Have you ever thought about how social media affects you? The emergence of social media has been one of the most monumental developments of the 21st century. It all started with the creation of the internet and the introduction of Facebook. And now, social networks have become an indispensable part of our lives.
While it has become a means for people to effortlessly connect with anyone around the world, social media also has some very negative effects on people. Keep reading this article to know about the effects of social networks on people.
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Why do people use social media
People have an innate desire to share interesting information about their personal lives with others. They also want to increase their connections with other human beings. Social networks are an important medium through which they achieve these desires.
However, the most significant reason people use social media is to stay in touch with their close friends and family who live far away from them. They also helps to kill leisure time. And lastly, they are an effective way for some people to build their reputation and earn a passive income.
5 positive effects of social media
Since its advent, social media has changed our lives completely. And mostly, it has positive effects on people. It helps to increase connectivity, build reputation,
increase awareness, etc. So, here are the top 5 positive effects on people.
1. Maintain and increase connections
Social networks are the easiest way to connect with new people. And, there are numerous ways on social media to do so. Also, they help you to keep connected with the people close to you who don’t live near you. Thus, social media is an effective medium to maintain and increase connections.
2. Build your reputation
With the increase in platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc, the number of social media influencers has also increased. With their help, people can easily communicate with customers, manage sales, and promote their products. Thus, it has become increasingly straightforward for influencers to build their business and reputation on these platforms.
3. Increasing social awareness
Social media is also an instrument to increase social awareness. Today’s society is brimming with problems. But, unlike in the past when you have to carry out mass protests to garner the attention of people in power, with the help of social media it has become significantly easier to bring awareness about important problems, and bring positive change.
4. A platform to learn new things
Have you seen videos of cooking, fishing, dancing, singing, and other activities on social media? Such videos are available in abundance on these platforms. Moreover, these videos use graphics, infographics, and whatnot to attract maximum viewers. Thus, these videos are a great source to learn new things.
5. Source of entertainment
No one likes boredom! Everyone wants their life to be happening. Social media can aid you in this quest. There are many authors, podcasts, informational videos, etc, that will cure your boredom, and also are very productive. And, if you feel that you want some light source of entertainment, you can tune in to any music or dance video on social media platforms.
5 negative effects of social media
While social media has some major benefits, it is not completely free from evil. It compels you to compare your life with others, set unrealistic expectations, and work tirelessly to stay relevant. All these developments harm your life. So, here are 5 negative effects on people.
1. Depression
Depression is the most harmful negative effect. There is a high probability of you being in a gloomy mood if you are spending hours on social media. This is because they are all about other people showing off their interesting life, which you are watching while sitting in your room.
2. Unreasonable expectations
As aforementioned earlier, other people use social media to show off their interesting lives. However, in reality, most people show off their lives in an exaggerated way. And, many of them may even be lying. This sets unreasonable expectations in your mind, which may hamper your perfect life.
3. Cyberbullying
Bullying is not a new phenomenon. People have been facing bullying in their schools, colleges, offices, etc. But, now it has entered the online space. People can now easily bully others on social media platforms. And, most people in the world have suffered from online threats. This usually leaves mental scars on their lives which take a good deal of time to recover.
4. Negative body image
One thing that you will regularly witness on social media is people with incredibly perfect bodies. But, many of them post their fitness routines and incentivize others to follow them to achieve the ideal body figure. Many people on social media achieve the perfect body through medicines.
However, people who are affected by these fake influencers don’t know the actual reality and form a negative image of their bodies. In addition to that, many people have some medical conditions that make them unable to lose weight. And, these fake influencers only alleviate their desperate condition.
5. Damaging sleep patterns
Lastly, they have been an addiction for many. They spent hours a day surfing on them. This increased usage of social media drastically affects your ability to sleep properly. It is especially true if you use them before going to bed. This may eventually lead to insomnia and other crucial health problems.
Social networks: a boon or bane
Social networks have revolutionized the way we communicate and interact with each other. It has opened up a world of new opportunities to connect, share ideas, build relationships and learn more about people in an incredibly easy and convenient way. However, there are two sides to this coin – is social networks really a boon or a bane?
On one hand, they have helped create a more connected world. It has opened up the platform for people to express themselves in ways that were never thought possible before. These platforms are used for networking and connecting with people from different parts of the world, collaborating on projects, finding jobs, staying up-to-date with current events, and much more.
On the other hand, there are serious concerns about social network usage, as it has been linked to issues such as cyberbullying, addiction, mental health problems and decreased productivity. Some have raised alarm at the potential dangers of oversharing personal information online or the misuse of private data by corporations.
Ultimately, whether social media is a boon or bane really depends on how it is used. It all comes down to the choices that people make and their ability to use this tool wisely.
Therefore, it is important to be mindful about our time spent online and how we use social media. With the right attitude and precautions in place, social networks can be a powerful tool for self-expression, collaboration and personal growth.
Read also: Facebook, no more personal information on the profile, here is why
