EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media is the dread of the modern day parent, and with good reason. From tweeter, to Face book, to Whatsapp, to Messenger, to Instagram, to mention but a few, social media platforms have grown to affect us all, regardless of one’s age, from old to young, even toddlers today are affected by social media usage. Various studies conducted have come to now show the negative effects of their continual use.
It has been said that information is power. With the development of social networks, we are able to harness this power and put it into use. This is clearly demonstrated by the emergence of more sites, available at the click of a button, that support great causes, many of which revolve around human rights protection. Acts of generosity caught on tape, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2fGxefFBh4, have helped a migrant from Mali gain French citizenship, all from one video portraying his brave act in saving a child hanging from a balcony.
On education matters, a 2013 survey by Pearson Learning Solutions reported a significant increase in the use of social media in learning. Over half the educators who were interviewed agreed that social sharing encourages interaction, providing an environment that fosters learning.
On the flip side, social media has gone to play a major negative role on one’s mental health. Many of these issues include increased levels of depression and anxiety, cyber bullying FOMO (Fear of missing out), poor sleeping schedules, dissatisfied body image, to mention but a few, social media has resulted in increased cases of individuals with low self-esteem often viewing themselves as being inadequate. In the recent past, leaked private videos that have found their way on the internet, have led to victimization of individuals involved and in some extreme cases have led to suicide attempts, some of them successful.
In conclusion, the use of social media has brought about both positive and negative effects, with the benefits outweighing the cons of its use. In my opinion, the positive outweighs the negative a million to one.