- By: Alishba Abdul Ghaffar
Over the past ten years, social media has slowly and gradually moved into the lives of millions across the world. The very platforms that include Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok have altered our form of communication and sharing information to keep in touch with one another. Recently, the effects of social media are seen to have a good and bad impact on different aspects of life ranging from communication and relating to mental well-being and information consumption.
One of the big changes that social media has done to us in the way we communicate. The social media channels enable instant messaging over long distances which helps to tie up the connections between family, friends or employees irrespective of where they are placed geographically. This has also allowed businesses and individuals to share their ideas, products and services globally. However, it has also decreased face-to-face conversations; a lot of people prefer digital communication to in-personal meetings. Words have been cut short; it’s usually restricted to texts, comments or replies made up of emojis. This could chip away at the closeness of a relationship and our capacity to strike up meaningful conversations.
Where social media have massive advantages like it also impact negatively on our daily lives. On the negative side, social media can be very addictive. This would result in time wastage and lower productivity. It could also have a negative impact on mental health since people will have to compare their lives with ideal ones leading to feelings of inadequacy or even depression and anxiety. Misinformation is highly likely to be spread very fast; it becomes hard for one to identify credible information. Privacy issues are also common since sharing personal information may lead to having data stolen and even identity theft. The other effect includes reducing physical interactions by forging more online friends than offline which affect one’s interpersonal skills. This also creates a social pressure that leads people to meet certain standards whether it is appearance or lifestyle, which can cause stress among other unhealthy behaviors.
To combat the downside of social media, one has to use it purposefully and strike a balance. Time restrictions help in avoiding overuse, which enhances productivity. Being mindful when going through content, verifying facts, and not comparing oneself with others contribute toward the protection of mental well-being. Giving more importance to real-world interactions than virtual ones enhances personal relationships. Security risks can be minimized by being private and cautious about what we share. In managing how we consume it, social media can prove a boon rather than bane in our daily lives.