Social media has changed the way we live our lives It has redefined the way we imagine our surroundings. Who could have imagined that community networking sites would become a major platform for brands to find potential customers! There are both positive and negative impacts of social media on society as well as businesses
Social media can impact you both positively and negatively. If you are a brand manager, or small business owner, then social media is a great platform for you to meet your customers. However, for individuals, social media is more like an addiction which may cause discomfort if not addressed properly.
- THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON SOCIETY
Almost a quarter of the world’s population is now on Facebook. In the U.S., nearly 80% of all internet users are on this platform. Because social networks feed off interactions among people, they become more powerful as they grow. Thanks to the internet, each person with marginal views can see that he’s not alone. And when these people find one another via social media, they can do things — create memes, publications, and entire online worlds that bolster their worldview, and then break into the mainstream. Without social media, social, ethical, environmental, and political ills would have minimal visibility. Increased visibility of issues has shifted the balance of power from the hands of a few to the masses. Some argue that social sharing has encouraged people to use computers and mobile phones to express their concerns on social issues without actually having to engage actively with campaigns in real life. Their support is limited to pressing the ‘Like’ button or sharing content.
While social media activism brings an increased awareness about societal issues, questions remain as to whether this awareness is translating into real change.
The flipside: Social media is slowly killing real activism and replacing it with ‘slacktivism’
This passivity is a very human reaction when people are given options that absolve them from the responsibility to act. A 2013 study by the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business found that when people are presented with the option of ‘liking’ a social cause, they use this to opt-out of actually committing time and money to a charitable cause. On the other hand, when people are allowed to show support in private, they are more likely to offer meaningful support by making a financial contribution.
- THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON POLITICS
A new study from Pew Research claims that about one in five U.S. adults gets their political news primarily through social media. The study also finds that those who do get their political news primarily through social media tend to be less well-informed and more likely to be exposed to unproven claims that people who get their news from traditional sources.
- THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON COMMERCE
Fully implementing social technologies in the workplace removes boundaries, eliminates silos, and can raise interaction and help create more highly skilled and knowledgeable workers. Many studies suggest implementing social networks within the workplace can strengthen knowledge sharing. The result is to improve project management activities and enable the spread of specialized knowledge.
The rise of social media means it’s unusual to find an organization that does not reach its customers and prospects through one social media platform or another. Companies see the importance of using social media to connect with customers and build revenue.
- THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
Blogs, wikis, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and podcasts are now common tools for learning in many educational institutions. Social media has contributed to the increase in long-distance online learning 68% of students and 65% of their parents believe that social media will be a useful tool and part of the new high school normal. Job candidates who develop skills in the latest and most advanced social media techniques are far more employable.
- THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON HIRING
19 percent of hiring managers make their hiring decisions based on information found on social media. According to CareerBuilder’s 2018 social media recruitment survey, 70 percent of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates.
- THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON RELATIONSHIPS
One of the effects of social media is encouraging people to form and cherish “social media friendships” over actual friendships. Real friends actually know each other, frequently interact face to face, and have a personal bond. The term ‘friend’ as used on social media is a weak shadow of traditional friendship.
- FEAR OF MISSING OUT (FOMO)
Long-use of social media platforms make you addicted to checking out what other people are doing. FOMO is an exacerbated feeling that other people are living better lives or having more fun compared with you. This feeling makes you check your notification every second, just to make yourself feel better.
- CYBERBULLYING
Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram into the mix, and you suddenly have teenagers subjected to feeling pressure to grow up too fast in an online world. Teenagers need to fit in, to be popular, and to outdo others. This process was challenging long before the advent of social media.
- LACK OF PRIVACY
Most of the time, the users themselves are to blame as they share content that should not be in the public eye. The confusion arises from a lack of understanding of how the private and public elements of an online profile actually work. Stalking, identity theft, personal attacks, and misuse of information are some of the threats faced by social media users. - THE CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Social Media is relatively a newer technology, hence, it is a little difficult to establish its long-term good and bad consequences. However, multiple researchers have concluded a strong relationship between heavy use of social media platforms with an increase in risk of depression, self-harm, anxiety, and loneliness.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA
If the internet is an unmissable part of contemporary life, social media is integral for communication – an unavoidable element, especially for those who lead hectic lifestyles and depend on it for even the smallest updates. People can communicate with friends, speak with family, and stay updated on global happenings via numerous platforms. One of the most common online activities is using social media, and in 2021, 82% of Americans had a profile on one or more social networking sites, up 2% from the usage rate of 80% the year before. That comes to about 223 million social media users in the United States in 2020.
If people were to spring back a little bit, the real taste of social media emerged from blogging, where accounts were created sometime in the 1980s. After that, the evolution of free platforms and chat rooms created newer social opportunities. Later Facebook, Twitter, and others revolutionized it. Over the past ten years, social media has grown astronomically. There was minimal participation in the industry in 2005. At the time, most of them were unaware, and among those who knew, having the opportunity to establish a MySpace page typically meant elaborate backgrounds and unique playlists rather than a direct connection.
ADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIVITY
SHARE ANYTHING WITH OTHERS
Anyone can let their creativity shine through the platform for it to be shared by millions of others. Sharing the artistic works with others could open the door to achievement and several milestones. Social media is the best platform to convey feelings and opinions – a song, a poem, a work of art, a decadent dessert, or anything else.
INFORMATION AND UPDATES
Stay informed about events happening across the globe or in other people’s lives using social media. In contrast to television, radio, or newspapers, social media lets everyone convey information accurately by presenting the real picture. It aids in showcasing real-world news across the globe.
BUILDING COMMUNITIES
Live in a diverse world where individuals from different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds exist. Social media brings these people together by linking them on a common platform.
EDUCATION
The use of social media in education is commendable. Learners and educators can enroll in global collaborative platforms to facilitate constructive learning. It also aids in skill improvement by fostering knowledge and creativity.
AWARENESS
People have become more conscious thanks to social media. It serves as a channel for information, thus paving the way to innovation and success via developing their knowledge and abilities. Social media well-covers global events, making people more aware of their surroundings.
MENTAL HEALTH
By creating a feeling of elation, these communities can bestow a brighter attitude while also helping develop healthy relationships with others, thus enhancing mental health. Social media serves as an excellent stress reliever. Several groups can support people battling against stress, depression, and loneliness.
ADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR BUSINESS
PROMOTION
Social media is a great supporter of internet commerce and marketing. Posts and promotions facilitate effective user connections and contribute to the profitability of a business.
CUSTOMER INTERACTION
Users from across communities leave various feedback and suggestions, which can assist in improving areas of focus and satisfy them. Social media enhances customer engagement by providing goods and services and soliciting comments on them.
DISADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA AFFECTS
DECREASES QUICK-WITTED SKILL
With the decrease in real face-to-face conversations and in-person chats, quick-wittedness is rare. Sense of humor and sporty tête-à-têtes have been compromised – the sense of love, friendship, fun, and enjoyment have all disappeared due to the effects of social media on human mental health.
Causing Distress to Someone’s Feelings
People who use social media to communicate lack empathy and do not wink an eyelid when they have to hurt someone. The latest trolls, negative comments, and feedback are all witnesses to the hard-heartedness that has evolved due to the invisible nature of social media.
PRESENT PHYSICALLY NOT MENTALLY
Spending time with each other is about being ‘present’ and in the moment. As friends and family gather, create memories by speaking to one another about times past, present and future. Unfortunately, today with social media being made available on the mobile phone, people spend time with each other ‘scrolling’ through posts.
LACKING UNDERSTANDING AND THOUGHTFULNESS
Feelings are conveyed through word and voice – but to do this, there is a need to be physically present in front of the other person to communicate feelings effectively. However,
LACK OF QUALITY FAMILY TIME
Family time has taken a hit with ‘me’ and privacy taking precedence (due to the quality of texts that appear on social media). Social media has been the cause of many disrupted relationships simply because families cannot spend quality time with each other.
HACKING
Privacy settings must be constantly updated and profile locked to avoid such situations. The vulnerability of social media has also thrown light on how easy it is to gather a person’s data.
LAZINESS & FACILITATES
Technology and accompanying social media have led to a rise in laziness among people due to no physical activity or exercise. Spending hours on the bed glued to our smartphones results in several health problems such as obesity, stress, and high blood pressure.
RELATIONSHIP AND CHEATING ISSUES
Individuals are using social media as a platform for marriage and dating. However, chances are that the information provided on the profile is false, eventually leading to a toxic relationship or even divorce.
CYBER BULLYING
Fake news and rumors spread effortlessly, leading to depression and suicide. People, particularly children, have been victims of cyberbullying where threats, cons, and other negative activities easily ensnare them.
ADDICTION
While checking social media and using the smartphone in moderation is not bad, productive time and energy are wasted due to overuse.A serious issue among youth social media addiction has led to disastrous consequences
MIND DISTRACTION
Social media is impulsive. The individual wastes time even ignoring important work to only look at the menial update New messages, notifications, and updates are the impetus to constantly checking the phone, resulting in distraction.
FUTURE AND JOB, COURSES AND PREPRATION:
Even after all this, social media will create some such employment opportunities in the coming decade, which will prove to be very beneficial for the coming generation, some new courses for their preparation are as follows..
- 1- PR MANAGEMENT SERVICE
Public Relation Management is one such work field which is trending all around at the moment, after doing this course a secure and bright future is guaranteed. From politicians to the stars of the corporate world and glamor world, every celibrity needs PR management. - 2- WEB DEVELOPMENT (full stack developer)
The market of website development is considered to be the biggest at this time, from small businessmen to students running business sitting at home, almost everyone needs a business brick, in such a situation it would be right to become a full stack developer. - 3- SOCIAL MEDIA & SEO EXPERT
There is a huge demand for social media experts and SEO experts in almost all media organization’s if you have a good understanding of social media networking and marketing and also you are an expert in SEO. You will easily get a good job in any media organization.
