The Negative Effects Of Social Media

Parents all over America worry about what their children are doing on social media every day they are on it. No one knows what is truth or what is false. Someone could be using a different identity to try to scam people on social media. In this generation, everyone is all about their snap chat streaks, how many likes they get on twitter, how many people have seen their stories on snap chat, and how many re tweets they can get on twitter. I believe that social media is harmful to the psychological well- being of young people in America.

A question the online world is wondering still looms over society like a stormcloud. There is an unsuspected lightning bolt coming down on us that is the consequences of our Internet. What teens and kids are not thinking is that the Internet seems to be hurting us from the inside out, hurting our health, our schooling, and our connections with friends and family. Who are the role models of the Internet, if there are any?

However, does that mean that social media has a negative effect, restricting children from forming strong bonds and relationships? Yes and no. Going deeper into the discussion, I was reminded of a video that I had come across from a TV show called ‘Adam Ruins Everything,’ a series based around debunking common misconceptions. In this video in particular, the host interviews Anne Curzan, a Professor of English at the University of Michigan, discussing how language has changed in culture because of the addition of texting. She explains that it is not that the grammar of texters is improper, it is only that it is different and everchanging. Nowadays, it is common knowledge that if someone ends their text in a period, then it means that they are angry. Curzan also explains that while parents and adults might believe that their children do not put grammar into consideration, text messages actually are thought over quite intentionally because text has almost become its own language; a “text language.” (BATORACLE) With that, Turkle also describes the use of images and memes with funny texts in group messages, saying that people should never let it replace empathetic face-to-face conversation. However, one must look at texting, instant messaging, and memes and pictures as just a different language from spoken English, bringing up emotions and phrases that can not be defined in typical spoken conversation. In fact, the use of slang, now used especially on social media, has always

As of the 3rd season of 2017, Facebook has 2.07 billion users, an astounding accomplishment for Mark Zuckerberg. But what were his intentions when he was creating the globally-known website? Of course, his goal was allowing people to keep in touch with friends and family, as well as meeting new people over the World Wide Web. But did social media addiction or cyber bullying ever cross his mind as factors that could give people a negative impact on his site? Maybe so, but there are also educational purposes that can help students do better in school on social media sites. Does that mean that these impacts cancel each other out? In this essay, I am going to justify both sides of the fence when it comes down to the use of social media and the impact on its users.

Once upon a time, folks were able to create small talk with one another with ease, even if they were complete strangers to each other. Eye contact and showing that you were engaged in what someone was speaking to you about was not an issue. Fast forward to when electronics such as Personal Computers, Smartphones, and Tablets started to distract society by becoming prominent products of daily usage and with the birth of social media (which is accessible through these devices), they are now taking over for the worst. Those once normal abilities to mingle and get to know one another with comfort is now on the backburner, and it has been there for a while now. In light of technology and social media’s effect on people’s social skills, the argument can be made that with its growing prevalence and usage, it indeed having a negative effect on us. The negative effect being our basic social skills rotting away and the issues of social media literacy and the distinct difference between this generation and our parent’s generation also surfaces.

Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram are just a few examples of social media that our society revolves around. From hate posts to videos of dogs eating ice cream you can find pretty much anything you want with a touch of a button. Everyone has their different opinions and it is much easier to share those through that little thing you cling onto as if it somehow protects you. We have adapted to being able to type whatever we want and post it for everyone to see instead of confronting the problem face to face. Social media provides a mostly negative effect on not only our generations but past and future generations as well. There could be the best thing for America today and you will find someone who disagrees and changes that into a bad thing that should have never been introduced, self esteem is determined by how many likes you got on your last post and lastly, these poor kids can’t have their own thought process they have to go along with the “status quote.”

We all recognize this saying that knowledge is power, but few comprehend the empowering role social media has played. Being on social media, everyone is fed by an unrestricted flow of the information to add to their knowledge bank. Currently, it is undeniable that social media plays the significant role in impacting our culture, politic, economy and the overall view of the world. This is a new view forum that brings individuals from different diversity to exchange ideas, relates to, connect with, and mobilize for a cause, offer guidance, and seek advice. Social media has removed the communication barriers and created decentralized communication means and open the door for all people to have a voice and participate in any topic brought on any social network. The network does not limit anyone. Thus, It fosters collaboration and creativity with the wide range of commentators on the number of issues i.e. the education, economy, race, health, politics, and relationships.

