Pros and Cons of Social Media

ElevatEd
parenting
June 19, 2024

Social Media: interactive technology that allows for the sharing and spread of various forms of expression, ideas, and interests through networking and the virtual world...good or bad? When referring to social media, we talk about platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Tik Tok, and etc., each have their own specific uses– such as creation, chatting, and subculture. With these social media platforms, millions of users share their everyday lives and post to create content that engages their audience. But the real question is whether social media is depriving or beneficial. With a controversial question like this, it is important to understand that social media has its advantages, but also has things that negatively affect and influence users. In the following article, we will discuss the pros and cons of social media.

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Pros of Social Media

Social media holds many benefits, each being just as important as the next. Here are five benefits to using social media…

Access to the News and Events Taking Place: Many users and channels constantly post various articles and share news on social media, this strikes more discussions and posts on the subject. Thus, spreading information to a vast number of media users. This in turn allows people to gain a sense of clarity and gives access to world events.
Business/Personal Promotion: With social media platforms, the ability to promote and advertise various companies and franchises has grown significantly. Business can reach billions of people from around the world, which enhances visibility and encourages communications with the audience.
Entertainment: One of the main uses for social media is entertainment. Based on the users interests, hobbies, and likes, these platforms produce customized content that engages the specific user. This allows people to take a break and refresh their minds.
Real - Time Communication: Through social media, real time communication is very accessible and allows for one to engage in interactions with almost anyone. This quality allows instant feedback, collaboration, and can enhance productivity and networking, it can truly better promote engagement and circulation.
Validation of Credibility: Social media is a great way to validate whether certain enterprises and organizations are attested. Scrolling through social media allows the user looking into a certain business to find their page, as well as the reviews and comments left, which determine credibility and can prevent potential scams and losses.

Cons of Social Media

Although social media has its benefits, it also has its drawbacks that can cause many deprivations and unwanted results. Here are five cons to using social media…

Addiction: Social media strongly creates addiction patterns to these platforms. Through a study, it is seen that social media releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine– which drives the brain to come back to the social media platforms as it wants “more.” Due to this addiction, many have been penalized in various ways, whether it is physical or mental, or internally or externally.
Anxiety and Depression: Social media can mentally impact users in various ways, often leading to anxiety and depression. Through the awareness of others’ lives, many tend to become stressed due to the standards and the need to become “better.” Not only that but social media also promotes the need to keep updating status and consistently check on whether you have any notifications, which in turn negatively affects the brain.
Cyberbullying: Social media is a huge platform that allows for easy access to communicate with anyone. Because of this, cyberbullying exists and admits users to post hate speech. Cyberbullying could be for any reason, it could be targeted, or just for fun. Cyberbullying also contributes to being a factor that leads to mental health issues.
Distraction and Time Loss: Because social media platforms are addictive in nature, getting off can be a tedious task. This leads to hours at a time being wasted away because the user simply cannot stop scrolling. Even when they are not on the platform, the thought of it is constantly running through their mind…thus causing them to lose focus
Privacy and Vulnerability
A major problem on social media is privacy issues. Because of easy connection between users, data can be stolen which results in risks relating to identity, health information, facial recognition, bank details, and many more. This can lead to more threats and scams, endangering the user even more.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q.1: How is social media beneficial to society?

Social media encourages individuals to network and communicate with one another, spread awareness on issues, and encourages growth.

Q.2: Is social media helpful or harmful?

Ans: Social media platforms are both helpful and harmful in various ways. In the points stated above, it is visible that they balance each other out.

Q.3: Is social media good or bad for students?

Ans: Social media is seen to distract students and deprive their mental health, but it is also seen to help them grow and develop social skills.

Q.4: Why is social media so addictive?

Ans: Social media is an addictive source because it affects the same part of your brain that drugs do; it causes the release of dopamines– which is a neurotransmitter that is responsible for pleasure and satisfaction– which make the user want “more.”

Q.5: Is social media safe for everyone?

Ans: Social media is not necessarily safe because it risks the leaking of personal information which could lead to potential threats and dangers.

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