??Social Media: Good or Bad???

Happy New Year, SVO Fam! Yuh boy took a break for the holidays but we're back in the building and January will be all about social media! ?

As the TED Conferences curators note, "social media is an undeniable force in today's world." It has now become a common conversation starter, centerpiece, and overarching topic with its own language, rules, and understanding of operation. There are also various subcategories and industries that have social media at the center, so much so that everyone from 'professionals' to sport teams and athletes have social media platforms for their enjoyment (i.e., Instagram , LinkedIn , TikTok , Snap Inc. , Meta , etc.). Heck, many of the most lucrative endorsements (via Digital Strike - Targeted Marketing ), partnerships (via Harvard Business Review ), sponsorships (via 尼尔森 Sports), and opportunities (via Forbes ) can be attributed to social media. No matter what, we cannot deny the impact it has had on the world.

Though it is a connective force, social media is clearly not for everyone. Some of us struggle to remain 'engaged' with social media constituencies because we don't feel connected when interacting with people this way. Additionally, plenty of people discuss the 'negatives' of social media because of the way it has impacted millions of people (i.e., increases in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, along with concepts of addiction, 'trends,' and even wasted time scrolling). In fact, the impact is so concerning that some of its most lucrative creators have forbidden their own children from using platforms that they designed.

One thing is for sure: social media is here to stay. It is up to us to figure out how to use it in a way that does not consume our abilities to connect with one another.

Here are 10 things I have learned about social media:

1. Just like anything else, social media can be good or bad...depending on how it is used.
2. Additionally, too much of anything can be detrimental and social media is no different.
3. Social media can be a great way to connect with people, but it is not a substitution for genuine human connection.
4. People tend to be more unfavorable in a virtual space where they don't have to 'see' each other, so be careful.
5. Social media can make or break your career. Post accordingly.
6. Potential employers have been known to view social media pages in their assessment of candidates.
7. Not everything is 'for the gram,' meaning some things are better left out of the virtual space. Trust me.
8. We can learn valuable lessons from social media, but don't just assume that because a post has a lot of 'likes,' its credible. Do your research.
9. Just because some people don't understand the value of social media, doesn't mean it isn't valuable. Use this to your advantage if you crack the code.
10. Set limits on your exposure to social media. Your devices have settings to keep this under control.

Ultimately, social media is a tool and with that, we have to remember that all tools have a purpose. All tools can also be used for good, bad, ugly, and otherwise. For some, they use social media as marketing, sales, or promotional channels to showcase their products. For others, they simply want to interact with people, post a few photos, and watch hilarious videos of others doing rambunctious things. Sadly, there is also a third group that simply want to use social media platforms to spread negativity and hatred. As a people, we must be honest with how we use it, the behaviors we exude, and the subsequent outcomes of the social world we create. No matter what, the tool cannot be blamed for what we as humans decide to do with it.

More on social media next week! Comment and let me know if you would like me to discuss a particular part of social media!

Peace, love, and SVO!

-Dr. Savant ??

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