 |
| Source: Brandignity |
What is Social Media?
Social media is an umbrella term for different digital technologies that facilitate the sharing and texting of multimedia communications through virtual networks. Social media includes Youtube, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok primarily. According to Investopedia, “In early 2023, 94.8% of users accessed chat and messaging apps and websites, followed closely by social platforms, at 94.6% of users. Search engine sites were next, with 81.8% of users accessing them.”
Social media applications showcase user - generated content that is gathered by the use of algorithms which track what the user likes and dislikes, showcasing more of what they like to make them use the social media application more and more. When Facebook and Twitter entered the world of social media, the usage of social media shot up.
There is practically a social media application for every type of internet user. From someone who likes to shop to someone who loves to game, to bored people just looking for companionship. Through Instagram people can market their clothes, and can invite people to game with them. Applications such as Twitch and Discord allow gamers all over the world to interact with one another. Apps such as Bumble and Tinder allow people to navigate the world of dating more easily, and seek companionship.
Businesses now market themselves through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. These are a couple of the most used social media applications at the moment. This allows for businesses to cultivate a culture of fan based following for their brand, which further improves their brand and makes them gain a lot of views.
A lot of the news on celebrities, occurrences around the world is shared often through social media. As mentioned in Investopedia, “According to the Global Web Index, 46% of internet users worldwide get their news through social media platforms. That compares to 40% of users who view news on websites. Gen Z and Millennials were most likely to view news on social media sites versus other generations.”
How is Social Media Beneficial To The Youth?
With social media people are able to create friends, have fun, and just overall have a good time. According to a 2019 survey by Pew Research Center, “people’s usage of social media is primarily correlated with having more friends and having a diverse network of connections with people. For 80% of teenagers, social media allows them to feel more connected to peers, according to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17”. Additionally, it is beneficial to business as well. According to Investopedia, “90% of marketers say they use Facebook for promotion of their products”.
What are The Negative effects of Social Media on The Young Population?
Despite its many benefits, it also has some drawbacks. Since social media is a very powerful tool, some people can take undue advantage of this power.
People bully, spread misinformation, and do peer pressure because they have insecurities deep within which they project onto the innocent. This can cause one to feel very lonely, instead of feeling the happiness of friendship. It is very important to realize the effect our words can have on someone’s mental well being. It can also distract them a lot when they constantly engage in social media, replying and chatting.
 |
| Source: Addiction Center |
Peer pressure is another way social media manifests negatively into youths' lives. For example, seeing people vape often on social media, showing it as something cool and fashionable, can lead to many teens doing it just to fit in with the society.
The Bottom Line
Social media can be an intensely powerful and useful tool for some, and for some it can deteriorate their mental health and their well - being overall. The effects that social media has on you purely depends upon its usage. With moderate consumption of social media, you can have fun and talk with your friends, engage in meaningful conversations and have a great time! Remember, all in moderation is the best way to go about it.
Written by - Vidita Sachdeva
.jpeg)
0 Comments