Since the Internet has exploded, social networking has evolved at breakneck speed. The growing use of mobile devices to access the Internet is changing how we interact with one another.
According to a report by Pew Research Center, 72% of American adults used social networking sites in 2014, up from 67% in 20131. In the past decade, social media has become an important communication tool for people around the world. It helps us connect with friends, family and colleagues easily.
However, some people argue that we have become too reliant on social media and it is causing more harm than good. One of the main problems with excessive social media use is addiction. Just like any other addiction, such as gambling or drugs, social media addiction can be extremely harmful. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago found that one in eight Americans suffer from social media addiction2. This addiction can lead to serious problems such as anxiety, depression and even insomnia.
Another problem with social media is that it can lead to cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is when someone uses the internet to deliberately bully or harass another person. Unfortunately, this type of bullying is becoming more and more common, especially among young people. In fact, a study conducted by the Cyberbullying Research Center found that 35% of students have experienced cyberbullying at some point in their lives3. Cyberbullying can have serious consequences such as anxiety, depression and even suicide.
Typically, individuals utilize cell phones, iPhone or other smartphones to access social networking. Because it’s what allows people to interact online via social media, communicate with one another and exchange information. It allows us to connect with friends, family, and acquaintances from all over the world. The service they may get as a result of utilizing it is incredible; the majority of people have their own account for participating in it.
The question is: should we use social networking?
The answer to this question is both yes and no. Social networking can have some advantages such as staying connected with friends and family, but there are also some disadvantages like addiction and cyber-bullying. Let’s look at the pros and cons of social networking in more detail.
The first advantage of using social networking is that it allows us to stay connected with our friends and family who live far away. This is possible because social networking provides us with a platform where we can share our thoughts, feelings, and experiences with others.
In addition, it also allows us to see what’s going on in their lives. For example, if my cousin is getting married in another country, I can still be a part of her wedding by seeing the pictures and videos she posts on her social media account.
The second advantage of social networking is that it can be used as a learning tool. There are many educational groups and pages on social media where we can learn new things. For example, there are groups for people who want to learn a new language or improve their skills in a certain subject. In addition, there are also many experts who share their knowledge on social media. We can learn from them by reading their posts or watching their videos.
The third advantage of social networking is that it can help us promote our businesses or products. If we have something to sell, we can create a page or group for it on social media. We can also use social media to advertise our businesses. For example, if we own a restaurant, we can post pictures of our food on social media to attract customers.
People being lonely does not imply that they are unhappy; it implies that we want more contact. On the contrary, social media leads to more interaction and long-distance relationships, but it also has a number of undesirable qualities that put us in control. Many people are hooked to social media and become more secluded as a result of using it. Although there are several advantages to using social media, youngsters may misuse it if we aren’t sensitive about it since they can simply go online.
Also, it might have a negative effect on our mental health. Addiction to social media is a real thing and it is becoming more popular each day, especially among teenagers and young adults.
Social media addiction is defined as “an impulse control disorder that does not involve use of an intoxicating drug and instead involves overwhelming or compulsive engagement in one or more activities related to social media”.
There are many symptoms that come with this addiction such as: feeling anxious or lonely when you are not on social media, using social media as a way to escape from your problems, neglecting important tasks in order to spend more time on social media, losing sleep because you are spending too much time on social media, and feeling irritated when you cannot access social media
The excessive use of social media has many consequences that can be negative such as: cyberbullying, internet addiction, loss of productivity, and depression.
Cyberbullying is “the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature” Many people have been victims of cyberbullying and it can have long-term effects such as: low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. In some cases, it has even led to suicide.
Internet addiction is “a problematic computer use that interferes with daily life” It is also known as “internet overuse, problematic computer use, or pathological computer use”. People who suffer from this addiction may display some or all of the following symptoms: feeling restless, angry, or irritable when trying to cut down on internet use, using the internet as a way to escape from problems or to relieve boredom, spending more time online than originally intended, and lying to family and friends about how much time is spent online
Loss of productivity is another consequence of social media addiction. A study done by Statistic Brain showed that “the average American worker spends 2.8 hours per day on non-work related activities” and “28% of those surveyed said they visit social networking sites every day while at work”. This addiction can lead to a decrease in productivity because people are spending too much time on social media instead of working.
Depression is “a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life” Social media can cause depression because people compare their lives to the lives of others that they see on social media. This can lead to feelings of envy, inadequacy, and low self-esteem.
In conclusion, social media has many negative consequences such as cyberbullying, internet addiction, loss of productivity, and depression. It is important to be aware of these consequences so that we can avoid them.
