Social Media and Addiction
Image courtesy of Business Insider.
Some people say social media is a great way to communicate with people and make friends. Sure, it may sound great, but have you ever considered the potential downsides of social media?
You have most likely scrolled through your social media app so many times that it feels like a routine. Sometimes, you may feel bored and just rely on your smartphone or device to cure that boredom. Scrolling on YouTube Shorts, TikTok, or Instagram Reels can be major distractions when trying to complete work and may diminish motivation.
Pros
Social media is good in some ways, but not all websites or apps are.
One thing that social media is good for is communication. For example, if you have a friend in another country, you can use social media to text or share reels, shorts, and similar content. It can also be beneficial to form new friendships with people who share similar interests or have mutual friends. Some people form friendships through social media. While social media is not always beneficial, and I often stay off it, I do believe that social media is suitable for communication and friendships. Many kids today use Instagram for communication, watching reels, commenting, and messaging. Secondly, it is beneficial to raise awareness and disseminate information. Many arguments and discussions arise based on something someone may have seen and posted, or something that another person may have seen and decided to discuss. Say, something happened on the news, and while scrolling on your choice of social media, you come across a video explaining what has been happening related to the incident.
Lots of news websites also post their videos on YouTube, and I have watched a lot of them with my parents. Additionally, social media is a valuable platform for both small and large businesses, with many entrepreneurs utilising TikTok or YouTube to promote their products. I have come across numerous bands that advertise themselves on YouTube, and I have listened to a few that I’ve encountered. Additionally, another benefit of social media is that many people record concerts, and I have several favourite bands that are no longer as popular, so I enjoy watching them when I have free time. Additionally, there are numerous free tutorials on YouTube available, covering subjects such as math, English, and even art. Many people share their art and ask for tips or tutorials, or want to showcase their work, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It is suitable for learning and for other similar content. Lots of teachers find resources for classwork or homework on YouTube. YouTube also has an AI feature that ensures you are of age to watch something, in case something is not appropriate for your age. Overall, social media is ideal for communication and creativity, as it allows people to showcase their art and businesses, which are key elements of the vast umbrella of creative content. These are the upsides of social media.
Cons
There are lots of bad things about social media, and I feel like there are a lot more sad things than good things. Firstly, people spend way too much time on social media, and they do everything digitally rather than going outside to spend time with their friends. Some people stare at screens more than when they interact face-to-face. Another element of this is the feeling that you are missing out when you haven’t been on social media. Take our Week Without Halls trip, for example. Most people, on the bus ride, were begging for their phones back so they could see what they missed. I know many people who have Snapchat, and when talking to them and making friends, their first question was often, “Do you have Snapchat?” or “Do you have TikTok?” and so on. Also, while we were on the WWH trip, many people were complaining about losing their snap streaks, saying things like, “My brother forgot to snap me and I lost my streak!” which, sadly, was something I heard frequently from the back of the bus. Many people were creating videos and posts during the bus ride to and from their destination. And, if I am honest, most things you see while strolling through social media are fake or edited. Many reels on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube are edited or use AI, which can create unrealistic standards. Some people use filters to appear ‘prettier’ for beauty standards, while others misuse AI to develop things to scare people or make them feel bad. Speaking of the misuse of AI and AI in general, some applications can be very harmful. Most schools are against the use of AI, but even so, many kids still use it. Some people might use an AI bot to generate homework answers or to do an assignment for them. What happened to creativity? The computational power required for AI consumes significant energy and resources, which impacts the environment. It also creates unhealthy standards and prompts people to compare themselves to others, making them feel bad about themselves and other aspects of their lives. You cannot believe many things you see online. Some people also leave rude comments on videos. Say, you are scrolling through social media, and you come across someone who is talking about their opinion. You check the comments, and you come across rude comments, that their opinion is the only correct or valid one, and the person who posted the video may read it later and feel bad and take it down, or feel bad and think about it for a long while, which can affect how they feel about themselves. Another example of rude comments is cyberbullying, which is the act of repeatedly being disrespectful to someone online, as one would if they were bullying someone. Still, it is online, rather than being physical. Having prolonged exposure to a screen can also be detrimental to your eyesight and sleep, as most people tend to use screens before bed. The blue light from screens can trick your brain into thinking it is morning, making it take longer to fall asleep. Most teenagers spend around 7 to 9 hours on their phones per day, which is horrible for their eyesight and motivation. If there was something you wanted to complete, you may feel less motivated to complete it or feel completely unmotivated.
Additionally, some students in schools tend to get distracted by the content on their screens, so some schools ban certain websites during the school year or on the school’s own Wi-Fi network. Social media detracts from the beauty of nature and all that we have outside the digital world.
Social media has both its ups and downs. Some may view it as a wonderful thing. Others, not so much. What do you think about it?
13 Positive Effects of Social Media on Our Society Today | Kubbco. www.kubbco.com/blog/13-positive-effects-of-social-media-on-our-society-today.
“Pros and Cons of Social Media | Brown University Health.” Brown University Health, www.brownhealth.org/be-well/social-media-good-bad-and-ugly.