THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

 

THE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

 

Social media in this recent times has become part of life, which a lot of people out there cannot do

without. Some are gaining from it, some are loosing because they spend their working hours and others are also being scammed on it.

Social media are computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual communities and networks. Some of the most popular social media websites are Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Snapchat, WhatsApp, and Instagram just to mention few of them.

By now, we are all aware that social media has had a tremendous impact on our culture, in business, on the world-at-large.  Social media websites are some of the most popular haunts on the Internet. They have modernized the way people communicate and socialize on the Web.

However, aside from seeing your friends’ new baby on Facebook, or reading about Justin Bieber’s latest brush with the law on Twitter, what are some of the real impacts, both positive and negative, that social media has had on our society?

As there is a saying that the coin has two sides, likewise the effects of social media, there are positive sides and negative sides

Here is a closer look at the positive effects of social media on politics, business, socialization and education.

Impact on Politics: Every politician worth his salt needs to jump on the social media bandwagon. This is because social websites have played an important role in many elections around the world, including in the U.S., Iran, and India. They have also served to rally people for a cause, and have inspired mass movements and political unrests in many countries.

Impact on Business: Net savvy companies are using social media to advertise their products, build customer loyalty and many other functions. Interactions and feedback from customers help businesses to understand the market, and fine-tune their products and strategies. Many firms organize contests and give away prizes to enthuse consumers to visit their social website page more often. Compared to television advertisements and other expensive forms of marketing, social media presence is a cheap and effective means to enhance brand image and popularity.

Effect on Socialization: Social networks offer the opportunity for people to re-connect with their old friends and acquaintances, make new friends, trade ideas, share content and pictures, and many other activities. Users can stay abreast of the latest global and local developments, and participate in campaigns and activities of their choice. Professionals use social media sites like LinkedIn to enhance their career and business prospects. Students can collaborate with their peers to improve their academic proficiency and communication skills. You can learn about different cultures and societies

by connecting with people in other countries.

 Effect on education: The ease and speed with which users can upload pictures, videos or stories has resulted in a greater amount of sharing of creative works. Being able to get instant feedback from friends and family on their creative outlets helps students refine and develop their artistic abilities and can provide much needed confidence or help them decide what career path they may want to pursue

Unfortunately, there are a few downsides too to social networking. Many introverts and socially isolated users place too much emphasis on virtual interaction, and ignore the real world outside. Read on to learn about a few more negative effects of social media

Cyber Bullying and Online Harassment: If you are not careful, unscrupulous people can target you for cyber bullying and harassment on social sites. School children, young girls, and women can fall prey to online attacks which can create tension and distress. If you are a victim of cyber bullying, do not take it lying down, but try to take appropriate legal action against the attacker

Impact on Privacy: If you are not careful, what you post on the Net can come back to haunt you. Revealing personal information on social sites can make users vulnerable to crimes like identity theft, stalking, etc. Many companies perform a background check on the Internet before hiring an employee. If a prospective employee has posted something embarrassing on social media, it can drastically affect their chances of getting the job. The same holds true for our relationships too, as our loved ones and friends may get to know if we post something undesirable on social networks.

Tim Cook(Apple boss) says wouldn't want his nephew using social networks, and believes that "boundaries" are important when using technology.

The Apple boss's statement is sure to add to growing concern about the negative effects of the exposure to social networks and some other technology damaging the health of the children who use them, often from a very early age.

 To conclude, Social media has its advantages and drawbacks as revealed in this article. It is up to each user to use social sites wisely to improve their professional and social life, and exercise caution to ensure they do not fall victim to online dangers.

 

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