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Ntegral | Social Media - A weapon to destroy or a tool to build?

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发布日期: 2022年10月5日

Social Media: a weapon to destroy or a tool to build?

Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook (now Meta), Twitter, Snapchat the list goes on. According to Dave Chaffey at smartinsights.com “4.70 billion people around the world now use social media, with 227 million new users that have come online within the last 12 months.” How has social media become so popular? And is it ruining our mental health? As a millennial I find myself in a love hate relationship with the numerous social media platforms we have readily available for us to download. On one hand social media has helped people stay connected, build communities, and expose people to a world beyond what they see in their day to day lives. People have used these platforms to bring awareness to causes as well as to change their financial statuses. The algorithms used on these platforms show each user suggested content based on each user’s interest. On the other hand, the information these platforms collect are then sold to companies as 3rd party data and can often feel intrusive. Social media has caused us to become distracted, addicted and in some cases out of touch. Some opt for feeling connected to friends or family by viewing their posts or status updates. To better understand how social media will impact our lives moving forward it is best to understand how it all started.

Social media as we know it would not be possible without the internet. “In the 1980s and ’90s, according to “The History of Social Networking” on the technology news site Digital Trends, the internet’s growth enabled the introduction of online communication services such as CompuServe, America Online, and Prodigy. They introduced users to digital communication through email, bulletin board messaging, and real-time online chatting.” In the mid 2000’s we witnessed the rise of Myspace as it grew to become one of the most visited websites in the world. In 2004 Facebook was launched, I remember joining Facebook in ’05. There was an excitement it brought to connect with friends at other universities, some I had lost contact with over the years. With the invention of the smartphone in the mid 2000’s, social media transitioned from desktops and laptops to mobile devices. As the cameras in mobile devices became more advanced, we witnessed the rise of video content on apps such as Reddit, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Snapchat and most recently Tik Tok.

I admit I enjoy scrolling on Instagram, I am also on Facebook. I use these apps to stay connected with family and friends that I do not get a chance to see on a regular basis. Hawra Hashem Marketing Manager for Kubuco.com stated “social media can make it easy to find groups of like-minded people or make new friends. Finding a close-knit community can help us feel valued and accepted. Social media is also an easy way to nurture existing relationships with family and friends who have moved away. Send messages, share photos, call, or host video chats to stay in touch.” As human beings we are a social species. We accomplish amazing feats through working together. Social media is now allowing us to connect with more people instantly, but is the rise of social media platforms too good to be true?

Social media can be addictive. I can easily get lost in the endless amount of content. News, Memes, Gifs, Trending Topics all carefully curated to keep me on and wanting to see what is next. However, I did not grow up with social media, I remember what life was like before cellphones, tablets, and laptops. What are the hours spent on these apps costing us? “A recent investigation by the Wall Street Journal revealed that Facebook was aware of mental health risks linked to the use of its Instagram app but kept those findings secret. Internal research by the social media giant found that Instagram worsened body image issues for one in three teenage girls, and all teenage users of the app linked it to experiences of anxiety and depression.” Younger generations will have vastly different challenges brought on by social media and we need to be cognizant and establish best practices in navigating these platforms.

There are benefits to the use of each platform as well as drawbacks, but as social media becomes more ingrained in our lives it is important for us to use these platforms responsibly. The News Bureau of Middle Georgia State University wrote “For the past two decades, social media has become a double-edged sword as we scroll to cure boredom, portray polished versions of ourselves, or catch up with family and friends. It can be an incredible tool for connecting with those who are important to us, for gathering information, and for self-expression. However, while there are positive uses for social media, there are physiological effects on our brains that affect our dopaminergic pathways and thus our mental health.” As we continue to collect data on the effects of social media over time, we will have to periodically ask ourselves if social media hurting us or helping us.

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