SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATION AND ITS IMPACTS
The term social media has become a buzz word that everybody familiar with. Even among those who live in remote areas have in one way or the others heard of WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter, and some are even using them on a regular basis. Social media has been around for some years back despite the fact that we cannot live without it nowadays. Some have got used to it to the extent that they use it in their office and continue with it when they get back to their various homes, smooth transactions, communications, learning and research have been so easy with social media.
The history of social media communication which people can really agree on without controversy can be genuinely traced back to Six degree social media website which allowed people to create their login profile and make friend with people. It also allowed people who fail to even register as users to confirm friendships and connected quite a few people this way.
We all used to the saying Information is power but many people cannot recognize the empowering role social media has played in our society. Through social media communication, we are not restricted to the flow of information to add to our knowledge base. We cannot deny the impact social media is playing in our life: culture, economy and our general view of the world at large. Social media brings people of the different background together in other to exchange knowledge, idea, connect with one and others, relate with one and others and mobilize for a cause, seek advice, and offer guidance. Social media has removed the so called ‘communication barriers’ in those days and brought decentralized communication channel which open the door for all irrespective of our background to have a voice and participate in a democratic fashion including people in repressive countries.
Indeed, it has brought about many opportunities and benefits, allowing us to easily connect with friends and family around the world, allowing us to break down many international borders and cultural barriers.
If truly we look at it from the other side, we will be able to see that despite these opportunities and benefits, it has come at a price. Social media has many negative impacts on our lives. Social media is robbing us of our emotional freedom, trust and comfort we once placed in one another, replacing the human fellowship, physical and emotional support we once drew from each other with virtual connection. It robs us from self-control and from the ability to think alone without consultation and instead makes us gullible to join anybody or group that posts perverse messages that tickle our ear and amuse our senses without evaluating its consequences.
Social media is directly turning us into one of the most antisocial generations, nowadays, we prefer online chat to a face-to-face meeting , texting to phone conversations and many have replaced the so called human interaction with social media platforms such as Steemit, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Despite many positive opportunities and benefits of social media towards faster information sharing, is enabling people to create false identities, for instance, through the help of Robot cheetah we were able to know that many posts on Steemit are not original, it causes depression at times: by seeing what your colleagues in other world have achieved, it causes superficial connections, and is the most important tool used by criminals, terrorists bad politicians and bad and selfish governments.
Many times the benefits and advantages of social media are emphasized quite often opposed to its negative impacts in our life which are very rarely discussed.
What are the ways to curb these negative impacts or do you think it cannot be curbed and it should continue this way. Your thoughts are important!
It's certainly a thought provoking article. Coming from an older generation, where we didn't even have internet, I've watched the world change dramatically. People post their entire lives on social media sites, their most intimate details, out there for the world to see. It invites the attention of trolls, paedophiles and critics, as well as the admiration of friends.
Young people judge their self worth, not on their achievements or actions, but on, how many followers they have or the number of likes on a selfie. A quick fix high, with no depth or intrinsic value. We are losing our identity in an age of information technology.
As you say, it's not without value though. We have access to information and knowledge on virtually any subject, all at the touch of a button. Our leaders can't hide corruption behind a mask of secrecy and control of the press. We can reach out and touch the lives of complete strangers and make friends in every corner of the world and share our ideas, innovations and creations to a vast audience.
I don't know what the answer is, but I think it begins with educating our children on how to use social media effectively, without laying their souls bare and maintaing their dignity. Instead of being a loud voice that cries, like a claxon "look at me", how to be a whisper, joining with other voices to change the world.
It is a very pathetic situation, the way people are making use of social media! I concur with you on Total Awareness on how to use it positively.
Social media has reshaped how people communicate, influencing everything from personal relationships to global movements. With tools like the best best smm panel brands and individuals can now schedule posts, target specific audiences, and monitor engagement with ease. This shift has accelerated the spread of information, both accurate and misleading. While it empowers users to connect instantly, it also fuels fast-paced interactions that often lack depth. The impact is clear: communication is now faster, louder, and more performance-driven than ever before.