Disadvantages Of Social Media

Today, it is very easy to obtain information of any kind. Thanks to the convergence and development of technology. “The Internet”, which today is one of the easiest ways to obtain quick information without allot of effort. There are millions of people from around the world that use the Internet as a tool to communicate, search, and find information on about any topic imaginable. (Aynur, Nejat, 2015). In this Essay on Social Media, we will be discussing the advantages and disadvantages of easily obtainable information, the advantages and disadvantages of social media, and importantly how knowing of these things can alter how a person might use social media, as well as the credibility issues that arise from the information on

Eighty-one percent of Americans have a social media profile, so the chances of you receiving a Facebook notification while reading this paper are fairly high. The definition of social networking is, in fact, the use of websites to interact with other users. These platforms are the new media, completely changing the way that we communicate with each other. While that being a very vague statement, what specifically defines a social network, different types of social networks, the benefits and disadvantages, and finally the future of social networking needs to be discussed. There many different types of social networking and social media, but what’s the difference?

“Social media is the collectives of online communication channels dedicated to community-based input, interaction, content-sharing, and collaborations” (Rouse). In other words, websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. This allows almost anybody to see what you post to the world, and who can and “cannot” see it. “Studies have shown that people mostly use social media sites like Facebook because they meet the basic need of connecting to others: making friends, keeping tabs on their lives, and updating friends on the status of your life” (Rohampton).

As of February 4th 2004, Facebook launched and took the world by storm as it quickly became the social media network people of all ages have come to know and love. According to ‘The Next Web’, Facebook currently holds 1.23 billion monthly active users, 757 million daily users and 945 million mobile users. With these outstanding numbers, Facebook easily became the world’s most used social media platform from as far back as 2009. However, whilst the age requirement states that Facebook users must be 13 and older, 7.5 million of users are younger than that age, and a further 5 million are under the age of 10. Alongside many others, I strongly disagree that Facebook should not be accessible to children under the age of 13. Firstly, Children of such a young age are easily deceived and most do not understand the dangers that come with owning a social media account as they are so young. In addition, whilst adults are more aware of the schemes that social media advertise, children may not be aware that scams do exist and not everything that is advertised has good intentions. Social media is also judgemental and quite harsh, making children and young teenagers often the victims of cyberbullying, which can lead to larger issues such as mental illnesses.

Dr. Judith Burdin Asuni is the Executive Director of Academic Associates PeaceWorks, a Nigerian NGO working in the fields of conflict management, peace and development and peace education. Dr. Asuni has researched and written extensively on conflicts in Nigeria, particularly in the Niger Delta. AA PeaceWorks has established a social media team to engage Nigerian youth on their participation in building a better Nigeria. Mrs. Jacqueline Farris serves as Director General of the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation and is also responsible for development of the Foundation’s programmes which focus on public

Online social networks have become an immense part of our generation, so it doesn’t come with a shock to have everyone from teens to adults obsessed with the online networks we have now. Besides the many benefits of online networks, there are hidden disadvantages to social sites too.

Social media can significantly impact a company in both a positive and adverse way. Social media is a great way for a company to market their products and services. Society spends a vast majority of time on social media as it continues to evolve and take over the world. With technology being readily accessible to everyone and from anywhere, it’s no wonder why corporations must rely on social media platforms.

Social Media also known as Social Network Site (SNS) is a platform used by many for many years. As of 2017, there is around 2.4 billion social media users and over 20 popular social media websites. According to Grant (2016), What is an SNS? According to Boyd and Ellison (2008), there are three criteria that a website must meet to be considered an SNS. A website must allow users to “(1) construct a public or semi-public profile within a bounded system, (2) articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and (3) view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system” (boyd & Ellison, 2008, p. 211). These guidelines may seem to restrict what can be considered an SNS, however there are still literally hundreds of vastly diverse websites that are functioning as such.” (p.269). It is a way to communicate with others, network and befriend new people.

How well are you actually protected on social media? Many people have mixed emotions about social media. While there are many advantages to using social media, there are also some disadvantages as well. According to the article “Could You Become a Mean Meme?” by Kristen Lewis, “Even the strictest privacy settings aren’t foolproof.” Thankfully, however, there are ways to protect yourself.

The rise of technology has shaped our generation in so many ways. As a child, I remember going to the library and checking out books when I had a paper or project due for class. As I got older the need for finding books or publications for research purposes decreased considerably. As I entered middle school, a class was being taught on computer literacy, and looking back on that class I see how important it was to get started early. I can only recall one time in the last three years where I stepped foot into a public library, and that was to place my vote for the 2016 presidential election. The fact that I can hop on my phone, and search anything I could possibly want to know about, and that information be displayed in a matter of seconds is an amazing and wonderful thing. The downside to the capability of information at your fingertips is that it causes people (including myself) to be lazy. Vocabulary and literacy levels are lower now, because you don’t have to read several books to find what you are looking for. I loved reading for pleasure when I was younger, and still do, but that was because I was required to read more to find answers to questions. Siri and Google have almost eliminated the need to do such research.

Social Media can be defined as “forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages and other content (as videos)” and its first known use was in 2004 (Merriam-Webster, 2014). Social Media is a staple to almost everyone’s daily lives. It’s how people connect with one another, rally together for a certain cause, share their thoughts on world news, or get up to the minute updates of a current sporting event.

Social media is a way for people to communicate anywhere and at any time. Some people think that it is beneficial to have in society. Although, many people are starting to see negative effects arise from the use of social media as well. These negative effects are increasing and becoming more problematic every day. The disadvantages of social media far outweigh the advantages. Social media effects everyone in society, especially teenagers by negatively impacting their lives, face-to-face interactions, and mental health.

Social Media helps businesses to have meaningful conversations with their customers. Relevant social media platforms include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Youtube, Pinterest, and Snapchat. Each of these different platforms have pros and cons. Facebook can help to connect with the community, boost traffic and sales, as well as find new customers. Twitter is best used as a real-time way for businesses to connect with the community in short, easy to read messages. Linkdin helps to connect businesses to other proffessionals and businesses in their industry. Instagram is a good place for photos and videos and can help promote the culture of the brand. Youtube can be used to promote new products and services, and use a series of

Society relies on information that they obtain from the news, media, social media sites to gather the newest information or current events. As the technology years keep advancing there are newer forms of finding out current events or situations that are occurring around the world. People are now able to get news faster then what they have a century ago. There’s social media sites like Facebook, there are news channel apps that send you alerts on your cellular device when the story gets posted and there are the tv stations that broadcast breaking news live right when the situation is happening. These forms of media have changed from when it was just newspapers.

There are advantages and disadvantages for those who use social media. The advantages of social media are that people can stay connected with family, friends and up to date with current trends. People are also able to use social media to find romance, a new job, product referrals, sharing like-minded beliefs and accessing news in real time. Some disadvantages of social media can by cyber bullying, invasion of privacy, fraud and identity theft. According to "Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Networking" (n.d.), “Cyberbullying can happen 24 hours a day, every day of the