Social Media
Social media has taken the world by storm through dozens of websites, mobile apps, and other forms of technologies improving the way people communicate with each other. There are social media sites that have millions of members allowing them to share photos, videos, text messages, and more on a regular basis. There are a large number of advantages and disadvantages to using such sites that leave researchers wondering if we are better off without it. Has social media improved or damaged the way people connect with each other? There are studies that suggest it has done both.
The advantages of social media have been interesting to observe and participate in for millions of people around the world over the past few years. People have been able to communicate with people in their local neighborhood and talk to people in other countries at the same time. People have formed online communities that allowed them to get support, education, and even promote and sell products. You can connect with people from school and learn about news that is happening in other parts of the world. If you do not like talking on the phone or lack time to meet in person, you can connect via social media at any time convenient for you. You also have a list of contacts maintained for you through the social media platform you use. But, these advantages have a downside that raises ongoing concerns.
The disadvantages may hurt how people communicate with each other. Some people prefer to have face-to-face interaction with friends and loved ones. Fraud and scams have been on the rise with more people using social media as their main form of communication. Others have wondered what happens to your person information when you stop using the site or when someone is deceased. There is also the issue of knowing how much information to share and what you should avoid. Viruses tend to spread easier and faster when people are not sure what links to avoid clicking.
Others have found themselves in uncomfortable situations they wish they could undo, but unfortunately social media can still keep a record of it making it more difficult to leave in the past. Social media offers promising features that can make people think twice about how they utilize this platform. Sometimes you put yourself at risk of ruining a relationship based on what you post or what you may say to someone.