Unsocial Media: Is social media really connecting us? By Michael Haigh

Unsocial Media: Is social media really connecting us?
By Michael Haigh

With the estimated 2.34 billion active social media users in the world, you can’t deny the great influence social media has had on the world. its benefits are many, but the impacts of joining a social platform aren't always clear skies and sunny days. what was once great and revolutionary in bringing people closer together is now becoming an equally powerful force in the way of disrupting day to day life and the lives of many others.

The social media platforms with the highest number of users are Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. According to the Pew Research Center, 71% of young adults use Instagram, 68% use Facebook, and 45% use Twitter

Many people say these social media platforms are supposed to connect us. However, it appears that there is an awful amount of disconnect that is related to it.

So how can you become so disconnected, despite being constantly connected? 
Well it appears that Gen Z groups are by a long-shot the most active users of social media and are the most at risk of developing a dependency on technology. Social media is the most used tool for connecting with others, especially with this generation. This is because there is need to feel ‘connected’ to others, however it is just a false sense of connection. This can lead to an increase in stress levels and the prominence of anxiety. Furthermore, this isn’t helped when others come along with the sole purpose of causing this disconnect in another’s life.

There has always been an anti-social segment of people in society, one that thrives off the disregard and negative impact towards others emotions and well-being. Unfortunately, people like this exist, they always have, and they always will.
          
This being said, these online platforms seem to be a greater breeding-ground for these people and have opened up to a whole new era of abuse and bullying. You can say one thing, and do another. You can make an attack, and easily retreat. This is most commonly known as cyber bullying.
Below is an example of someone who is oblivious to cyber bullying and most likely promotes and contributes to it

You can see from posts like this that unfortunately there is still a large percent of people the are either unaware of cyber bullying or simply don’t care about it.
There are many serious and negative effects that are closely related to the damaging interactions between the offender and the victim. These include development of poor mental health, severe anxiety disorders, depression and even suicidal thoughts. Though it is a great contributor to these detrimental impacts, cyber bullying alone is not to blame. There is an even more sinister shade to social media that, more often than not, unintentionally impacts its users

It is the false reality related to the superstar lives of social media celebrities. As previously stated, social media platforms are meant to be a way of connecting people. Now more than ever they have become hotspots for average people and celebrities alike to boast about their lifestyles and things they own.
Although the people posting these things may think nothing much of it, the viewers on the other hand do. Unfortunately, the groups most at risk are the younger generation. It gives a false sense of reality to these people, making them think and feel that they have to be a certain way in order for their lives to become “perfect”. This is completely untrue. Most accounts run by celebrities are only displaying the best parts of their lives. Celebrities, like us have their ups and downs.

Now with what we know about social media, how do we apply this information?
When it comes to using social media, it is best to take everything with a pinch of salt. Don’t trust everything you see. Also, instead of relying on just social media to interact with others, get out once and a while. Go spend some time at the big screen with friends rather than the one next to your bed by yourself.



Sources:
http://www.center4research.org/social-media-affects-mental-health/

https://www.wired.com/story/when-instagram-influencing-isnt-so-glamorous/

https://wemakestuffhappen.com/the-dark-side-of-social-media/

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/bev-james/the-dark-side-of-social-m_b_12797936.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIDScVNnlIGx2xlp0zo4uDcra-lB-j1XK025POfN4llN03F_GEdBk_2cH4DXOvb2wFju2D-9X7E_Kx9MrXQMFgtG3iXURF9JQsttvhX8KxpXEAE22owLV7xIpRSS_HQH2jaBE-2TqXYVKoffualrs4Cw_jMGnsfM51TY4Yd3sbwq

Comments

Post a Comment

Keep it clean and kind Kala Kids!

Popular posts from this blog

social media vs reality

Image
  social media vs reality  Have you ever wondered if what you see on social media is what people are actually doing? me too. The first thing you would do when you wake up in the morning is check your social media, yes? Well did you know that what you may be seeing might not be what people are really doing. One of the biggest current issues with social media is how people portray their life on social media and the possibility that people’s perceptions are warped. 2.1 billion people have social media, that’s a lot! people will often take multiple pictures just to put them through multiple different editing apps only to add a filter but life doesn’t have a filter But the real question is how many people are lying or being deceiving about what they are really doing? Or how it really looks? According to https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com Over 75% lie on social media, so here’s another question what could they possibly b...
Read more
Image
If you mindlessly scroll through Instagram or Facebook whenever you have free time, you’re not alone. But have you ever wondered how all those images of other people’s bodies could be affecting how you view your own? Social media is an important part of the lives of young people around the world. In Australia, approximately 72% of people actively use social media. In addition, young female users browse social media for around 2 hours every day. The most popular social media sites for young people are Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Youtube which are mostly image-related. There has been talk for years about mainstream media affecting the body image of millions around the world but now with the new access of social media reaching a wider audience it has become a more serious issue. There are benefits of social media such as increasing voter participation and facilitating political change, reducing social isolation, quick distribution of public health and safet...
Read more

The power of social media and awareness

Social media vs awareness Mackenzie Walker On June 30, 2014 the world of social media was introduced to a new challenge. The challenge was to pour a bucket of ice water over your head and to challenge a friend to do the same with in 24 hours. The challenge was known as the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge The purpose of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was to raise money and awareness for people living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The challenge was aimed towards anyone willing to participate and donate Andy amount of money to the cause. More than 17 million people from all around the world participated in the challenge in support of the ALS association by uploading a video of themselves pouring ice cold water over their heads and out of that 17 million, 2.5 million people donated a total of $115 million to the association in order to continue researching the condition. What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis? More commonly known as ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive n...
Read more