In 1971, the first email was
delivered. More than 40 years on, social media has taken the world by storm.
Social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, are now used by 1 in 4
people worldwide. Such activity may seem harmless, but some researchers suggest
social media may affect our mental health and well-being.
“Medical News Today “reported on a study suggesting that social media like
Facebook use may feed anxiety and increases a person's feeling of inadequacy.
What is social media?
In essence, social media defines an array of Internet sites that enable people
from all over the world to interact. This can be through discussion, photos,
video and audio.
The latest statistics show that around 42% of online adults use multiple social
networking sites. Perhaps not surprisingly, the majority of social media users
are under the age of 30, although the number of older users is on the rise.
Clinical psychologist Dr Linda Blair, told “The Telegraph” that one of the
issues appears to be people are behaving as if technology is in control of them,
instead of the other way around:
A recent study from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, concluded
that while in theory, by helping to encourage and improve friendships, Facebook
could be great for people with low self-esteem, in practice, users with low
self-esteem seem to behave counterproductively, bombarding their friends with
negative tidbits about their lives and making themselves less likeable.
Aside from seeing your friends’ new baby on Facebook, or reading about Justin
Bieber’s latest brush with the law on Twitter, what are some of the real
impacts, both positive and negative, that social media has had on our society?
Here is a closer look at the effect of social media on politics, business, and
socialization as well as some of the negative effects such as cyber bullying and
privacy.
Impact on Politics
Every politician worth his salt needs to jump on the social media bandwagon.
This is because social websites, tv programs have played an important role in
many elections around the world, including in the Pakistan and India. They have
also served to rally people for a cause, and have inspired mass movements and
political unrests in such countries.
Effect on Socialization
Social networks offer the opportunity for people to re-connect with their old
friends and acquaintances, make new friends, trade ideas, share content and
pictures, and many other activities. Users can stay abreast of the latest global
and local developments, and participate in campaigns and activities of their
choice. Professionals use social media sites like LinkedIn to enhance their
career and business prospects. Students can collaborate with their peers to
improve their academic proficiency and communication skills. You can learn about
different cultures and societies by connecting with people in other countries.
Negative Effects of Social Media
Unfortunately, there are a few downsides too to social networking. Many
introverts and socially reclusive users place too much emphasis on virtual
interaction, and ignore the real world outside. Read on to learn about a few
more negative repercussions of social media.
Cyber Bullying and Online Harassment
If you are not careful, unscrupulous people can target you for cyber bullying
and harassment on social sites. School children, young girls, and women can fall
prey to online attacks which can create tension and distress. If you are a
victim of cyber bullying, do not take it lying down, but try to take appropriate
legal action against the attacker.
Impact on Productivity
Many companies have blocked social networks on their office Internet as addicted
employees can distract themselves on such sites, instead of focusing on work. In
fact, studies show that British companies have lost billions of dollars per year
in productivity because of social media addiction among employees.
Impact on Privacy
If you are not careful, what you post on the Net can come back to haunt you.
Revealing personal information on social sites can make users vulnerable to
crimes like identity theft, stalking, etc. Many companies perform a background
check on the Internet before hiring an employee. If a prospective employee has
posted something embarrassing on social media, it can drastically affect their
chances of getting the job. The same holds true for our relationships too, as
our loved ones and friends may get to know if we post something undesirable on
social networks.
Conclusion
Social media has its advantages and drawbacks as revealed in this article. It is
up to each user to use social sites wisely to enhance their professional and
social life, and exercise caution to ensure they do not fall victim to online
dangers.