Negative Effects Of Social Media On Society

When thinking about a drug, most people think to substances like heroin and cannabis; however, there is new substance that has been sweeping nations. A drug is a substance that has a phycological effect when introduced to the body. Though people don’t think of social media as a drug, it has the same addictive side effects. Upon reading article “Addicted to Distraction” by Tony Schwartz, which talks about the addiction society has to social media and its effects, I realized what a drug social media is. This generation has experienced technology like never before, and it has led to advantages and disadvantages. Although social media can be fun, there is a developing addiction that has causes, effects, and solutions.

What is the impact of long-term social media use on Americans? Social media has been one of the most influential activities for young Americans and the Americans as a whole. According to the statistic from “Use of Social Media by US Adults According to Age Group, 2016,” 86 percents of adult Americans use the Internet such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter. This statistic shows that most of the people, including all ages, in the United States have access to some kind of social media. The reason that makes it so popular is that it allows the users to connect and communicate with others through social network sites and technology, such as

The article entitled, “I know who you are and I saw what you did” by Lori Andrews explains one of the major issues that the world of social media is facing is in protecting the privacy of the users. The creation of social media has changed the scenario of the world. It has opened new dimensions for people and is regarded as the most innovative and revolutionary creation of the 21st century which has played a significant role in globalizing the world. As much useful can social media be, one major phenomena is that no matter how protected the webs may be, social media has a much deeper and darker side where each user can be tracked and traced.

Most people in the United States use social media at some point in their lifetime. The older generation most likely use it less than the teenagers to middle-aged individuals. That could be due to the result of the older generation not growing up around the evolving technology like the younger generations did and will continue to do. It may also be due to how only the rich used and owed technology devices back in the day. Technology is constantly improving their functions and features in their system; consequently, unless an individual grows up with it, they probably will not understand the newest updates. However, many individuals did in fact grow up with it as a major part of their life; therefore, many of those same individuals were

You know the device that is constantly with you at all times? How much time do you spend on it? In the last nine years, the online world has changed substantially. Because of the invention of social media, individuals in society are capable of swapping ideas, feelings, personal information, photographs, and vlogs in the blink of an eye. To many, the attributes of social media are internalized as assets, however, this quick, efficient, and easy platform, which enables us to connect with just about anyone in the world, has the potential to lead to various harmful effects. As of today, there are a little over 322 million people that live in the United States, 64% of whom own a smartphone. This means that approximately 206 million people have access to social media, anywhere at any time. (final inquiry project). It is because of our ability to use these online applications that we as humans are more susceptible to cyberbullying, inferior social skills, and a tarnished reputation.

As defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary social media is “forms of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content” (Merriam Webster’s online dictionary 2017). Social media is commonly used in today’s society. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have taken over, building a community with many active users. Social media is especially popular among adolescents. (Radovic et al.) Although these sites allow for an easy way to communicate and stay updated on the latest trends, it comes with many problems as well. With all the time that is spent on social media, it can make people less concentrated on the “real world”, and the access to an abundance of information can lead to self-esteem issues. Social media has more negative aspects than positive for the younger generations.

Social media is globally recognized as a phenomenon that has taken over the internet. Some view social media as a counterproductive platform that will lead to societal disintegration. Others think it empowers users and can positively transform the world. Social media is handy and highly relevant, however, many common flaws are associated with the use of social media, ranging from wasting time to compromisation of privacy. Some of the reasons why social media has harmful effects on today’s youth are: everyday social media lowers a teenagers self confidence, teens today are more focused on social media than their school work, and online predators are all over social media simply looking for their next victim. Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter can cause teens to fall into these negative situations and the social media situation needs to change.

Walking down the hallways of any high school can be a maze. Majority of students have their heads down looking into their phones. Awkward moments are avoided by constantly refreshing social media apps to look like things are being done. Phones and social media are a huge part of life these days, “94 percent of teens who go online using a mobile device do so daily. 71 percent of teens say they use more than one social media site.” (HHS). More than half the teen population is using social media websites and the effects of them can be life long. Everything from bullying to harassing someone can occur on these sites. Along with being judged by others and judging yourself based on what other people post as well. Social media can be a great place to share things with friends but it can also be a place that lowers self-esteem to rock bottom.

Social media are web-based communication tools that enable people to interact with each other by both sharing and consuming information. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat are some of the most popular social media websites or apps (Nations). Social media is growing more and more every day. Nearly two-thirds of Americans use social networking sites or apps (Perrin). Humans are constantly looking at websites or apps to fuel their addiction. Twenty-nine percent of teens have posted harmful information, embarrassing photos or spread rumors about someone online (Thomas). While social media lets people express themselves, it also influences society's communication, mental and physical health, cyberbullying, stress levels, and an individual's point of view on themselves.

Across seven continents, The Statistics Portal shares that there are “one hundred fifty five billion Facebook users, three hundred twenty million Twitter users, and four hundred million Instagram users, just in one month alone” (Leading Global Social Networks 2016). Surely such a boom in social networking should be a positive force in society, but one may find that digging deeper into the online realm can prove to be a negative pull on a growing society. Although social networking can be a helpful asset to connecting businesses around the world, it is also closely linked to terrorism, a decrease in mental health and body image, and an inability to connect with people in an offline realm.

One primary feature of online networking is its accentuation on making and looking after connections. All the substance you make, all the accompanying you manufacture, each of these is intended to make and encourage more personal associations with individuals, now and again, and individuals you would not have met whatever other way. In the same time social media has and still is ruining many peoples relationships in various ways.

Used by the majority of Americans, social media has become a prominent source of entertainment, education, and communication. Social media is consistently at the fingertips of the average American, however, with this much exposure it has been shown to display negative effects, including of mental illness, addiction, low self-esteem and an outlet for bullying. Eventually, this can result in the downfall of social media

The first thoughts that come to mind for many people regarding social media are quite unfavorable. Profiles on Facebook, tweets on Twitter, and photos on Instagram all tend to have a negative connotation because they are typically associated with isolation, narcissism, and mental illnesses. The impacts of social media are greatly determined by how a person uses it. While one person may lose themselves in the online world that social media creates, another may greatly benefit through meeting new people and learning about new topics, such as other cultures, political views, religions, etc., that can be introduced into their real lives outside of their online lives. Even though social media can be seen as a more disadvantageous contribution to society due to the loneliness and isolation it may cause, social media allows for a greater connection to the social and intellectual worlds. While social media provides a platform that amplifies social and intellectual isolation, it more importantly allows for people to connect to others and learn about different perspectives when used correctly.

The ability to purposely manufacture a degrading, nasty, demeaning or insulting anonymous post or comment with surprisingly little consequences on virtually any and every platform (news sites, Twitter, Facebook, etc.) on the internet is possibly the worst social problem anyone can experience in social media technology today. There are so many negative and mean-spirited words, mostly categorized as “bullying”, written from behind the anonymity of a keyboard or touchpad. This type of on-line harassment is everywhere and decency in words seems to be on a fast-downward spiral on the internet.

Social media is the reason for many of the world's problems. It can be used to raise awareness for an important cause, but can also be used to distribute hatred throughout the country. Being a teenager, I can be the first to say that social media is how most teens ruin their life. “According to a common sense media poll from August 2009, 22% of teenagers log on to their favorites social media site more than 10 times a day, and more than half of adolescents log on to a social media site more than once a day.” Essential connections occur through the use of internet, but the reliance teens have on social media is