Most people think social media could be one of the best creations ever. It introduces multiple ways of communication and networking. It connects people all around the world. One could stay in contact with a loved one who has moved or form new friendships with a person who is far away. However, social media’s reputation is not as it seems. A person’s confidence, knowledge, relationships, and mental health could really struggle with the use of social media. Sophomore, Zoe Bailey says, “The most negative thing about social media, in my opinion, is the hate people give and how rude someone can be. I think that it can cause addiction as well. People could idolize social media and not focus on much else.” People could lose sight of what they truly care about and cherish. Social media takes over a lot of people’s time and effort. It becomes a really time-consuming bad habit that a lot of people have.
Social media opens the doors to let almost anyone see anything and everything about the user based on what they post. People know that if it is posted to social media, there are no boundaries on what they can comment about it. Bailey also says, “Someone could be in your comments saying you’re not pretty enough, that your post is dumb, or that your body doesn’t look good. People are ruthless.” Seeing these comments could destroy one’s confidence. If extreme enough, this cyberbullying could lead to body image issues. Another thing that could destroy confidence is comparison. Someone could post a picture of themselves or something they have, and people are so quick to wish to look at or purchase what they have. However, a lot of posts made on social media are fake or pretend. These posts are aimed to make other people feel bad about their lives.
Since a lot of posts are faked, misinformation gets spread. Bailey says, “It’s like a big game of telephone.” It starts with one post that is a tad untrue, and then more people post and add more lies. Eventually, it turns into a giant fib. Society should never get their news from the internet. There is no way to fact-check the misinformation we hear online. Whether it is celebrity gossip or school rumors, everything can be stretched to the extreme. A lot of exaggeration can cause issues in relationships, and sometimes people don’t know who to believe in some situations. Another form of misinformation could also be catfishing. Some people pretend to be someone else. They create a fake identity and form relationships with others on the internet. These situations could be dangerous if they go too far. In some cases, people plan to meet a long-distance friend that they think they have found. In reality, it is some total stranger with bad intentions.
Despite all these negatives seeming fixable, there are a few issues that could be long-term. Having social media from a young age could get one used to communicating online. This habit could result in a lack of communication skills in real life. These issues could result in one not doing well in school or the workplace. Communication is vital in the real world outside of social media. Most people can easily send a text message but struggle to hold a phone conversation. Hiding behind a screen forms confidence. A lot of times, sending texts or emails digitally can be convenient. However, tone of voice and intention can be hard to determine without talking face-to-face. It is important that young people are able to carry in-person conversations.
In the end, the negatives of social media could outweigh the positives for some people. It is mostly based on a person’s opinion. Social media opens doors for countless opportunities for communication and networking. Therefore, most of the population uses it. With all these people on the internet, it is almost impossible to avoid connecting with someone new. This could be good or bad. It could be an opportunity for a new friend, or it could be a bullying possibility. There is no way to tell someone’s true intentions when they are talking behind a screen. Serious caution should be used when operating social media. Major warnings should be noticed before traveling to the world of the web. Social media could be the absolute best or most dangerous place ever.