Individuals all have a choice whether or not to do social media, but the real situation is how they do and what they do on it that gives negative effects in today's world. People are all entitled to their own opinion and deciding whether or not social media affects today's society is all based on the background of it that represents social media in such a way. The first social media site was created in 1997 called Six Degrees. It allowed users to create a profile and become friends with other users on it as well. As social media keeps getting bigger and bigger over the years, the effect it has on their mental and emotional health will keep getting bigger and bigger. So how far will one go into this so-called social media popularity? Social Media creates a negative effect on today’s world by creating problems such as bullying, privacy matters, and poor representation of the media.

Vulnerability. If there is one trait that all young people have in common, it is just that: vulnerability. They feel pressure, and judgment, from their peers and adults alike. It is a constant weight of self-doubt and self-criticism propped upon their shoulders. While this vulnerability has been prevalent in each generation of young people, it has been exponentially heightened in this day’s generation. Social media is having an incredibly harmful impact on young people. Social media has created a climate of criticism and torment and, consequently, young people are suffering. While there are many negative effects of social media, its most disturbing effects are threefold: it promotes impractical expectations, allows a platform for torment and harassment, and stunts the progression of adequate social skills among youths. Social media is absolutely detrimental to the mental well-being of young people.

Social media has led us to have fewer interactions with people in real life. Many people would rather use social media to communicate with their friends than they would in person, mostly because it makes the communication process easier. More people have become antisocial by spending too much time on social media, and studies show that people have less interest in interacting with other people in their age group and other age groups. Social media is not only decreasing the quality of interactions, but it is also drastically changed the amount of relationships that people have in person as well. Most people have a lack of interest in talking to one another while in person, and it’s been proven that 93% of communication is nonverbal. Cornell University did a study that found that people have a hard time distinguishing between meaningful relationships that they build in the real world and the numerous casual relationships built through social networking sites. Also, allowing social media to prevent you from experiencing genuine human experiences such as spending time with your family or spending time outdoors can be very unhealthy.

People don't often realize what life really is without mass media. As I take a look and analyze how American lives would change without media, I begin to realize that it is nearly impossible to think of anything that isn't affected by media. As I think about big cities, I instantly think of LED billboards of Las Vegas or the light up signs in New York. Everyone in this world is constantly influenced in this world by books, TV shows, social media sites and news. Personally, I know multiple people that wouldn't know how to go about their day if there wasn't social media available. The change that would occur would be dramatic if there wasn't a subject telling Americans how to live, act, and think. Although there are positive aspects to the media outbreak, the negative impact on Americans and various other groups of people throughout the world, outweigh the positive.

Imagine a super villain that preys on the majority of the individuals in our society today; altering the function of brains, aiding bullies and kidnappers, as well as many other things. In addition, these individuals bring it upon themselves to engage with the super villain. And who is this fiend I speak of you ask? The culprit’s identity is Social Media. Social media commenced in 1997 with a website called “Six Degrees”. Since 1997, there have been dozens of social media sites created such as MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, and Snapchat. As of today, there are over 2.206 billion active users on social networking sites. Social media has some positive abilities, such as allowing people from all over the world to

Does social media provide benefits or is it damaging? This is a dilemma faced by both parents and teens today with numerous social media platforms evolving and growing. While issues with social media can arise, such as excessive usage, an effort to balance work and entertainment must be carefully achieved in order to live a fulfilling life. Undeniably, the benefits of social media, like easy sharing and starting conversations with others, outweigh the detriments. Although social media can become addicting and hurtful, in general, it benefits society by providing unlimited amounts of information, creating an equal platform for all, and allowing people to connect easily.

Is too much anxiety and depression being created on the youth? What about the negative ways they view themselves? Can we relate this to the way social media is the reasoning's for the world’s problems and concerns? Social media can be classified as propaganda that is rapidly progressing. It is starting to impact so many lives that is affecting those negatively. From the way technology was brought to the world about 180 years ago, its’ use is becoming adapted through generations. Many are losing out on explorations learned as young children, due to being stuck on technology. Even though there are educational advantages for youth through technological developments, it more so promotes corruption.

The first thoughts that come to mind for many people regarding social media are quite unfavorable. Profiles on Facebook, tweets on Twitter, and photos on Instagram all tend to have a negative connotation because they are typically associated with isolation, narcissism, and mental illnesses. The impacts of social media are greatly determined by how a person uses it. While one person may lose themselves in the online world that social media creates, another may greatly benefit through meeting new people and learning about new topics, such as other cultures, political views, etc., that can be introduced into their real lives outside of their online lives. Despite the fact that social media is often seen as a more disadvantageous contribution to society, it allows for a greater connection to the social and intellectual worlds. Social media, while it can sometimes lead to a sense of loneliness and isolation when used improperly, provides important connections to online communities and lays the foundation for intellectual questioning and diversity.