Social Media: Destroying Social Lives Since 2004

Political_dude
Social Media: Destroying Social Lives Since 2004

Social Media is one of the most important and vital components of today's society, Rarely you'll find someone who isn't aware of social media and even if we find someone who isn't, we call him a caveman.

Social media has changed the way people interact. In many ways, social media has led to positive changes in the way people communicate and share information; however, it has a dark side, as well. Social networking can sometimes result in negative outcomes, some with long-term consequences.

It causes depression as well as makes you jealous of your friends

Social Media: Destroying Social Lives Since 2004

A study conducted by the University of Missouri found out that excessive use of social media can cause depression as well as it can make you jealous of your social media friends. It also found that Facebook use can lead to symptoms of depression

“We found that if Facebook users experience envy of the activities and lifestyles of their friends on Facebook, they are much more likely to report feelings of depression,”

- Duffy professor of strategic communication

Causes social Isolation

Social Media: Destroying Social Lives Since 2004

In a study across the US, concluded after examining 1,787 U.S. adults aged 19–32 years found out that Young adults with high Social media usage seem to feel more socially isolated than their counterparts with lower Social media usage. Ironically, social media is known for bringing people together, but in reality, it is causing isolation

It causes Decline of life satisfaction levels

The more people used Facebook at one-time point, the worse they felt the next time we text-messaged them; the more they used Facebook over two-weeks, the more their life satisfaction levels declined over time. Interacting with other people “directly” did not predict these negative outcomes. They were also not moderated by the size of people's Facebook networks, their perceived supportiveness, motivation for using Facebook, gender, loneliness, self-esteem, or depression. - Ethan Kross

On the surface, Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling the basic human need for social connection. Rather than enhancing well-being, however, these findings suggest that Facebook may undermine it.

Addiction has severe effects on day to day life

Social Media: Destroying Social Lives Since 2004

The findings indicate that Social Networking Sites are predominantly used for social purposes, mostly related to the maintenance of established offline networks. Moreover, extroverts appear to use social networking sites for social enhancement, whereas introverts use it for social compensation, each of which appears to be related to greater usage, as does low conscientiousness and high narcissism. Negative correlates of Social Networking Sites usage include the decrease in real life social community participation and academic achievement, as well as relationship problems, each of which may be indicative of potential addiction.

Spreads News of the same type liked by the reader and hence isolating him in his one thoughts

While platforms like Google and Facebook are famous for keeping watch on your browsing history for advertisement purpose, the news is also shared same way. Many times this news include What We want to read and hence sharing partial truth instead of complete one. Also, it played important role in last election in which social media campaigning was found more important that real campaigning.

Affects mental health

Social Media: Destroying Social Lives Since 2004

Social addiction can inflict a lot of damage to your psyche and mental health, which can lead to long-term effects on your personality and confidence, thereby influencing your future. Some of the mental health problems that you may suffer from due to a social media addiction are Insecurity, Cyberbullying, Social Anxiety, Distraction, Fatigue and Stress, Emotion Suppression and Peer Pressure

Gives you A False Sense of Connection

According to Cornell University's Steven Strogatz, social media sites can make it more difficult for us to distinguish between the meaningful relationships we foster in the real world and the numerous casual relationships formed through social media. By focusing so much of our time and psychic energy on these less meaningful relationships, our most important connections, he fears, will weaken.

Parents who are obsessed with social media are giving their kids an unhealthy complex

Social Media: Destroying Social Lives Since 2004

In a report published by Quartz Media, it was said that Social media affects parenting more than ever starting from Ignoring your child due to social media affection to posting his embarrassing photos/ incidents on it. There are many tweets or posts on Facebook in which parents share there child's story to get famous ( Like their child pees in a cup) What they don't see is it will destroy the future of their child and he may get bullied in school because of the same post.

Take a little break

Social Media: Destroying Social Lives Since 2004

While all of the above I've mentioned are problem or effects, there are many methods to avoid them.

There is a paper which explains how quitting social media affects your health. Do check if you wish (It is a paid copy. If you are interested after reading its abstract, you can message me for complete version). To control your social media usage i.e. to bring your addiction under control, you can start from limiting your usage wrt time.

Nobody is asking you to quit it as it might make you outdated but it's over usage can cause you mental illness.

PS: If you are wondering about the year mentioned in the title, it is the year when social media giant Facebook was created.

Social Media: Destroying Social Lives Since 2004
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