Introduction
Do you remember the time when children played outdoors? The time when wholesome, real conversations took place. Divine nostalgia comes through our minds. The times have changed. With a swipe, people can order anything, text anyone, play games, and even have a virtual meeting. As we spend more time on gadgets, communication has diminished. Social media is one such platform which has reduced the quality time we spend on ourselves.
Nevertheless, we have adapted ourselves to this new era. Even though the real moments are decreasing, we are creating new memories to live in. Social media is one such factor where communication takes place. Now it has changed into a platform where we try to show our lifestyles, a place to learn, a place to find real-life connections, and much more.
Social media has a lot to offer. The importance lies not in the tool given to us but in how we use it. We can use social media for both positive and negative purposes.
Opportunities
Educational Benefits
Social media applications such as Instagram and Facebook give us many advertisements on careers as well as educational courses, and media influencers also use this platform to introduce us to new activities and opportunities. Educational platforms and companies use social media, such as WhatsApp, as a major source of communication. It is because of the compatibility of such apps. During the COVID pandemic, schools and colleges used WhatsApp to share notes and chapters.
Platforms such as Coursera, Geeks for Geeks, and many more offer a wide variety of courses. By scrolling through your Instagram, you may be able to find these pages where you can learn a lot and register for their website quickly. The 30-second reel on these platforms is a great way to improve our knowledge if we follow the right content. Educational content, financial content, or any other general knowledge content is compressed into these 30-second reels so that people might receive knowledge about these topics. This is a great way for people to gain knowledge and gain access to inadvertent opportunities.
Social Connectivity
A connection is what makes us bound together. Be it friendship, relationship, or brotherhood, all these connections might not be necessarily made in the workplace. Social media allows us to get to know people and keep in touch with them through simple text messages. Your network of connections grows, and you might even experience personal growth. It provides a lot of diversity. The more people we meet, the more we understand life. There are also platforms such as Tinder and Bumble to date people and grow our connections. By making connections, we foster an inclusive environment, which gives us happiness and a sense of peace.
Personal Development
There are introverts, ambiverts, and extroverts. For example, introverts often find themselves secluded in their environment and need a space to express themselves. An introvert who wants to mold himself or herself for the better opportunities out there can use social media as a smaller platform to begin with. They can try to express themselves, they can showcase their talents, and they can create a circle of connections. In the end, it is up to them to decide who they want to be, but the experience they have gained through a smaller step can lead to a whole lifetime of growth ahead.
Social media can be used as a platform that people can use to show their talents. It is a place where rejections find the best selections. Sometimes, rejections are caused not because the talent is not recognized but because the talent is unseen. One such artist who made it big through social media is the recent Cannes 2024 star, Nancy Tiyagi, a fashionista who created her own designs of dresses and also recreated some of the celebrities attire with minimal budget.
Another notable person is Maleesha Kharwa, who became an internet sensation as she pursued her dreams of becoming a model through Hollywood actor Robert Hoffman, who made her dreams come true with the help of social media. Everyone of us has a hidden talent that cannot be uncovered unless it has the time and place to reveal itself. Social media is one such place where talent meets opportunities.
Career Opportunities
Platforms such as LinkedIn and Naukri are flooded with people looking for opportunities. People are trying to make use of the time to upskill themselves through internships and courses. The graduates are using their connections as well as revamping their profile to make it more eligible to get selected. As more people use AI and other tools, it has been rather tough in the job market. Not only through LinkedIn, but people are also using other social media platforms to not seek out opportunities.
A business such as an online startup can flourish better through the path of social media. The journey might be hard to recognize at first, but the more we choose to post our products, the more acknowledgement we get. Besides, marketing is also a talent that can be used in a more attractive way. From small startups to larger businesses, social media has been used as a place where people flourish in their field. From the launches of KFC new-flavor burgers to bubble tea, the internet has shown where to visit and from whom to get these products. Notable businesses, such as Vilva and Mamaearth, have been heavily marketed through social media. Their range of products is now available in every store, which in turn shows the power of social media.
Challenges
Mental Health Issues
Well, we have covered all the pros of social media. Let’s move on to the other side of this world. Addressing anxiety and depression is the most important issue on social media. Nowadays, youths are more depressed because of the inadvertent pressure put on them by themselves as well as by their parents. They always seek validation, which their surroundings and the people around them never provide.
Social media addiction also poses a great question about their procrastinating behavior. Their willingness to perform real tasks has decreased, while their time spent on social media has increased. The time they are using for these platforms has, in turn, made people lazy. The anxiety of seeing other people’s profiles has indeed made them weary and susceptible to questioning their abilities and their focus in life. People must reduce their social media use and maximize their focus on their goals and work.
US adults on taking an extended mental health break from social media 2024
According to a survey conducted in the United States of America in March 2024, 35% of adults reported that they had taken an extended break from social media because it was harming their mental health. Overall, 51% of respondents had never taken an extended break from social networks for mental health reasons.
Cyberbullying
In recent times, people have taken advantage of people who are publicly accessible. From celebrities to the person next door, whoever has social media access to such public profiles, people start criticizing and focusing on their insecurities. Accessing someone’s public life does not entitle a person to make their life miserable. One bad comment can indirectly ruin someone’s life.
According to an article from Manorama News on June 17, 2024, it is alleged that an eighteen-year-old took her own life due to cyberbullying. Cyberbullying has grown to the extent that people have begun to take their own lives. A healthy critic is different from a cruel one. People should use social media as a platform for better chances and opportunities rather than a place filled with hatred.
Privacy and Safety Concerns
People now connect on a public platform where all private information remains sensitive. Sometimes, crime events can occur through the sharing of private information. The user of an account must be aware of the two-step verification process and secure their account. It is advisable to not share any private information with unknown strangers. If people are trying to misuse your images or other private information without your consent, go to the nearest police station and lodge a complaint immediately. Remember to distance yourself from suspicious profiles with fake IDs by not accepting their requests. Use strong passwords on your accessibility to the profile.
Academic Distractions
Children have begun using mobiles since the age of five. They show these gadgets to entertain them while they eat. As they grew older, it became an addiction to use mobile phones to play games and watch videos. In turn, it makes them aggressive if they don’t receive the gadget. It is advisable not to expose children to smartphones at a very young age.
Social media addiction gives teenagers the liberty to use it without knowing the repercussions. It brings procrastination as well as distractions during their study time. It is also exposing them to wider content, which could also be good and bad at the same time. People must be aware of whom they meet on social media, lessen the time they spend on it, and focus more on their studies. Parents must be aware of their children’s activities and mentor them in a friendly manner. Parents should give their children a space to open up about whatever they are facing and make sure that they are on the right path.
Conclusion
Social media is a boon as well as a curse for society. People must consider it an opportunity to use it in the right manner.
- Students must focus on their studies and use the internet for better learning.
- Career-driven people can use it to upskill themselves and focus on growing rather than procrastinating.
- Focus on the knowledgeable content and indulge in the positive content.
- Protect yourself from the evil side of social media.
- Make sure you are authenticating your profile.
- Seek opportunities, and make use of the platform as your very own talent space.
We have reached a point where it is highly unlikely to eliminate social media, but it is possible to use it for a better society.
References
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1369032/mental-health-social-media-effect-us-users
Written by Bhavya S