Social media is a website and application that helps users connect with others and participate in social networking. It is an interactive technology that allows the exchange of information, ideas, and other forms of expression through virtual communities and networks. The more social media we have, the more we think we're connecting, yet we're disconnecting from each other.
Today, the world is dependent on social media. It is the best and affordable medium to communicate with people. It is a tool that is becoming quite popular these days and has user-friendly features.
Young people are dominant users of social media. It is very beneficial as it provides information, education, and knowledge. The platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp help people connect with their loved ones at a distance. It is a debatable topic. Every person has different opinions and views over this.
Social media is one of the few things that we cannot avoid in this era. It can be considered as one of the best things that ever happened to the internet. On the other hand, social media has a lot of disadvantages as well. Like most things out there, while providing useful things on one side, social media is not completely good in every aspect.
LET US GET INTO THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA:
ADVANTAGES
1. A PLATFORM TO CONNECT
It provides a huge platform for people to find each other and connect with them. This opened a wide variety of opportunities for a lot of people. If you just want to make some friends or to participate in social activities, find a job, or even buy stuff, social media can help you do any of that.
2. STAY INFORMED
Before social media, it was difficult to keep track of the happenings in the world. Even though there were communication channels such as radio, TV, etc. They were not that effective as social media is today in keeping people informed about the outer world.
3. AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESSES
As we all know, it is a huge network of billions of people all around the globe. That means it is a huge platform where new businesses can find customers and sell their products.
4. GET RECOGNIZED
It wasn’t so easy for artists or people with any kind of talent to get recognition in the old days. Now it is a matter of taking a video and posting it online. If you are talented enough and have a bit of luck, your chances of accomplishing your dreams are pretty high. According to the surveys, around 68% of the adults in the entire world use Facebook. So it is hard to miss not being noticed by anyone of them.
5. FIND JOBS
You can use social media as a platform to find jobs. Many companies post job openings on their social media profiles which users can browse through and apply. In addition, social media networks such as LinkedIn has a huge user base that allows anyone to connect with people from different companies and find their dream job. In most cases, you won't even have to apply for any jobs. All you have to do is updating your profile with a robust resume. If it is attractive enough, chances are that someone is going to reach out and ask if you are interested in any jobs.
6. SOURCE OF LATEST INFORMATION
Social media has now become one of the great sources of information. We can get news updates within a few seconds by just opening our social media apps.
Not like before when we wait for newspapers or magazines to know the news. Or have to wait for the television broadcasts to know about the current happenings.
Now they don't have to wait and can update themselves. However, every single piece of news is on social media. They telecast news even before television.
After the development of social media, it is easy to create and exchange information and news with each other.
7. HELPS IN GAINING EDUCATION
It provides various learning opportunities at great ease. Many teachers and tutors have started giving online lectures to students who cannot afford expensive fees but wanted to study.
8. REACH A LARGE AUDIENCE
There are millions of people using social media platforms. It's a great opportunity for your business to reach a large pool of people interested in your products or services.
Social media helps to reach a large audience with great ease. The ability to reach a large audience is a huge advantage of social media.
9. DIRECT CONNECT WITH AUDIENCE
Social media allows you to connect with your audience. When you know your audience better you can deliver more valuable content. A direct connection can help you to resolve issues easier.
DISADVANTAGES
1. ADDICTION
Too much is bad. The sentence also applies to social media. Social media addiction can turn out pretty bad. It will not only affect your physical health but can also impact your mental well-being. Spending hours on social media chatting, playing online games, posting to groups, etc. can adversely affect your life. So always be sure to use it for good, and as soon as you’re done with it, concentrate on other activities.
2. HEALTH PROBLEMS
The usage of social media for a long time without any break can cause health problems such as eye strain, back pain, obesity, etc. So always make sure that the usage of social media is not affecting your health badly. Excessive use of social networking sites affects your mental and physical health. You're unable to eat and relax on time. More use of those sites daily has many misplaced effects on your psychological state, making you less inclined to connect with people.
FOR EXAMPLE:
i) ENHANCING DEPRESSION
Do you spend hours each day on social media? Spending longer on social networking sites can adversely affect your mood. This may not only increase stress but will also lead you to depression.
ii) UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
This is probably no surprise, but social media helps you create unrealistic expectations of life and friendship. Authenticity is scarce online on social sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat.
iii) SLEEP FAILURE
The disadvantage of social media also includes trouble sleeping. Spending time on social media can also adversely affect your sleep. Many studies have shown that increasing usage of social media will harm your sleeping habit. If you feel that your sleep pattern is deteriorating and your productivity is affected, spend less time on social media.
3. REDUCING PRODUCTIVITY
As we all know, social media is filled with a lot of fun videos, photos, games, and a lot more things that can keep you engaged for a long time. Especially, for those who work, browsing social media in between can impact productivity on a huge scale.
4. SCAMS
Scamming cannot be attributed to social media alone. But social media is no exception. Scammers always find a way to reach out. Social media makes it much easier for them. As most of the social media networks such as Facebook force uses to maintain a real account and it terminates any fake accounts, it is much easier for the scammers to get your real identity and exploit you. Apart from that, they can also find your interests from your posts on social media making it much easier for them to make you fall for the scam.
5. PRIVACY
There has been a lot of reports and concerns regarding the privacy of users on social media platforms. Even the social media accounts themselves use the user data to advertise products and services that match the interest of the user. These social media giants also got multiple lawsuits in the past years regarding user privacy issues. Social networking sites encourage you to form your personal life more public. If you post intimate and private details of your life on social networking sites, it can be misused in many forms. Additionally, the items you post remain available on these social sites indefinitely.
6. CYBERBULLYING
Cyberbullying is a form of harassment using electronic means. It is also known as online bullying. Cyberbullying is when someone, typically a teenager, bullies or harasses others on the internet and other digital spaces, particularly on social media sites.
Harmful bullying behavior can include posting rumors, threats, sexual remarks, a victim's personal information, or pejorative labels. Bullying or harassment can be identified by repeated behavior and an intent to harm. Victims of cyberbullying may experience lower self-esteem, increased negative emotions, including being scared, frustrated, or angry.
i) ONLINE THREATS, STALKING & CYBERBULLYING
There are various types of crime done through social media. People making threats, bullying, harassing, and stalking. Victims of these types of crimes frequently don't know when to call the police. If you feel threatened by a statement made online about you, or believe that the threat is credible, it's probably a good idea to consider calling the police.
ii) HACKING AND FRAUD
Although logging into a friend's social media account to post an embarrassing statue message may be acceptable between friends, but technically, it is a crime. Additionally, creating fake accounts to trick people can also be punished as fraud.
iii) BUYING ILLEGAL THINGS
Connecting over social media to buy drugs or banned products is illegal.
iv) FAKE ONLINE FRIENDSHIP
Developing online friendship over social media with no real-life familiarity and using the emotional connect to trick you into transferring funds on some pretext such as medical emergency, legal troubles, problems in a foreign country, etc.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES
1. Block profiles from public searches.
2. Restrict who can find you via an online search.
3. Limit what people can learn about you through searching on the internet.
4. Log out after each session.
5. Don't share social media credentials0.
6. Don't accept friend requests from unknowns.
7. Don't click suspicious links.
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