The Good and Bad Side of Social Media | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube | Instagram - What Do You Think?

Alerts! The use of Social Media can cause Depression.

“As Social Media now become a part of our lives, we always connect with our Friends and Family or world through it. But it also impacts on our personal life by wishing Good Life Standards as others posted on their walls. This is just because people mostly posted the best things about their lives; and this also causes Depression. So you can use or not use it as much as you like, and believe me it's not going anywhere”

A review by Sam Laird (A Writer and Reporter at Mashable)

There are both Good and Bad Side of Social Media but before starting it, let’s talk about;

What is Social Media and how we use it?

“Social Media” an emerging field of latest communication setup; refers to an online platform and applications that are specially designed to allow people to share their data quickly, efficiently, and in real-time. Social Media is not only a source of communication, but it has become a community of people through which they communicate and interact with each other via sharing their Interests, Ideas, Daily Life Activities, and Information About Latest Trends in terms of Text and Images.

People usually talk about the use of Social Media through apps on Smartphones or Tablets; but the truth is that this communication setup started with computers. But with the passage of time, as the number of smartphones’ users increasing, the Social Media platforms access as Applications (Android & IoS) through Smartphones.

Now let’s talk about the Good and Bad Side of Social Media that affects our Daily Life. First of all, we identify:

Which are the Social Media Platforms?

Every Day, Millions of People connect with each other using Social Media through different platforms.

The platforms from which we are most familiar commonly named as “Facebook”, “Twitter”, “Instagram”, “Youtube”, “Pinterest” and “LinkedIn”, are usually used by Individuals to stay in touch with their Friends and Families.

How Socialists interacts with each other?

People post their Pictures, Interest, or any kind of text and also have live sessions on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. They share their Videos either of themselves, about product reviews and also of Latest Trends on Youtube. They call and send messages to each other. Means to say that Social Media has completely changed the way we communicate.

How the Good and Bad Side of Social Media affects us?

A recent study about Social Media indicates that its excessive use may affect Human Behavior, Emotions, and Relationships. Some studies also suggest that the use of Social Media can cause Depression. In light of these studies, it could be stated that Social Media has a more negative impact than Positive on our lives.

Positive Side of Social Media | How it Effects?

The main positive side of Social Media is also its purpose: “A Connection Amongst Each Other”. As modern life is very busy and People live far away from each other. And it is very difficult to stay connected with people every time.

“Zeynep Tufekci” a scientist wrote about Social Media in his research article:

“The very fast rise of Social Media is a growing attempt by people everywhere to connect with each other. They are connecting even with all the barriers that the modern world forces on our lives”

Social Media also helps people to make new friends from whom we never met and whom interests are similar to you. People spread the news about major world’ events e.g in January 2010, the small country of “Haiti” experienced Earthquake. More than 90,000 people died. The damage was very big and people needed food and shelter there. International Red Cross organization started am appeal for Aid on Social Media and the outcome of that campaign was out of expectations. Millions of Dollars were collected in a few days for the help of victims. Wendy Harman, a social media manager told that:

“The result was very impressive. I would not have spread so widely without Social Media”

It is meant to be noted that Social Media has many positive effects, but it also has a bad side with more harmful effects than positive effects.

Negative Side of Social Media | How it Effects?

According to a specified study on Social Media conducted in the Public Library of Science, United States, “The more the people use Social Media, the less they are satisfied with their Life”.

In another study in Germany, it was found that: “The most common emotion people experienced while using social Media was – ENVY”

Both studies concluded that Social Media Causes feelings of DEPRESSION!

So, how Social Media is a cause of Depression?

As we discussed earlier when people use Social Media they only post the best things about their lives. They talk about fun and usually post the pictures that present them particularly Perfect and Good. This can feel their friends or other people less satisfied with their own lives. And, they begin to feel Envy because their friend’s lives look so perfect.

 Also, Social Media relationship is quite different from a normal relationship.  When people meet regularly or physically, they completely know each other; the Good and Bad in their lives. But when it comes to Social Media, a person probably knows about only what the other person wants to show.

Experts’ Reviews about Bad Side of Social Media:

v  Sherry Turkle, a technology expert claimed that Social Media is decreasing the quality of our relationships. She said:

“We expect more from technology and less from human being now a day. We desire technologies that provide an untruthful idea of a relationship without the demand of Relationship”

v  Ashleigh Elser, a writer in the New York Times stated that:

“I was not calling my friends anymore. I was just seeing their pictures and comment on social media and I felt like that was really connecting to them. But I never felt like we are together like we were”

Then she decided to quit the social media and she observed that stopping social media improve her relationship with her friends.

Another Use of Social Media as a Community-Based partner

But the use of Social Media has also transformed now, because it's not only considered for communication purpose, but it's become “COMMUNITY”; a community for Business. With the specialized revolution of Internet Technology; many businesses are shifted online also. These businesses will use social media as an open market and promote their products as well as Services.