# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As parents, we talk to our kids about drinking, drugs, sex, and anything else we think we need to in order keep them safe and healthy. But how many of us talk to our kids about cheating? If we aren't, we should be. Cheating is an epidemic in America's high schools and colleges. Everyone cheats. Okay, maybe not everyone. But today more students are cheating than not.

Students cheat because of the pressure to succeed. They cheat because they've seen it modeled by politicians, athletes, and corporations. They cheat because they are bored. They cheat because they are lazy. And they cheat because cheating is so common that they don't even think of it as cheating anymore. They don't even think it's wrong.

But cheating is wrong - probably more wrong than many parents have even considered. After all, even without the aid of the Internet and cell phones, those of us who grew up in the John Hughes generation, admiring Ferris Bueller and John Bender, probably cheated in high school too.

But today academic dishonesty is easier, more wide-spread, and more problematic, in part, because it isn't even considered cheating. As a teacher, I often hear students brag about cheating as if it's a game to be played. Who can come up with the cleverest way to cheat? Who can best outsmart the teacher? Who can get away with the most? At times it seems as if students take more pride in cheating than they do in actually learning or achieving anything. If this cheating trend continues, our culture and our kids could be in serious trouble.

Five reasons cheating hurts students now and will lead to a troubling future

1. Cheating is not a victimless crime.

When I discuss cheating with my students, I often hear comments like, "I'm not hurting anybody. So what difference does it make?" That all depends. The fact is, even good students cheat. In an article in The Atlantic, teacher and author Jessica Lahey discusses her email encounter with a serial cheater. This student was his high school's valedictorian, editor of the school newspaper, a National AP Scholar, and was ultimately accepted into his college honors program. High achieving students are the ones who get into prestigious colleges and receive competitive, merit-based scholarships. Not only that, they receive letters of recommendation from their teachers. Their parents are proud of them. And people admire them. All of these rewards and accolades are not only the result of cheating, some are also gotten at the expense of other students - perhaps ones who did not cheat. Academic dishonesty gives cheaters an unfair advantage over honest students, and it misleads proud parents and dedicated teachers.

[Read next: Why parents need to talk about academic dishonesty, early and often, with their kids]

2. Cheating creates a culture of mistrust.

When we discuss cheating and integrity in my classes, my students are quick to point out that everybody cheats. They aren't disturbed by this. But when I use Victor Dorff's example from his article A World Without Integrity and ask them how they would feel if they knew their surgeon had cheated on her medical exams or their airplane pilot had cheated in flight school, they find that much more troubling. What about the guy who washes your dishes in a restaurant? What if he cheats and doesn't use soap or hot water? What if the clerk fitting you for your basketball shoes cheats and gives you the wrong size? What if your teachers cheat and don't bother to grade a paper you've worked on for weeks but instead just assign you a C? If we don't see cheating as a wrong, soon we won't have any reason not to suspect everybody of cheating. Why wouldn't they? It's no big deal.

3. Cheating leads to a cutting-corners mentality.

It's clear from talking to my students that most of them do not see themselves as dishonest. They don't even see themselves as cheaters - rather just kids who cheat in school. They don't consider that the habits and work ethic that they are forming, or failing to form, now are likely to be the ones they will carry into adulthood. When we discuss workplace integrity, many of them don't realize that slacking off on the job is actually a form of cheating, of stealing even. As a generation of cheaters they seem to have developed the mindset that if they can get away with it, it's not really wrong.

4. Cheating is a broken window.

According the Broken Window Theory, small acts of disobedience and incivility - graffiti, turnstile jumping, and panhandling - lead to much more serious crimes. The idea is that if these small crimes can go unnoticed and unpunished, then maybe no one is really watching. Maybe no one cares. In the early 90's when the New York City police department, under the leadership of Police Commissioner William Bratton, began to implement the Broken Window Theory and crack down on smaller crimes, the city saw a 40 percent decrease in serious crime. Academic dishonesty is the broken window of American schools, maybe even of the millennial generation. If our young people have adopted a "nobody really cares anyway" attitude about cheating, it will likely be easier for them to adopt an equally casual attitude about more serious offenses.

5. Cheating devalues education.

One reason students cheat is because they value a letter grade or a test score far more than they value actual learning. They aren't as interested in being truly educated as they are in receiving a diploma or a degree that makes it look as if they have been educated. But if my students and the data are correct and student cheating is at an all time high, then what does a diploma or a degree really even mean? It surely isn't an indication of actual achievement. If students can get through high school or college without actually learning, what difference does it make if they even graduate? When millennials who got through high school and college by cheating are hiring and promoting then next generation, will academic achievement even matter to them? Or will they devalue the education of their children's generation the way they have devalued their own?

I don't mean to be too hard on millennials and homelanders. They didn't just wake up one day and decide to become cheaters. They have grown up in an educational system that places an inordinate value on test scores. Academically inclined students have felt tremendous pressure to excel. And non college-bound students have been held to most of the same rigorous (and to their minds, meaningless) standards as their college-bound peers. Our kids are disengaged, disillusioned, and overwhelmed.

Certainly teachers, parents, and the educational system all bear some of the blame for the cheating mentality that has taken hold of our kids. It will most definitely take the efforts, not only of the students themselves, but also of every adult who cares about kids to shake loose that hold. Parents need to teach their children from a very early age that cheating is wrong. We need to teach it in the same way we teach them about drugs or smoking or stranger danger. Teachers must teach students what constitutes academic dishonesty and be more vigilant about catching cheaters. We have to hold them to a higher standard of academic integrity. And our educational system must stop treating kids like sources of data to be mined and instead instill in them a passion for learning, for true education.
Related: Teacher Offers Best Advice to High School Freshmen 16 Awesome Gifts for College Kids and Teens

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
A letter to My Daughters About "Locker Room Talk"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Cheating Hurts Students Now and in Their Future

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
As parents, we talk to our kids about drinking, drugs, sex, and anything else we think we need to in order keep them safe and healthy. But how many of us talk to our kids about cheating? If we aren't, we should be. Cheating is an epidemic in America's high schools and colleges.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Written by Van Thompson

It's easy for students to get so caught up in the short-term stress of college that they forget about the long-term consequences of their decisions. Cheating might seem like an ideal solution when a student doesn't study, can't completely research a paper or is struggling to avoid failing a class. The consequences of cheating, however, can be truly dire and range from temporary academic difficulties to serious legal problems and permanent reputation damage.

