Gone are the days when our youth were surviving under the influence of their luminaries worshiping. They used to make their physique, dress style and hair style close to the look of adorable personas from film industry, besides imitating their talking style close to their praised one. ‘Social media’ has risen like a tempest and has engulfed all the existence of so-called superstars till date. Social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google +, Tumblr, Instagram, gaming sites, and blogs have given openings to common people to earn name and fame and thereby resulted in the rise of social media influencers.
Social media influencers are honking on every nook and corner and overpower people from all walks of life especially youngsters. Nobody gets respite, not even the renowned film celebrities who are joining with influencers to promote their films.
IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON YOUTH:
Study Shows:
- The average person now spends more time each day on their phone and computer than they do sleeping.
- The average time spent on social networks per day: 1.72 hours (in 2015).
- The average number of hours a teenager spends online per week: 27 (2015).
Social media has become a prominent part of life for many young people today. Most people engage with social media without ending to think what positive or negative consequences it confers on our lives. Are we as a society becoming more concerned with Facebook “friends” than we are with the people we interact with face-to-face in our daily lives? What will the long-term effects of today’s social media use be?
There are many positive aspects, but there are equally as many hazards that come with the addiction of the sites.
THE POSITIVES OF SOCIAL MEDIA:
ACADEMIC SUPPORT:
It helps a teacher team up and communicate easily with students and one another. Students exploit a free access to the treasure of resources online to help them upgraded. A big chunk of students uses social networking to discuss informative topics, hence complete their school’s/colleges’ assignments.
POLITICAL UPDATES
Social media eases political change. Online networks give social movements a quick and cheap method of broadcasting information and mobilizing people.
AWARENESS SUPPORT:
Social media keeps us updated about the significant things that are working across the globe currently or maybe in our neighbourhood. Social media enables and authorizes individuals to bring a modification within themselves and their societies.
SOCIAL BENEFITS:
Social media allow people to interconnect with friends and the increased online communication strengthens those relationships. People make new friends. A report says 57% online teens make new friends online.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES:
A boon for professionals who love marketing, connecting, and finding business opportunities. Social media sites have created thousands of jobs and new avenues of income for all and sundry.
THE NEGATIVES OF SOCIAL MEDIA:
A DAMAGE TO WORK AS WELL AS SCHOOL:
Media created weakness has compelled students to cheat on school assignments. Study shows, for every 93 minutes over the average 106 minutes spent on Facebook daily, college students’ grades dropped .12 points.
On another study, students who went online while studying, have scored 20% lower on tests. Social networking sites have harmed employees’ productivity. Record says 51% of users between 25-34 years age group use to check social media frequently at work place.
GROWING NEED OF PRIVACY:
People, especially the young, are often too open and public with personal information when online.
USERS EXPOSED TO CRIME:
Social networking sites allow hate groups to recruit and distribute propaganda online. Unauthorized sharing and copyright infringement threatens intellectual property and causes loss of income. Security attacks such as hacking, identity theft, phishing scams, and viruses are common online. Criminals use social media to commit crimes.
SOCIAL DAMAGES:
Cyber-crimes and Cyber-oppression (the use of electronic communication to torment someone, usually by sending threatening messages) are commonplace online, cause emotional disturbance, and sometimes even lead to suicide. Sometimes some online duels eventually turn into a physical confrontation. Children are the worst suffers and are at higher risk for depression, low self-esteem, and eating disorders which ultimately pushes them to be isolated and disconnected (especially youth with disabilities).
MISINFORMATION:
Occasional spread of false rumours, unreliable information and news on social media misguide a vast majority of social media hunters. It encourages unprofessional medical advice and self-diagnosis of health problems, which can be dangerous and life-threatening.
ADVERTISING:
Studies have shown that sites such as Facebook stimulates us, via advertisements, to spend more money. Advertisers gain all kinds of personal information about us via our social media, so, they persuade us to buy their product in due course.
A WASTE OF TIME:
Time flows out uncontrollably from the clutches of the promising citizens due to the bigger exposure to social media. A great chunk of unproductive efforts kills their survival enthusiasm and push them in some lonely corner.
So, for the social media, I think, there is a crucial need of the dissemination of an awareness campaign among mass. Let everyone be alerted about the pros and cons of the social media, its use and disuse, it merits and demerits, its benefits and detriments. We must not forget our sacred rituals, brotherhood, integrity, social duties and responsibilities and all those things which pull ourselves to the higher steps of humanity. After all, safety, security, progress and development of a society do not depend upon any media, rather great thoughts, powerful leadership and practical positivity pave the way for greater citizen and wider tomorrow.
Eduindex News 