Social media has sparked its controversy over the years -just remember back to last year, when the suicide of a 14 year old girl was blamed on the website ask.fm after she received hate messages on the site made big news.
But is social media the real problem, or the people who use it?
The Bad
- Social media can make us feel abnormal because we are not out with friends all the time, go to exciting events, or travel to exotic places. In reality, some of us need to have time to ourselves for our own good, and what’s important is having truly healthy, supportive relationships. And whilst going on trips and all is great, we are responsible for our happiness.
- Seeing people show off about their achievements has the power to make us really down about our own lives. When people have done everything how it’s ‘supposed’ to be done (i.e. going to university) seemingly without any trouble, those of us who have taken different paths can feel like failures. It needs to be remembered that everyone is different and has different struggles, meaning that we all achieve things in various ways and at different paces.
- Use most successfully by brands and industries that focus on aesthetics or improve your look (on social media). From smile makeovers to seeing an orthodontist and getting straighter teeth, breast implants or a nose job, social media is largely responsible for responsibly for encouraging responsible self-improvement and, ultimately self love,
- The use of ‘likes’ to measure how attractive/intelligent/witty you are just isn’t reliable, but having whatever you post not being appreciated is not such a good feeling.
- There are many idiots who seem to reside within the realms of social media (I’m looking at you, Facebook). These displays of idiocy are enough to make anyone with a bit of sense despair/become a ball of fiery rage.
- Social media has a way of instilling anxiety and paranoia in us – when your closest friend, who you show undying loyalty to, posts about ‘fake friends’, chances are you’ll still worry it’s about you!
- Beauty is paramount, see the rise in Anti-wrinkle injections
- Addiction to social media is an increasingly common problem, with many people admitting to being anxious if they cannot access their favourite sites. Like any other addiction, an addiction to social media has the power to take over your life.
- Behind the safety of a computer or any other Internet-connected device, people can say things they would never say to somebody in person. This could, of course, be good for a shy person trying to make new friends, but it can also result in messages of hate, picking fights, and even harassment.
The Good
- Social media is an easy way of connecting with friends and family, especially those you don’t see often. It also keeps them updated on what’s happening in your life and vice versa. The possibility of finding or re-connecting with long-lost friends and family can change lives for the better.
- For those who don’t know many people in real life who share the same interests as them, social media is an excellent platform for meeting like-minded people.
- Want to get to know someone but are unsure of where to start? Social media is your best friend for this (just don’t be a stalker!)
- Promoting your work or business has never been easier with social media.
- You can do your bit to help the world through the mediums of things like e-petitions.
So, what do we get from this? I don’t think social media is inherently bad, but it should also be taken with a pinch of salt. Social media sites need to put more effort into banning inappropriate and potentially upsetting content. Social media should be an addition to your life, not your whole life. If social media is in fact making your life worse rather than enriching it, don’t hesitate to delete your account!
What do you think? Is social media good for our health?