Class Failure

Most schools impose, at minimum, academic penalties on students who cheat. At Georgia State University, for example, students might fail the assignment or the class. The seriousness of the penalty often depends on the severity of the cheating. A student who inadvertently plagiarized, for example, might just get a failing grade on a paper, while a student caught deliberately cheating on an exam might fail the class.

Suspension and Expulsion

Some schools impose harsh disciplinary penalties on students who cheat, particularly if the cheating was very egregious or the student has been caught cheating before. Students might be placed on academic probation and have their work carefully monitored. They can also be suspended or even expelled from school. Students who receive such harsh penalties often have university-level hearings, and the school will probably put the reason for the penalty in the student's transcript, which may be viewed by potential employers later on.

Legal Consequences

Cheating can rise to the level of a legal violation when students steal other people's copyrighted work. For example, a student who lifts excerpts from someone else's paper and then uses them in her own published paper has committed copyright infringement. She could be sued by the creator of the work for any financial damages the creator suffered as a result of the infringement. Most cheating in college does not rise to this level, but it is still a possibility.

Academic Reputation

Cheating can permanently haunt an academic career. Students who go on to graduate school may encounter professors who know they have cheated, and these professors may tell other people about the cheating. Cheating often goes on a student's transcript and this can interfere with her ability to transfer to a new school or attend graduate school. Even if a professor takes no formal disciplinary action, if other people know about the cheating, it can taint a student's reputation and cause people to question her work.

About the Author

Van Thompson is an attorney and writer. A former martial arts instructor, he holds bachelor's degrees in music and computer science from Westchester University, and a juris doctor from Georgia State University. He is the recipient of numerous writing awards, including a 2009 CALI Legal Writing Award.

Photo Credits

Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Effects on Students Who Get Caught Cheating in College

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's easy for students to get so caught up in the short-term stress of college that they forget about the long-term consequences of their decisions. Cheating might seem like an ideal solution when a student doesn't study, can't completely research a paper or is struggling to avoid failing a class.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Many parents worry about how exposure to technology might affect toddlers developmentally. We know our preschoolers are picking up new social and cognitive skills at a stunning pace, and we don't want hours spent glued to an iPad to impede that. But adolescence is an equally important period of rapid development, and too few of us are paying attention to how our teenagers' use of technology - much more intense and intimate than a 3-year-old playing with dad's iPhone - is affecting them. In fact, experts worry that the social media and text messages that have become so integral to teenage life are promoting anxiety and lowering self-esteem.

Young people report that there might be good reason to worry. A survey conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health asked 14-24-year-olds in the UK how social media platforms impacted their health and well-being. The survey results found that Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all led to increased feelings of depression, anxiety, poor body image, and loneliness.

Indirect communication

Teens are masters at keeping themselves occupied in the hours after school until way past bedtime. When they're not doing their homework (and when they are) they're online and on their phones, texting, sharing, trolling, scrolling, you name it. Of course before everyone had an Instagram account teens kept themselves busy, too, but they were more likely to do their chatting on the phone, or in person when hanging out at the mall. It may have looked like a lot of aimless hanging around, but what they were doing was experimenting, trying out skills, and succeeding and failing in tons of tiny real-time interactions that kids today are missing out on. For one thing, modern teens are learning to do most of their communication while looking at a screen, not another person.

"As a species we are very highly attuned to reading social cues," says Catherine Steiner-Adair, EdD, a clinical psychologist and author of The Big Disconnect. "There's no question kids are missing out on very critical social skills. In a way, texting and online communicating puts everybody in a context where body language, facial expression, and even the smallest kinds of vocal reactions are rendered invisible."

Lowering the risks

Certainly speaking indirectly creates a barrier to clear communication, but that's not all. Learning how to make friends is a major part of growing up, and friendship requires a certain amount of risk-taking. This is true for making a new friend, but it's also true for maintaining friendships. When there are problems that need to be faced - big ones or small ones - it takes courage to be honest about your feelings and then hear what the other person has to say. Learning to effectively cross these bridges is part of what makes friendship fun and exciting, and also scary. "Part of healthy self-esteem is knowing how to say what you think and feel even when you're in disagreement with other people or it feels emotionally risky," notes Dr. Steiner-Adair.

But when friendship is conducted online and through texts, kids are doing this in a context stripped of many of the most personal - and sometimes intimidating - aspects of communication. It's easier to keep your guard up when you're texting, so less is at stake. You aren't hearing or seeing the effect that your words are having on the other person. Because the conversation isn't happening in real time, each party can take more time to consider a response. No wonder kids say calling someone on the phone is "too intense"- it requires more direct communication, and if you aren't used to that it may well feel scary.

If kids aren't getting enough practice relating to people and getting their needs met in person and in real time, many of them will grow up to be adults who are anxious about our species' primary means of communication - talking. And of course social negotiations only get riskier as people get older and begin navigating romantic relationships and employment.

Cyberbullying and the imposter syndrome

The other big danger that comes from kids communicating more indirectly is that it has gotten easier to be cruel. "Kids text all sorts of things that you would never in a million years contemplate saying to anyone's face," says Donna Wick, EdD, a clinical and developmental psychologist. She notes that this seems to be especially true of girls, who typically don't like to disagree with each other in "real life."

"You hope to teach them that they can disagree without jeopardizing the relationship, but what social media is teaching them to do is disagree in ways that are more extreme and do jeopardize the relationship. It's exactly what you don't want to have happen," she says.

Dr. Steiner-Adair agrees that girls are particularly at risk. "Girls are socialized more to compare themselves to other people, girls in particular, to develop their identities, so it makes them more vulnerable to the downside of all this." She warns that a lack of solid self-esteem is often to blame. "We forget that relational aggression comes from insecurity and feeling awful about yourself, and wanting to put other people down so you feel better."

