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What benefits does social media bring to our society?

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Most people believe that social media is all about time-wasting, but if you give it a deeper thought, social media has introduced some certain positive changes in our society. The first and probably the biggest advantage is that it has made communication easier and faster. Now, you can call someone and within a few seconds you are connected to a person who is on the other side of the world.

And this isn't limited to personal communication. Social media has also given business entities, and even governments a platform to reach out to people. If you wish to get the latest news or an event as it happens, then social media is the best place to be. Through it, you get trends, updates, and breaking news from around the world instantly, making people more aware and informed.

Another benefit of social media is that it has given creativity and talent a global audience. If you have any talent at all, be it writing, singing, taking pictures or even cooking, social media gives you a platform to share it with the world. Therefore, many people have been able to secure a job that they could not have been able to do before.

In my view, the biggest advantage of social media is that it has provided the common man with a voice. Earlier, only a handful of individuals could present their opinions in the media. Now, everyone can share their thoughts, ideas, and opinions. Whether it's blogging, vlogging, or raising awareness for a social cause, social media has given everyone an equal opportunity.

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What negative impacts has social media had on our society?

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Now, while social media has so many benefits, it also has some drawbacks that are affecting our society. The first and perhaps the most prominent downside is that social media has increased stress and anxiety levels among people. Constantly comparing your life to others, chasing after "likes" and "followers," and dealing with online harassment—all of these things negatively impact mental health. I think social media has created a some sort of pressure where people feel the need to present their lives as perfect all the time, which is far from realistic.

Another drawback is that social media has fueled misinformation and fake news. It is very easy to put up any content you wish and people will take it as the truth without checking for the authenticity of the information. At times, this is done to an extent that it gets hard to know the truth of the matter in question. This has however been compounded with the introduction of AI. Now there are softwares that employ AI to alter images to such an extent that it becomes almost impossible to tell them from the originals unless one is an expert.

^{AI-generated image taken from Freepik. This person doesn't exist in real life. 😲}

All this is happening on a personal level, but on a larger scale, social media has also polarized society. People remain stuck in their own echo chambers, where they only hear opinions that support their views. This is reducing tolerance and understanding between people in society and promoting the division of people.

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Is social media more beneficial for everyday individuals or for corporate companies?

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It’s clear that social media has benefited both, but if we compare the two, it seems corporate companies are reaping more advantages.

Let me start with ordinary people. Social media has provided people with an opportunity to express themselves, to share ideas or even to express their talents. It is possible to tell the story of one’s life, find people with similar interests and become friends with them, or even master new professions. Today, these platforms are also being used for entrepreneurship, freelancing, and the like, to make a living. Social media has become a way of personal branding.

On the other hand, for corporate companies, social media is like striking gold. Where companies used to advertise their products or services through the TV, radio, and billboards, now everything is done easily through social media platforms. Social media advertising has offered them much cheaper and targeted opportunities than conventional advertising. Now, they can convey their message to the target audience who are interested in their product or service, thanks to social media algorithms and digital marketing.

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Could you share your personal opinion and conclusion on the role of social media?

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In my opinion, social media has made a revolution in the way people interact and disseminate information. We have never been so close to people in other parts of the world as we are now. Each and every news, each and every trend, each and every new thing is just a click away and that is quite fascinating.

If asked whether social media is overall beneficial, I think it’s just a tool—like any tool, it has both positive and negative effects, depending on how it’s used. If we use social media responsibly, it can greatly improve our lives. But if we get so absorbed in it that we lose sight of our real-life priorities and mental peace, then it becomes harmful.

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I trust that you enjoyed reading my article. 😊

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^{I would like to invite @patjewell, @josevas217, @dove11, @paholags, @malikusman1, @irawandedy, @weisser-rabe and @huzaifanaveed1 to join this contest through this link, if they have not already taken part in it.}

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^{Author: @waqarahmadshah | Date: 15-Aug-2024 | Achievement 1}