Social media arrived in our world unannounced, wiped their feet, had a quick look around, an then just took over. Should we be thankful? The subject of social media is a contentious one. Advocates are typically people for whom social media are already an integral part of their lives. Yet many others, mainly older people, denounce social media as a negative influence, dehumanizing us and dividing rather than uniting society.
Social media crept into our culture pretty unobtrusively and then just exploded, becoming an almighty force that now permeates everything around us, a barometer of everything we do, that just about everyone in any developed or developing country will be involved in at least once every day.
There is no denying that social media have changed life as we know it. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other platforms, have taken over and started to dictate to us how we interact. While many pronounce this as either good or evil, the truth is that we don't really know yet whether it's a malevolent or benevolent force.
We haven't really figured out yet the best ways to use social media, we don't know how to fully recognize the boundaries of what we can and cannot do or say, and we definitely don't know the long-term effects they'll have on society. But I'd like to pick up the mantel and give you my view on the virtues of social media.
They once said that airplane made the world smaller, since traveling vast distances became relatively simple (albeit expensive) exercise. Now social media have made the world so small it can fit in the palm if your hand.
Firstly, communication in general became so much faster. We can now engage in meaningful (or meaningless) conversation in real time and at any time, often in a new social media slang which is superbly efficient, all the while cross-posting to multiple platforms. There's no more need for pleasantries before starting a conversation. You just jump in and say what you want, using minimal words, then sit back and wait for the reply.
Social media also allow for more communication. Scrolling allows us to be more informed and up-to-date with current events, while putting us in a position to comment and exchange views quickly and simply. So people communicate more just because they have more opportunities to do so.
Also, it used to be that you communicated regularly with just your inner circle of friends, family, and work colleagues. But now you an interact in real time, 24/7, with anybody on the planet. You can connect with anybody for whatever reason, and it is simple that even grandparents have jumped on board.
This has had many positive effects. First, it has helped to create community spirit. Lots of irregular communities - bound by social, religious or political belief, retail choices, entertainment preferences and any other predilection or penchant - have sprung up, and people, especially those with minority tastes, have found like-minded individuals to connect with. It has helped people to find others with similar interests, and allowed otherwise excluded or ignored individuals to form their own tribe or community.
And that sense of community and increased communication has spread and had so many offspring. An elevated sense of empathy and understanding has emerged. People can talk about their problems and thoughts, and get to share and try to understand those thoughts. When people share their experiences,it inspires and encourages the fostering of empathy and acceptance through knowledge and information. We see, we understand, and therefore we accept and sympathize or empathize more.
The next step is then to spread that kindness to the rest of the world. We now have the power to increase social awareness about any number of topics - illnesses, causes, movements, campaigns, war, famines, disasters, and political or religious viewpoints- at the click of a mouse or tap on a screen.
In this way, many long-held stigmas and divisive, humiliating or embarrassing conditions, tendencies, proclivities, or orientations, have been exposed, highlighted and discussed, leading to more understanding and acceptance by outsiders. Mental health struggles, depression, obesity, LGBTQ issues, and other such issues, are now being openly discussed and rationalized.
Social media have democratized knowledge and information, in much the same way as computers democratized the making of music, which was once restricted to those who could actually play an instrument or sing. Everybody has access to any type of information via the internet, and social media allow for communication between the interested party and the expert. Health knowledge especially has exploded, and many doctors now use social media to spread awareness and dispel misinformation.
Social have also increased access to support for whatever condition or problem you may have. In old days, you had to rely on support which was nearby geographically - you would physically walk in and ask for help. Now with dedicated apps and social media profiles of any type of doctor, physician, expert or consultant at your fingertips, it is much easier to find the help you need.
At a more interpersonal level, social media have helped friendships to develop and endure. It can even be argued that social media can help to strengthen relationships.
Social media can also help job seekers to highlight their skills and résumés by creating a positive digital footprint, as well as using these platforms to showcase their technological savvy and creativity.
There are definitely many negative aspect to social media and their effects on users, but there are also a whole bunch of positives. It's worth remembering this the next time you moan about your child spending all their time on Facebook, Twitter or even here on Read.Cash.
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Thank you!
Nice written, keep it up.❤❤❤