Peer acceptance is a big thing for adolescents, and many of them care about their image as much as a politician running for office, and to them it can feel as serious. Add to that the fact that kids today are getting actual polling data on how much people like them or their appearance via things like "likes." It's enough to turn anyone's head. Who wouldn't want to make themselves look cooler if they could? So kids can spend hours pruning their online identities, trying to project an idealized image. Teenage girls sort through hundreds of photos, agonizing over which ones to post online. Boys compete for attention by trying to out-gross one other, pushing the envelope as much as they can in the already disinhibited atmosphere online. Kids gang up on each other.

Adolescents have always been doing this, but with the advent of social media they are faced with more opportunities - and more traps - than ever before. When kids scroll through their feeds and see how great everyone seems, it only adds to the pressure. We're used to worrying about the impractical ideals that photoshopped magazine models give to our kids, but what happens with the kid next door is photoshopped, too? Even more confusing, what about when your own profile doesn't really represent the person that you feel like you are on the inside?

"Adolescence and the early twenties in particular are the years in which you are acutely aware of the contrasts between who you appear to be and who you think you are," says Dr. Wick. "It's similar to the 'imposter syndrome' in psychology. As you get older and acquire more mastery, you begin to realize that you actually are good at some things, and then you feel that gap hopefully narrow. But imagine having your deepest darkest fear be that you aren't as good as you look, and then imagine needing to look that good all the time! It's exhausting."

As Dr. Steiner-Adair explains, "Self-esteem comes from consolidating who you are." The more identities you have, and the more time you spend pretending to be someone you aren't, the harder it's going to be to feel good about yourself.

Stalking (and being ignored)

Another big change that has come with new technology and especially smart phones is that we are never really alone. Kids update their status, share what they're watching, listening to, and reading, and have apps that let their friends know their specific location on a map at all times. Even if a person isn't trying to keep his friends updated, he's still never out of reach of a text message. The result is that kids feel hyperconnected with each other. The conversation never needs to stop, and it feels like there's always something new happening.

"Whatever we think of the 'relationships' maintained and in some cases initiated on social media, kids never get a break from them," notes Dr. Wick. "And that, in and of itself, can produce anxiety. Everyone needs a respite from the demands of intimacy and connection; time alone to regroup, replenish and just chill out. When you don't have that, it's easy to become emotionally depleted, fertile ground for anxiety to breed."

It's also surprisingly easy to feel lonely in the middle of all that hyperconnection. For one thing, kids now know with depressing certainty when they're being ignored. We all have phones and we all respond to things pretty quickly, so when you're waiting for a response that doesn't come, the silence can be deafening. The silent treatment might be a strategic insult or just the unfortunate side effect of an online adolescent relationship that starts out intensely but then fades away.

"In the old days when a boy was going to break up with you, he had to have a conversation with you. Or at least he had to call," says Dr. Wick. "These days he might just disappear from your screen, and you never get to have the 'What did I do?' conversation." Kids are often left imagining the worst about themselves.

But even when the conversation doesn't end, being in a constant state of waiting can still provoke anxiety. We can feel ourselves being put on the back burner, we put others back there, and our very human need to communicate is effectively delegated there, too.

What should parents do?

Both experts interviewed for this article agreed that the best thing parents can do to minimize the risks associated with technology is to curtail their own consumption first. It's up to parents to set a good example of what healthy device usage looks like. Most of us check our phones or our email too much, out of either real interest or nervous habit. Kids should be used to seeing our faces, not our heads bent over a screen. Establish technology-free zones in the house and technology-free hours when no one uses the phone, including mom and dad. "Don't walk in the door after work in the middle of a conversation," Dr. Steiner-Adair advises. "Don't walk in the door after work, say 'hi' quickly, and then 'just check your email.' In the morning, get up a half hour earlier than your kids and check your email then. Give them your full attention until they're out the door. And neither of you should be using phones in the car to or from school because that's an important time to talk."

Not only does limiting the amount of time you spend plugged in to computers provide a healthy counterpoint to the tech-obsessed world, it also strengthens the parent-child bond and makes kids feel more secure. Kids need to know that you are available to help them with their problems, talk about their day, or give them a reality check.

"It is the mini-moments of disconnection, when parents are too focused on their own devices and screens, that dilute the parent-child relationship," Dr. Steiner-Adair warns. And when kids start turning to the internet for help or to process whatever happened during the day, you might not like what happens. "Tech can give your children more information that you can, and it doesn't have your values," notes Dr. Steiner-Adair. "It won't be sensitive to your child's personality, and it won't answer his question in a developmentally appropriate way."

In addition Dr. Wick advises delaying the age of first use as much as possible. "I use the same advice here that I use when talking about kids and alcohol - try to get as far as you can without anything at all." If your child is on a social media platform, Dr. Wick says that you should friend them and monitor their page. But she advises against going through text messages unless there is cause for concern. "If you have a reason to be worried then okay, but it better be a good reason. I see parents who are just plain old spying on their kids. Parents should begin by trusting their children. To not even give your kid the benefit of the doubt is incredibly damaging to the relationship. You have to feel like your parents think you're a good kid."

Offline, the gold standard advice for helping kids build healthy self-esteem is to get them involved in something that they're interested in. It could be sports or music or taking apart computers or volunteering - anything that sparks an interest and gives them confidence. When kids learn to feel good about what they can do instead of how they look and what they own, they're happier and better prepared for success in real life. That most of these activities also involve spending time interacting with peers face-to-face is just the icing on the cake.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does social media affect behavior negatively?

How does social media affect social skills?

How does social media affect teenagers' mental health?

Is social media harmful?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Using Social Media Affects Teenagers - Child Mind Institute

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How does social media affect teens? Experts say kids are growing up with more anxiety and less self-esteem due to social media. Read advice for parents from specialists in our article.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Information and communication technology has changed rapidly over the past 20 years, with a key development being the emergence of social media.

The pace of change is accelerating. For example, the development of mobile technology has played an essential role in shaping the impact of social media. Across the globe, mobile devices dominate in terms of total minutes spent online. They put the means to connect anywhere, at any time on any device in everyone's hands.

Here's the video of our course on Social Media Strategy | Social Media Marketing Tutorial

Learn for free! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel & Be a Part of 400k+ Happy Learners Community.

