Touchstone 4_ Revisions

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1 Jorgo Qendro Sophia Learning English Composition II December 27th, 2023 Social Media: Good or Bad? The rise of social media in society has undeniably transformed our day to day lives. The influence of social media has created a number of issues, such as the exacerbation of mental health, the spread of misinformation, and the erosion of genuine personal connections. The cultivation of unrealistic societal standards has led to a rapid decline in mental health amongst social media users. Social media has made people feel less connected by giving the illusion of success or failure relative to what someone else is doing, often comparing yourself to an influencer or others which leads to self doubt and mental health issues due to comparison of lives inevitably. The erosion of authenticity has increased with the rise of social media. The relentless pursuit of validation through likes and comments and interactions has given power to a society where our self-worth is measured digitally, through the click of a button. Authenticity is the cornerstone of a genuine human connection. It has been sacrificed for digital approval from strangers online we do not even know. Is our self-worth dictated by the number of likes and digital approvals we receive? Social media has seen a rise in cyberbullying. As stated by the (Jed Foundation, 2023), cyberbullying and eating disorders, as well as body dysmorphia, have increased due to social media. Cyberbullying continues to be an issue, especially on platforms that enable easier harassment towards others. The lack of accountability along with anonymity makes it less

2 challenging for individuals to get caught. People using fake usernames and aliases and spreading hate should be punished by law. Individuals who harbor mental health issues through social media may experience depression, anxiety, low self-esteem or thoughts of suicide or commiting harm to others. The anonymity provided by social media platforms often leads to an increase in cyberbullying and online harassment. A report by the Pew Research Center (2017) found that 41% of Americans have personally experienced online harassment, and 66% have witnessed it happening to others. Promoting a safer environment through social media would curb the long term effects on someone’s psychological well being. Self isolation has drastically increased with the increased usage of social media. As much social connectivity we receive from social media, the downside is the silent epidemic of loneliness. As we delve further into endless scrolling, we may find some comfort in digital conversation, yet the feeling of genuine human connection fades away. Social media isolates individuals partaking in it, leaving them yearn for genuine and authentic relationships. The likes and interactions may increase, but the continued feeling of disconnection persists. Are we sacrificing the genuine value and richness of face-to-face interactions for the illusion of digital relationships? One of the major effects of social media usage is addiction. Social media platforms have the goal of constant engagement for their users, often resulting in an unhealthy amount of time scrolling, interacting with messages and notifications. This leads to a harmful balance between reality and social media consumption. Overexposure and overconsumption of social media can lead to far less productivity, less physical movement, which all lead to health deterioration, whether mental or physical. (Efectio, 2022), as well as 9St. Cloud Technical & Community College, 2020), both discuss the effects of social media on productivity in the workplace, and for

3 students in school. St. Cloud stated” A research scientist from USC commented that using these social media apps is like drugging ourselves; we get carried away by the dopamine high, and it becomes hypnotic. When it becomes severe enough, this social media addiction can cause depression and anxiety.” Efectio states”When new messages appear continuously on the phone at work, there is a desire to look immediately, or thoughts are distracted by the new message. Shifting attention requires effort from the brain, so to maintain a clear focus on thoughts, it is necessary to reduce distractions such as communication and social networks.” This furthers the concern of mental health deterioration. Although there are those who claim that social networking can create a sense of companionship and help, the negatives outweigh the positives. One must observe and acknowledge how detrimental it might be for mental health and strive to reduce these impacts. Other individuals may argue that online platforms create unity among their users; regardless, nothing compares to genuine face-to-face interaction since using screens has certain limitations. Furthermore, manipulated or filtered posts or pages displayed on various social media sites provide an illusion of connectedness between people which often leads to unrealistic expectations about real relationships in our actual environment. The impact that influencers have on their followers is underrespresented. Numerous studies, including research published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology (2019), indicate a significant rise in mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness among individuals who heavily use social media. Constant exposure to carefully curated, idealized representations of others' lives can contribute to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Influencers and famous people have a major impact on their audiences. The image they portray as information they put out into social media often gets received as fact by their

4 audiences, leading to a rise of misinformation being spread. Instagram is a massive culprit of unrealistic expectations. The American Journal of Epidemiology (2019) published a study indicating that the use of social media is associated with feelings of social isolation, especially among young adults. Influencers who use filters to enhance their looks, or claiming their looks are “natural” when they have undergone extensive cosmetic or plastic surgery to acquire their looks, leads to self-doubt in the individuals who follow them or look up to them. This creates anxiety, angst, and body dysmorphia. All of these factors lead up to one of the major mental health issues, depression. The positives of social media are the networking and opportunities it creates, the easy interactions with friends and family, and creating a space for self-expression. But do the positives outweigh the negatives? With the rise of technology, there are many different points of access to reach out to people that exclude social media. As far as networking and job opportunities, that is why there are job searching apps such as Indeed and ZipRecruiter, and for networking apps like LinkedIn that exist.(Dalomba, 2022). Now you can argue that these apps can be considered social media, but I disagree as these apps are strictly for job searching and networking opportunities to interact with others to find job opportunities. As far as interactions with friends and family, that is why cell phones EXIST. Once you have a family or friend’s phone number, you can message or call them at any time, as direct interaction creates more of a social interaction than your friends or family posting vacation pictures on Instagram for everyone to indulge. Beyond that, the immeasurable safety concerns that social media creates has been understated. Posting locations on Snapchat or Instagram of where you are eating or an event you attend leads to safety concerns for yourself, as someone who may have ill-will towards you or

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