved years later by anyone who wishes to do so.
There are tons of updates displayed on your newsfeed every second. And if you have a huge number of friends and followers, you may have to spend hours sifting and searching through the content.
Social media platforms have become more like time-consuming activities than productive ones. It's easy to lose track of time if you are not careful while scrolling through your newsfeed or watching videos shared by friends.
Social media can also be a major distraction when you try to focus on something important. The constant notifications and alerts from social media platforms can pull you away from your current task.
Many networks are filled with fake accounts pretending to be someone else. This kind of activity can cause confusion and cause people to fall for scams or become victims of fraud.
It is important to remember that all platforms have both pros and cons. The key is to use them in moderation and practice wise judgment while posting anything online. Social media can be an amazing tool, but knowing when too much is enough is important.
Another downside of using social media is the spread of misinformation which can lead people into believing incorrect facts or rumors without verifying their sources. Fake news has become quite rampant these days; hence it’s important to be aware of what you post and read to avoid causing harm.
Even medical sciences have found evidence of mental health issues among people who use social media excessively. People may start comparing themselves to others, and suffer from anxiety or depression due to too much focus on the virtual world. It is important to use social media responsibly and not get consumed by its superficial aspects.
Conclusion
On the one hand, they can be a great way to connect people and share ideas, but they aren’t without drawbacks. With rampant data breaches and cybersecurity breaches becoming more prevalent, users need to take precautionary measures when using these platforms. As social media has become so pervasive, it’s important to remember that it should never replace face-to-face interactions or meaningful relationships. So, the next time you think of going online, consider all the pros and cons of social media networks and try to avoid falling victim to the issues mentioned above.
Spending more time on social media can result in harmful effects such as cyberbullying, social anxiety, depression, and exposure to inappropriate content. Social media can be addictive, where a person strives to achieve the best results while playing games or completing tasks.
Research has shown that using social media excessively can lead to higher chances of experiencing depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. This is because social media can create negative feelings, such as feeling inadequate about one's appearance or life.
Social media use can negatively impact teenagers by causing distractions, disrupting their sleep, and exposing them to bullying, rumors, unrealistic views of others' lives, and peer pressure. The likelihood and severity of these risks may be influenced by how much social media teenagers consume.
Social media platforms stimulate the release of dopamine in the brain, creating a pleasurable sensation that compels users to return frequently. Interactions such as shares, likes, and comments activate the brain's reward center, producing a sensation similar to that which occurs during the use of drugs or gambling.