A fascinating study by the New York Times Consumer Insight Group revealed the motivations that participants cited for sharing information on social media. These include a desire to reveal valuable and entertaining content to others; to define themselves; to grow and nourish relationships and to get the word out about brands and causes they like or support.
Source
These factors have caused social networks to evolve from being a handy means for keeping in touch with friends and family to being used in ways that have a real impact on society.

The Influence of Social media is being used in ways that shape politics, business, world culture, education, careers, innovation, and more.

Master SEO, social media, pay-per-click, conversion optimization, digital analytics, content, mobile, & email marketing in just 12 months. Enroll for our Digital Marketing Masters Program!

1. The Impact of Social Media on Politics

A new study from Pew Research claims that about one in five U.S. adults gets their political news primarily through social media. The study also finds that those who do get their political news primarily through social media tend to be less well-informed and more likely to be exposed to unproven claims that people who get their news from traditional sources.

In comparison to other media, the influence of social media in political campaigns has increased tremendously. Social networks play an increasingly important role in electoral politics - first in the ultimately unsuccessful candidacy of Howard Dean in 2003, then in the election of the first African-American president in 2008, and again in the Twitter-driven campaign of Donald Trump.

The New York Times reports that "The election of Donald J. Trump is perhaps the starkest illustration yet that across the planet, social networks are helping to fundamentally rewire human society." Because social media allows people to communicate more freely, they are helping to create surprisingly influential social organizations among once-marginalized groups.

2. The Impact of Social Media on Society

Almost a quarter of the world's population is now on Facebook. In the U.S., nearly 80% of all internet users are on this platform. Because social networks feed off interactions among people, they become more powerful as they grow.

Thanks to the internet, each person with marginal views can see that he's not alone. And when these people find one another via social media, they can do things - create memes, publications, and entire online worlds that bolster their worldview, and then break into the mainstream.

Without social media, social, ethical, environmental, and political ills would have minimal visibility. Increased visibility of issues has shifted the balance of power from the hands of a few to the masses.

The flipside: Social media is slowly killing real activism and replacing it with 'slacktivism'

While social media activism brings an increased awareness about societal issues, questions remain as to whether this awareness is translating into real change. Some argue that social sharing has encouraged people to use computers and mobile phones to express their concerns on social issues without actually having to engage actively with campaigns in real life. Their support is limited to pressing the 'Like' button or sharing content.

This passivity is a very human reaction when people are given options that absolve them from the responsibility to act. A 2013 study by the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business found that when people are presented with the option of 'liking' a social cause, they use this to opt-out of actually committing time and money to a charitable cause. On the other hand, when people are allowed to show support in private, they are more likely to offer meaningful support by making a financial contribution.

The researchers found that a public endorsement is meant to satisfy others' opinions, whereas people who give in private do so because the cause is aligned to their values. This peer pressure may be a factor in the recent trend of political polls in the U.S. to misread voter intentions: people who respond to the polls may be answering how they think the pollsters expect or the way they think will please their peers, but in the privacy of the voting booth (or at home with a mail-in ballot), they vote according to their true preferences.

3. The Impact of Social Media on Commerce

The rise of social media means it's unusual to find an organization that does not reach its customers and prospects through one social media platform or another. Companies see the importance of using social media to connect with customers and build revenue.

Businesses have realized they can use social media to generate insights, stimulate demand, and create targeted product offerings. These functions are important in traditional brick-and-motor businesses and, obviously, in the world of e-commerce.

[Related reading: 9 Social Media Marketing Skills You Need Right Now]

Many studies suggest implementing social networks within the workplace can strengthen knowledge sharing. The result is to improve project management activities and enable the spread of specialized knowledge. Fully implementing social technologies in the workplace removes boundaries, eliminates silos, and can raise interaction and help create more highly skilled and knowledgeable workers.

The flipside: A low number of social 'shares' can lead to negative social proof and destroy business credibility

Interestingly, although social sharing has become the norm rather than the exception in business, some companies, after experiencing first-hand some adverse effects of social media, have decided to go against the grain and remove the social sharing buttons from their websites.

A case study of Taloon.com, an e-commerce retailer from Finland, found that conversions rose by 11.9% when they removed share buttons from their product pages.

These results highlight the double-edged nature of the impact of social media. When products attract a lot of shares, it can reinforce sales. But when the reverse is true, customers begin to distrust the product and the company. This effect is what Dr. Paul Marsden, psychologist and author of 'The Social Commerce Handbook,' referred to as 'social proof.'

4. The Impact of Social Media on the World of Work

Social media has had a profound effect on recruitment and hiring. Professional social networks such as LinkedIn are important social media platforms for anyone looking to stand out in their profession. They allow people to create and market a personal brand.

Nineteen percent of hiring managers make their hiring decisions based on information found on social media. According to CareerBuilder's 2018 social media recruitment survey, 70 percent of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates.

Also Read: Personal Branding Vs. Business Branding

5. The Impact of Social Media on Training and Development

Job candidates who develop skills in the latest and most advanced social media techniques are far more employable.

A 2020 survey by OnePoll on behalf of Pearson and Connections Academy asked 2,000 U.S. parents and their high-school aged children about the "new normal" of high school. Sixty-eight percent of students and 65% of their parents believe that social media will be a useful tool and part of the new high school normal.

Blogs, wikis, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and podcasts are now common tools for learning in many educational institutions. Social media has contributed to the increase in long-distance online learning.

Despite issues of lack of privacy and some instances of cheating among long-distance learners, this has not deterred social platforms from being used in education.

Become a certified digital marketer and reach new career heights with our IMT Ghaziabad Digital Marketing Program. Enroll today!

6. Negative Impact of Social Media

Social Media is relatively a newer technology, hence, it is a little difficult to establish its long-term good and bad consequences. However, multiple researchers have concluded a strong relationship between heavy use of social media platforms with an increase in risk of depression, self-harm, anxiety, and loneliness.

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

Long-use of social media platforms make you addicted to checking out what other people are doing. FOMO is an exacerbated feeling that other people are living better lives or having more fun compared with you. This feeling makes you check your notification every second, just to make yourself feel better.

