Social Network Sites Are More Harmful Than Helpful

           

            Whether it’s the overuse of Snapchat filters, the need to post another selfie on Instagram, or the obsession with changing your status on Facebook, it is clear that manipulation occurs when people and social media unite. We have been trained to constantly check our social media accounts as some people spend countless hours scrolling through their feed without even realizing it. And this is just the beginning.

            Social networking is the creation and sharing of ideas through online communities. These online communities can provide a platform to spread unauthorized information. The spread of this information commonly transpires with teens. For example, a teen may post something that another teen does not want other people to see. Of course, people will give the excuse that they “didn’t know” that the other person would feel that way about the post. By doing this, drama and conflict are added to something that was supposed to bring joy and new ideas. When it’s all said and done, someone gets hurt - emotionally.

            In addition to the concept of drama on social media, messages via social web can be easily misunderstood. A general positive message from a user may be interpreted as negative, which creates even more conflict. The person may not intend to cause any harm; however, that is one of the risks one takes when using social network sites.

            Another downside of social media is bullying - also called cyberbullying. This is perhaps one of the most common things people think of when they hear “social media.” Cyberbullying is when someone intentionally attacks a person through social media. For instance, in the movie, Cyberbully, a girl was bullied by her classmates by commenting inappropriate messages on her social media account and even creating a fake profile online which the girl interacts with. The purpose of this movie was to inform viewers that social network sites can lead to a decline in the mental health of some users.

            Social network sites also influence people to be unsocial in a public environment. Online communities allow people to communicate digitally; however, more people are unable to hold an actual conversation in person. This is occurs when people believe that they can hide while communicating with others behind a screen, rather than face to face. In addition, when people use social media; they tend to forget how to read social cues. In social media, there are no social cues, such as facial expressions.

            Although there are many reasons why social media is harmful, there are some ways that it can be helpful. For example, many people can discover new information, such as news or important events through social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. These platforms allow people to receive a quick insight of what is currently occurring in the world. However, the downside is that not everything that is on social media can be trusted. For instance, people can post information that can’t be proven or was a rumor.

Social media sites were designed to share information with millions of people. However, social network sites bring drama due to miscommunication, cyberbullying, and the lack of the ability to be social. Social network sites should be entertaining and safe; however, this can never happen as we do not live in a perfect world where problems don’t exist.