How social media effects our Life
It’s a day we all have seen and heard about in our lifetime. From Facebook to Instagram, it has become part of our daily life. As people, we are so much dependent on this platform for almost everything. A simple click on any of your friends’ names will show you something or a post by your favorite celebrity on their page. We take these things for granted now. But what is this social media actually doing to us? Is it good for society? Or bad? Will it change how we live? And if so, should we just let go of the technology and stop using it as a tool? Let me explain in detail.
What makes social media so powerful?
Social media has changed the way we live. The platforms that we use right now are helping us more than we can imagine. Instead of creating new accounts or joining groups, we can search for whatever we want to find on almost every website on the planet right now. We have a huge selection with endless content, and even though it may scare you, it actually means a lot. For example, we could see your birthday post, you can comment on your posts (even though it’s not always positive), see where your pictures are taken, and so on. In short, every platform exists to help us better our lives and make it more convenient. Social media helps us do tasks easier. It doesn’t matter if anyone knows what you like on Instagram or LinkedIn, you can easily find what you want. Of course, there’s no guarantee that what you do online will show up in front of everyone else, but it definitely can give you extra confidence, improve your brand image and create new connections in real life. All the information you would need for your job or personal life can be found here just by searching for it. You’ll have access to everything at your fingertips, and you won’t have to worry about finding out what the most important news is in a city that you don’t know anymore. Most importantly, even when you’re sitting down to watch TV, you can get into it right away. That’s really awesome. Isn’t it fantastic? Now you see why I’m excited about social media, right? This technology helps us to find easier ways to communicate. We can get our information from anywhere and anytime, just look at the screen with an internet connection. To say they affect our work and school is an understatement. In fact, we are making them worse. Here’s what some experts say:
It’s taking away personal time. Many students are spending 5 to 10 hours every week in digital isolation, which isn’t even productive. When we spend too much time on phones, we end up leaving half a day to interact with family or friends. People who aren’t really getting in touch with each other are the ones taking the biggest hit.
The internet has allowed us to connect with people all over the world, but we forget that even before we started communicating through the internet, we did so on a different scale. Before, people had to talk face to face. They didn’t use email, instant messaging or texting apps. Back then, only 20% of communication was done on the phone. Now, the remaining 80% of communication takes place via text. With social media, people stay connected in real time. If someone you follow-on Instagram is busy, you know something important is happening in his life already. Maybe he’s thinking about starting a business. The next thing you know, you’re still looking at him on social media.
Social media is changing our mindsets. Just a few years ago, social media wasn’t worth it. Why use Facebook when you’re in class? Who had ever thought of putting your photos in the middle of a Zoom call? Social media is slowly turning people into lazier beings. It is also changing our mindset on what it means to be ‘present’. Whether online or off, someone can see if you’re going somewhere. So instead of checking your notifications, you get bored and scroll and check others’ statuses. Don’t be like everybody else; take a break. Being present is important in today’s world.
How does social media affect our relationships?
The relationship between parents and children is built by two separate realities, one from their childhood and the other nowadays. There’s nothing better than a mother and daughter hugging and discussing their dreams for the future. One of the best moments of my childhood was when mom pulled me up on her laptop to tell me about how she had met a girl by the name of Hannah. She told me she liked me, and that Hannah was a great person. My mom was telling herself that she had become lucky because she had met somebody. A young adult had made her dream come true. Unfortunately, that feeling became more common than it used to be in 2020. Even though social media can never replace traditional communication methods, it might be an option until somebody finds its limits. We see many couples on social media having arguments with each other, while their children can look at them on their cellphones. Those couples think they can control what their kids see and hear, but they can’t control who sees what or who hears what, especially when they’re sharing intimate details or sending messages about their feelings.
Children always share their secrets and ideas in the comments section on their friends’ posts. Sometimes kids even go ahead and hide private messages when they’re watching movies or surfing the web. Their emotions can be very vulnerable. Kids just want you to be happy and proud of them, especially on your phone, but sometimes you get to see the opposite side as well. When you post something that’s supposed to encourage you and cheer you up, you’re feeding a hidden message to your child. At least one day, they will eventually see it. Kids also start collecting and sharing private stuff on their accounts. It’s becoming more and more like a habit, and it can ruin relationships and even destroy trust on a deeper level. Kids should have less contact with their peers. Nobody wants to have their picture taken, but they’re being led to believe the worst for somebody else. Parents should understand how to spot kids who are hiding their worries and secrets online. Because our kids spend so much time online talking about their friends, their hobbies, their hopes and dreams, it feels like reality is missing. How much information can we provide to them, and what can we let them know? Children will feel lonely online and feel like nobody cares about them. Some parents who can’t stand being alone have gone full-on digital mothers, or they’ve turned into a little weirdo with children. Either of them is okay. Both parties agree that social media is affecting the mental health of our society. We have lost the ability to turn a negative mind set into a positive one. No longer being able to step back and have a discussion about what’s really happening is hard.
To conclude, some of us might be giving away precious time to our children and themselves on social media. Parents are losing precious time by forcing children to spend a certain amount of time watching television or playing video games or answering questions, and social media is adding unnecessary stress to their schedules. Technology shouldn’t be ruining our days. We need to allow ourselves to relax and enjoy our time around the house by staying away from our gadgets, and remember what it is all about. Make time for yourself, and spend quality time with our loved ones. The rest will happen as it comes. Be good to yourself.
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