Cyberbullying

Teenagers need to fit in, to be popular, and to outdo others. This process was challenging long before the advent of social media. Add Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram into the mix, and you suddenly have teenagers subjected to feeling pressure to grow up too fast in an online world.

The Cyberbullying Institute's 2019 survey of U.S. middle and high school students found that over 36 percent report having been cyberbullied at some point in their life, with 30 percent having been victimized twice or more. It also found that almost 15 percent admitted to having cyberbullied someone at least once, and nearly 11 percent admitting to doing it two or more times. Teenagers can misuse social media platforms to spread rumors, share videos aimed at destroying reputations, and to blackmail others.

Lack of Privacy

Stalking, identity theft, personal attacks, and misuse of information are some of the threats faced by social media users. Most of the time, the users themselves are to blame as they share content that should not be in the public eye. The confusion arises from a lack of understanding of how the private and public elements of an online profile actually work.

Unfortunately, by the time private content is deleted, it's usually too late. and the content can cause problems in people's personal and professional lives.

7. The Impact of Social Media on Relationships

One of the effects of social media is encouraging people to form and cherish "social media friendships" over actual friendships. The term 'friend' as used on social media is a weak shadow of traditional friendship. Real friends actually know each other, frequently interact face to face, and have a personal bond.

If the internet is an unmissable part of contemporary life, social media is integral for communication - an unavoidable element, especially for those who lead hectic lifestyles and depend on it for even the smallest updates. People can communicate with friends, speak with family, and stay updated on global happenings via numerous platforms. One of the most common online activities is using social media, and in 2021, 82% of Americans had a profile on one or more social networking sites, up 2% from the usage rate of 80% the year before. That comes to about 223 million social media users in the United States in 2020.

Over the past ten years, social media has grown astronomically. There was minimal participation in the industry in 2005. At the time, most of them were unaware, and among those who knew, having the opportunity to establish a MySpace page typically meant elaborate backgrounds and unique playlists rather than a direct connection. If people were to spring back a little bit, the real taste of social media emerged from blogging, where accounts were created sometime in the 1980s. After that, the evolution of free platforms and chat rooms created newer social opportunities. Later Facebook, Twitter, and others revolutionized it.

Advantages of Social Media

Connectivity

Connectivity is among the most significant benefits of social media. It can link countless users at any time, everywhere. Information could be spread globally through social media and its connectedness, making it simple for people to interact with one another. It results in global relationships.

Education

The use of social media in education is commendable. Learners and educators can enroll in global collaborative platforms to facilitate constructive learning. It also aids in skill improvement by fostering knowledge and creativity.

Information and Updates

Stay informed about events happening across the globe or in other people's lives using social media. In contrast to television, radio, or newspapers, social media lets everyone convey information accurately by presenting the real picture. It aids in showcasing real-world news across the globe.

Awareness

People have become more conscious thanks to social media. It serves as a channel for information, thus paving the way to innovation and success via developing their knowledge and abilities. Social media well-covers global events, making people more aware of their surroundings.

Share Anything With Others

Social media is the best platform to convey feelings and opinions - a song, a poem, a work of art, a decadent dessert, or anything else. Anyone can let their creativity shine through the platform for it to be shared by millions of others. Sharing the artistic works with others could open the door to achievement and several milestones.

Helps in Building Communities

Live in a diverse world where individuals from different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds exist. Social media brings these people together by linking them on a common platform. Thus, fostering a sense of unity facilitates the development of community links. For instance, food lovers can join the community of food bloggers, while gamers can join communities focused on gaming, etc.

Noble Cause

Noble deeds can be promoted on social media. It is the ideal tool for endorsing causes like giving donations to those with cancer, for instance, to those who need money for treatment. While everyone can use social media to assist others in finance, it is also the simplest and fastest way to advance any worthwhile cause.

Mental Health

Social media serves as an excellent stress reliever. Several groups can support people battling against stress, depression, and loneliness. By creating a feeling of elation, these communities can bestow a brighter attitude while also helping develop healthy relationships with others, thus enhancing mental health.

Brand Reputation

Social media improves company relationships by fostering goodwill among users; its promotion increases sales, which in turn increases profitability. The comments and feedback left by customers are a fantastic resource for businesses. Due to the user likes garnered, companies can experience enhanced popularity and a boost in revenue.

Brand Awareness

Networking platforms contribute to greater brand recognition. Visually appealing products and information capture users' attention, which increases brand visibility and raises customer knowledge about certain goods and services.

Customer Interaction

Social media enhances customer engagement by providing goods and services and soliciting comments on them. Users from across communities leave various feedback and suggestions, which can assist in improving areas of focus and satisfy them.

Promotion

Social media is a great supporter of internet commerce and marketing. Posts and promotions facilitate effective user connections and contribute to the profitability of a business. It fosters user relationships and endorses customer loyalty, which is crucial for any company's expansion.

Disadvantages of Social Media

Affects Social-Emotional Connection

Social media hampers emotional bonds. Everything is conveyed through texts digitally, which can stunt expressions. Ingenuity is lost when people who would ideally visit one another to convey greetings only send text messages instead of hugs.

Decreases Quick-witted Skill

With the decrease in real face-to-face conversations and in-person chats, quick-wittedness is rare. Sense of humor and sporty tête-à-têtes have been compromised - the sense of love, friendship, fun, and enjoyment have all disappeared due to the effects of social media on human mental health.

Causing Distress to Someone's Feelings

People who use social media to communicate lack empathy and do not wink an eyelid when they have to hurt someone. The latest trolls, negative comments, and feedback are all witnesses to the hard-heartedness that has evolved due to the invisible nature of social media.

Present Physically Not Mentally

Spending time with each other is about being 'present' and in the moment. As friends and family gather, create memories by speaking to one another about times past, present and future. Unfortunately, today with social media being made available on the mobile phone, people spend time with each other 'scrolling' through posts.

Lacking Understanding and Thoughtfulness

Feelings are conveyed through word and voice - but to do this, there is a need to be physically present in front of the other person to communicate feelings effectively. However, social media gives it a different hue when anyone puts them into a text, thus masking the real meaning.

