Social media have changed the way we communicate, do business and much more. But are they really so useful or could some kind of risk be hidden behind them? That depends on who you talk to and how you use them. There are pros and cons to everything in life and that includes our social media habits.
One of the most obvious pros of using social networks is the fact that the provide instant and easy communication and the ability to reach and communicate with people from all over the world. You can keep in touch with your old friends and relatives who live halfway around the world or meet brand new people. Also, if you want to know what is going on in the world and be always informed, all you need to do is jump on social media. Furthermore, they offer great opportunities to business owners and other types of organisations who can connect with current customers, sell their products and expand their reach using social media. You have to admit that social networking is just plain fun sometimes. A lot of people turn to it when they have free time and want to relax. It is often quite satisfying to see comments and likes show up on our own posts or just listen to music and watch videos. It’s no secret that there is also a dark side to social networking. If social media is your primary source for news and other information, there is great danger to become a victim of harmful misinformation and fake news. Also, with so many people now on social media things sure can get pretty noisy. It is common to become overwhelmed by too many Facebook friends to keep up with or too many Instagram photos to browse. Over time, you tend to rack up too much content you may not be that interested in. Furthermore, so much is shared online these days that issues over privacy are becoming an increasingly big concern. For people trying to fit in with their peers, especially teens, the pressure to do certain things or act a certain way can be even worse on social media. In some cases, the overwhelming pressure to fit in with everyone posting on social media or becoming the target of a cyberbullying attack can lead to serious stress, anxiety and even depression. Since people are now connected all the time, it is a lot easier to use online interaction as a substitute for face-to-face interaction. Some people argue that social media actually promote antisocial human behavior and lead to social isolation. Lastly, since social networking is all done on some sort of computer or mobile device, it can sometimes promote a sedentary lifestyle and can negatively affect your ability to get a proper night’s sleep due to the artificial light emitted from a computer or a phone screen.
