Social Media: Friend

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The increase in number of social media platforms has seen a corresponding increase in number of users from all over the globe. This has led to a rising interest in looking at the impacts of these platforms in our daily lives consisting of both positive and negative outcomes. This paper is aimed at finding out if social media is contributing positively to the society by comparing the effects from each side.

Social media through worldwide communication channels has enhanced creation of organizations that have been used to alter activities like politics due to the influence created through sharing of information. Interactions of people online have also brought about creation of new ideas and developments (Chen et al. 2020). Social and ethical practices are also monitored by masses thus reducing cases of unethical instances. Sharing of concerns among people has increased and brought about a balance of power between those in leadership positions and the masses. People also come in to help those in need through social media.

Businesses are also using social media sites to link up with their clients. They have used these platforms to create insights, produce targeted product offerings and in demand stimulation. Application of social technologies at work has helped improve interactions between employees bringing about sharing of knowledge and skills. Silos and boundaries have also been eliminated in most of these organizations. Some firms also use social media to gain insights about the candidates during a recruitment process. Platforms such as LinkedIn are used in creating and marketing brands (Tajudeen et al. 2018). It is also noted that social media facilitates learning of new skills and acquisition of knowledge through sharing and discussions with other people coming from different backgrounds, cultures, races and professions. Long distance has greatly been facilitated by the use of platforms like blogs, wikis and podcasts.

Besides the above benefits, social media has its own challenges such as cyber-bulling, teens who join social media experience the pressure of developing quickly in the online world as a result may end up spreading wrong information and rumors in ways like sharing videos with content aimed at destroying others’ reputations or even using them for blackmail. People’s personal lives can also be damaged due to lack of privacy on social media platforms. Sharing of some information with the public without the understanding of how the private and public elements of online profiles work (Anderson and Jiang, 2018).

Another problem is the development and initiation of artificial bonds that are valued and cherished more than the relationships created in real life. A ‘friend’ on social media does not have the intimacy brought about by a conventional friend who is met frequently, talked to on a face to face basis and is known pretty well. Information put on social media and other details may be false, for example the names and ages of people may be altered, other activities like posting of pictures which are not for the actual owner of the account are also other issues brought about by social media.

As it is believed, information is power. Social media has facilitated the sharing of information this can be said it has enabled power sharing. Social media’s positive impact around the globe by far outshines the issues correlated. After all, people share information so that they can get others to have a look and give their comments and responses. As a results, it is still significant that social media continues being used to enhance the society.

References

Anderson, M., & Jiang, J. (2018). Teens, social media & technology 2018. Pew Research Center, 31, 2018.Chen, X., & Wei, S. (2020). The impact of social media use for communication and social exchange relationship on employee performance. Journal of Knowledge Management.Tajudeen, F. P., Jaafar, N. I., & Ainin, S. (2018). Understanding the impact of social media usage among organizations. Information & Management, 55(3), 308-321.