Lack of Quality Family Time

Social media has been the cause of many disrupted relationships simply because families cannot spend quality time with each other. Family time has taken a hit with 'me' and privacy taking precedence (due to the quality of texts that appear on social media).

Cyberbullying

People, particularly children, have been victims of cyberbullying where threats, cons, and other negative activities easily ensnare them. Fake news and rumors spread effortlessly, leading to depression and suicide.

Hacking

The vulnerability of social media has also thrown light on how easy it is to gather a person's data. Privacy settings must be constantly updated and profile locked to avoid such situations.

Distracted Mind

Social media is impulsive. New messages, notifications, and updates are the impetus to constantly checking the phone, resulting in distraction. The individual wastes time even ignoring important work to only look at the menial update.

Facilitates Laziness

Spending hours on the couch glued to our smartphones results in several health problems such as obesity, stress, and high blood pressure. Technology and accompanying social media have led to a rise in laziness among people due to no physical activity or exercise.

Addiction

A serious issue among youth social media addiction has led to disastrous consequences. While checking social media and using the smartphone in moderation is not bad, productive time and energy are wasted due to overuse.

Cheating and Relationship Issues

Individuals are now using social media as a platform for dating and marriage. However, chances are that the information provided on the profile is false, eventually leading to a toxic relationship or even divorce.

The Bottom Line

It's been said that information is power. Without a means of distributing information, people cannot harness its power. One positive impact of social media is in the distribution of information in today's world. Platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and others have made it possible to access information at the click of a button.

Research conducted by parse.ly shows that the life expectancy of a story posted on the web is 2.6 days, compared to 3.2 days when a story is shared on social media. That's a difference of 23%, which is significant when you consider that billions of people use the internet daily.

The lifespan of an article is different from the active lifespan of a social media post itself. Green Umbrella estimates that a Facebook post has an average lifespan of 6 hours, an Instagram post or LinkedIn post of 48 hours, and a tweet on Twitter a mere 18 minutes. The longer social media users actively access the information, the more discussion it generates and the greater the social media impact. The shorter the active lifespan, the more frequently one must post to that channel to maintain engagement (recognizing that posting too frequently can cause reader burnout).

While the world would be a much slower place without social media, it's caused harm as well as good. However, the positive impact of social media is astronomical and far surpasses the ills associated with sharing.

Ultimately, sharing is about getting people to see and respond to content. As long as the content is still relevant and the need for information still exists, it's always worthwhile for any organization to use social media to keep publishing.

FAQs

Q1. What is the main impact of social media on society?

Social media has changed the way we live our lives. It has redefined the way we imagine our surroundings. Who could have imagined that community networking sites would become a major platform for brands to find potential customers! There are both positive and negative impacts of social media on society as well as businesses.

Q2.What is the impact of social media in our daily lives?

Social media can impact you both positively and negatively. If you are a brand manager, or small business owner, then social media is a great platform for you to meet your customers. However, for individuals, social media is more like an addiction which may cause discomfort if not addressed properly.

Q3. What is the impact of social media in the modern world?

Social media in the modern world is used to connect with your friends and see what they are up-to without even calling them. It provides us a comfortable solution to connecting with our dear ones. For brands and businesses, social media is more like an advertising platform.

Q4. What are the five main benefits of social media?

Social media is a great innovation that has changed the way we communicate and interact with each other. Here are 5 main benefits of social media -

1. Stay updated with all the new things in the world

2. Communicate anytime, anywhere from the comfort of your home

3. Advertising platforms for brands to find their right-set of consumers

4. Easy to build relationships and connecting with like-minded people

5. Easy access to desired information, products and services.

A fascinating study by the New York Times Consumer Insight Group revealed the motivations that participants cited for sharing information on social media. These include a desire to reveal valuable and entertaining content to others; to define themselves; to grow and nourish relationships and to get the word out about brands and causes they like or support.
Source
These factors have caused social networks to evolve from being a handy means for keeping in touch with friends and family to being used in ways that have a real impact on society.

The Influence of Social media is being used in ways that shape politics, business, world culture, education, careers, innovation, and more.

Master SEO, social media, pay-per-click, conversion optimization, digital analytics, content, mobile, & email marketing in just 12 months. Enroll for our Digital Marketing Masters Program!

1. The Impact of Social Media on Politics

A new study from Pew Research claims that about one in five U.S. adults gets their political news primarily through social media. The study also finds that those who do get their political news primarily through social media tend to be less well-informed and more likely to be exposed to unproven claims that people who get their news from traditional sources.

In comparison to other media, the influence of social media in political campaigns has increased tremendously. Social networks play an increasingly important role in electoral politics - first in the ultimately unsuccessful candidacy of Howard Dean in 2003, then in the election of the first African-American president in 2008, and again in the Twitter-driven campaign of Donald Trump.

The New York Times reports that "The election of Donald J. Trump is perhaps the starkest illustration yet that across the planet, social networks are helping to fundamentally rewire human society." Because social media allows people to communicate more freely, they are helping to create surprisingly influential social organizations among once-marginalized groups.

2. The Impact of Social Media on Society

Almost a quarter of the world's population is now on Facebook. In the U.S., nearly 80% of all internet users are on this platform. Because social networks feed off interactions among people, they become more powerful as they grow.

Thanks to the internet, each person with marginal views can see that he's not alone. And when these people find one another via social media, they can do things - create memes, publications, and entire online worlds that bolster their worldview, and then break into the mainstream.

Without social media, social, ethical, environmental, and political ills would have minimal visibility. Increased visibility of issues has shifted the balance of power from the hands of a few to the masses.

The flipside: Social media is slowly killing real activism and replacing it with 'slacktivism'

While social media activism brings an increased awareness about societal issues, questions remain as to whether this awareness is translating into real change. Some argue that social sharing has encouraged people to use computers and mobile phones to express their concerns on social issues without actually having to engage actively with campaigns in real life. Their support is limited to pressing the 'Like' button or sharing content.

This passivity is a very human reaction when people are given options that absolve them from the responsibility to act. A 2013 study by the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business found that when people are presented with the option of 'liking' a social cause, they use this to opt-out of actually committing time and money to a charitable cause. On the other hand, when people are allowed to show support in private, they are more likely to offer meaningful support by making a financial contribution.

The researchers found that a public endorsement is meant to satisfy others' opinions, whereas people who give in private do so because the cause is aligned to their values. This peer pressure may be a factor in the recent trend of political polls in the U.S. to misread voter intentions: people who respond to the polls may be answering how they think the pollsters expect or the way they think will please their peers, but in the privacy of the voting booth (or at home with a mail-in ballot), they vote according to their true preferences.

3. The Impact of Social Media on Commerce

The rise of social media means it's unusual to find an organization that does not reach its customers and prospects through one social media platform or another. Companies see the importance of using social media to connect with customers and build revenue.

Businesses have realized they can use social media to generate insights, stimulate demand, and create targeted product offerings. These functions are important in traditional brick-and-motor businesses and, obviously, in the world of e-commerce.

[Related reading: 9 Social Media Marketing Skills You Need Right Now]

Many studies suggest implementing social networks within the workplace can strengthen knowledge sharing. The result is to improve project management activities and enable the spread of specialized knowledge. Fully implementing social technologies in the workplace removes boundaries, eliminates silos, and can raise interaction and help create more highly skilled and knowledgeable workers.

The flipside: A low number of social 'shares' can lead to negative social proof and destroy business credibility

Interestingly, although social sharing has become the norm rather than the exception in business, some companies, after experiencing first-hand some adverse effects of social media, have decided to go against the grain and remove the social sharing buttons from their websites.

A case study of Taloon.com, an e-commerce retailer from Finland, found that conversions rose by 11.9% when they removed share buttons from their product pages.

These results highlight the double-edged nature of the impact of social media. When products attract a lot of shares, it can reinforce sales. But when the reverse is true, customers begin to distrust the product and the company. This effect is what Dr. Paul Marsden, psychologist and author of 'The Social Commerce Handbook,' referred to as 'social proof.'

4. The Impact of Social Media on the World of Work

Social media has had a profound effect on recruitment and hiring. Professional social networks such as LinkedIn are important social media platforms for anyone looking to stand out in their profession. They allow people to create and market a personal brand.

Nineteen percent of hiring managers make their hiring decisions based on information found on social media. According to CareerBuilder's 2018 social media recruitment survey, 70 percent of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates.

Also Read: Personal Branding Vs. Business Branding

5. The Impact of Social Media on Training and Development

Job candidates who develop skills in the latest and most advanced social media techniques are far more employable.

A 2020 survey by OnePoll on behalf of Pearson and Connections Academy asked 2,000 U.S. parents and their high-school aged children about the "new normal" of high school. Sixty-eight percent of students and 65% of their parents believe that social media will be a useful tool and part of the new high school normal.

Blogs, wikis, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and podcasts are now common tools for learning in many educational institutions. Social media has contributed to the increase in long-distance online learning.

Despite issues of lack of privacy and some instances of cheating among long-distance learners, this has not deterred social platforms from being used in education.

Become a certified digital marketer and reach new career heights with our IMT Ghaziabad Digital Marketing Program. Enroll today!

6. Negative Impact of Social Media

Social Media is relatively a newer technology, hence, it is a little difficult to establish its long-term good and bad consequences. However, multiple researchers have concluded a strong relationship between heavy use of social media platforms with an increase in risk of depression, self-harm, anxiety, and loneliness.

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)

Long-use of social media platforms make you addicted to checking out what other people are doing. FOMO is an exacerbated feeling that other people are living better lives or having more fun compared with you. This feeling makes you check your notification every second, just to make yourself feel better.

Cyberbullying

Teenagers need to fit in, to be popular, and to outdo others. This process was challenging long before the advent of social media. Add Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram into the mix, and you suddenly have teenagers subjected to feeling pressure to grow up too fast in an online world.

The Cyberbullying Institute's 2019 survey of U.S. middle and high school students found that over 36 percent report having been cyberbullied at some point in their life, with 30 percent having been victimized twice or more. It also found that almost 15 percent admitted to having cyberbullied someone at least once, and nearly 11 percent admitting to doing it two or more times. Teenagers can misuse social media platforms to spread rumors, share videos aimed at destroying reputations, and to blackmail others.

Lack of Privacy

Stalking, identity theft, personal attacks, and misuse of information are some of the threats faced by social media users. Most of the time, the users themselves are to blame as they share content that should not be in the public eye. The confusion arises from a lack of understanding of how the private and public elements of an online profile actually work.

Unfortunately, by the time private content is deleted, it's usually too late. and the content can cause problems in people's personal and professional lives.

7. The Impact of Social Media on Relationships

One of the effects of social media is encouraging people to form and cherish "social media friendships" over actual friendships. The term 'friend' as used on social media is a weak shadow of traditional friendship. Real friends actually know each other, frequently interact face to face, and have a personal bond.

If the internet is an unmissable part of contemporary life, social media is integral for communication - an unavoidable element, especially for those who lead hectic lifestyles and depend on it for even the smallest updates. People can communicate with friends, speak with family, and stay updated on global happenings via numerous platforms. One of the most common online activities is using social media, and in 2021, 82% of Americans had a profile on one or more social networking sites, up 2% from the usage rate of 80% the year before. That comes to about 223 million social media users in the United States in 2020.

Over the past ten years, social media has grown astronomically. There was minimal participation in the industry in 2005. At the time, most of them were unaware, and among those who knew, having the opportunity to establish a MySpace page typically meant elaborate backgrounds and unique playlists rather than a direct connection. If people were to spring back a little bit, the real taste of social media emerged from blogging, where accounts were created sometime in the 1980s. After that, the evolution of free platforms and chat rooms created newer social opportunities. Later Facebook, Twitter, and others revolutionized it.

Advantages of Social Media

Connectivity

Connectivity is among the most significant benefits of social media. It can link countless users at any time, everywhere. Information could be spread globally through social media and its connectedness, making it simple for people to interact with one another. It results in global relationships.

Education

The use of social media in education is commendable. Learners and educators can enroll in global collaborative platforms to facilitate constructive learning. It also aids in skill improvement by fostering knowledge and creativity.

Information and Updates

Stay informed about events happening across the globe or in other people's lives using social media. In contrast to television, radio, or newspapers, social media lets everyone convey information accurately by presenting the real picture. It aids in showcasing real-world news across the globe.

Awareness

People have become more conscious thanks to social media. It serves as a channel for information, thus paving the way to innovation and success via developing their knowledge and abilities. Social media well-covers global events, making people more aware of their surroundings.

Share Anything With Others

Social media is the best platform to convey feelings and opinions - a song, a poem, a work of art, a decadent dessert, or anything else. Anyone can let their creativity shine through the platform for it to be shared by millions of others. Sharing the artistic works with others could open the door to achievement and several milestones.

Helps in Building Communities

Live in a diverse world where individuals from different cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds exist. Social media brings these people together by linking them on a common platform. Thus, fostering a sense of unity facilitates the development of community links. For instance, food lovers can join the community of food bloggers, while gamers can join communities focused on gaming, etc.

Noble Cause

Noble deeds can be promoted on social media. It is the ideal tool for endorsing causes like giving donations to those with cancer, for instance, to those who need money for treatment. While everyone can use social media to assist others in finance, it is also the simplest and fastest way to advance any worthwhile cause.

Mental Health

Social media serves as an excellent stress reliever. Several groups can support people battling against stress, depression, and loneliness. By creating a feeling of elation, these communities can bestow a brighter attitude while also helping develop healthy relationships with others, thus enhancing mental health.

Brand Reputation

Social media improves company relationships by fostering goodwill among users; its promotion increases sales, which in turn increases profitability. The comments and feedback left by customers are a fantastic resource for businesses. Due to the user likes garnered, companies can experience enhanced popularity and a boost in revenue.

Brand Awareness

Networking platforms contribute to greater brand recognition. Visually appealing products and information capture users' attention, which increases brand visibility and raises customer knowledge about certain goods and services.

Customer Interaction

Social media enhances customer engagement by providing goods and services and soliciting comments on them. Users from across communities leave various feedback and suggestions, which can assist in improving areas of focus and satisfy them.

Promotion

Social media is a great supporter of internet commerce and marketing. Posts and promotions facilitate effective user connections and contribute to the profitability of a business. It fosters user relationships and endorses customer loyalty, which is crucial for any company's expansion.

Disadvantages of Social Media

Affects Social-Emotional Connection

Social media hampers emotional bonds. Everything is conveyed through texts digitally, which can stunt expressions. Ingenuity is lost when people who would ideally visit one another to convey greetings only send text messages instead of hugs.

Decreases Quick-witted Skill

With the decrease in real face-to-face conversations and in-person chats, quick-wittedness is rare. Sense of humor and sporty tête-à-têtes have been compromised - the sense of love, friendship, fun, and enjoyment have all disappeared due to the effects of social media on human mental health.

Causing Distress to Someone's Feelings

People who use social media to communicate lack empathy and do not wink an eyelid when they have to hurt someone. The latest trolls, negative comments, and feedback are all witnesses to the hard-heartedness that has evolved due to the invisible nature of social media.

Present Physically Not Mentally

Spending time with each other is about being 'present' and in the moment. As friends and family gather, create memories by speaking to one another about times past, present and future. Unfortunately, today with social media being made available on the mobile phone, people spend time with each other 'scrolling' through posts.

Lacking Understanding and Thoughtfulness

Feelings are conveyed through word and voice - but to do this, there is a need to be physically present in front of the other person to communicate feelings effectively. However, social media gives it a different hue when anyone puts them into a text, thus masking the real meaning.

Lack of Quality Family Time

Social media has been the cause of many disrupted relationships simply because families cannot spend quality time with each other. Family time has taken a hit with 'me' and privacy taking precedence (due to the quality of texts that appear on social media).

Cyberbullying

People, particularly children, have been victims of cyberbullying where threats, cons, and other negative activities easily ensnare them. Fake news and rumors spread effortlessly, leading to depression and suicide.

Hacking

The vulnerability of social media has also thrown light on how easy it is to gather a person's data. Privacy settings must be constantly updated and profile locked to avoid such situations.

Distracted Mind

Social media is impulsive. New messages, notifications, and updates are the impetus to constantly checking the phone, resulting in distraction. The individual wastes time even ignoring important work to only look at the menial update.

Facilitates Laziness

Spending hours on the couch glued to our smartphones results in several health problems such as obesity, stress, and high blood pressure. Technology and accompanying social media have led to a rise in laziness among people due to no physical activity or exercise.

Addiction

A serious issue among youth social media addiction has led to disastrous consequences. While checking social media and using the smartphone in moderation is not bad, productive time and energy are wasted due to overuse.

Cheating and Relationship Issues

Individuals are now using social media as a platform for dating and marriage. However, chances are that the information provided on the profile is false, eventually leading to a toxic relationship or even divorce.

The Bottom Line

It's been said that information is power. Without a means of distributing information, people cannot harness its power. One positive impact of social media is in the distribution of information in today's world. Platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and others have made it possible to access information at the click of a button.

Research conducted by parse.ly shows that the life expectancy of a story posted on the web is 2.6 days, compared to 3.2 days when a story is shared on social media. That's a difference of 23%, which is significant when you consider that billions of people use the internet daily.

The lifespan of an article is different from the active lifespan of a social media post itself. Green Umbrella estimates that a Facebook post has an average lifespan of 6 hours, an Instagram post or LinkedIn post of 48 hours, and a tweet on Twitter a mere 18 minutes. The longer social media users actively access the information, the more discussion it generates and the greater the social media impact. The shorter the active lifespan, the more frequently one must post to that channel to maintain engagement (recognizing that posting too frequently can cause reader burnout).

While the world would be a much slower place without social media, it's caused harm as well as good. However, the positive impact of social media is astronomical and far surpasses the ills associated with sharing.

Ultimately, sharing is about getting people to see and respond to content. As long as the content is still relevant and the need for information still exists, it's always worthwhile for any organization to use social media to keep publishing.

FAQs

Q1. What is the main impact of social media on society?

Social media has changed the way we live our lives. It has redefined the way we imagine our surroundings. Who could have imagined that community networking sites would become a major platform for brands to find potential customers! There are both positive and negative impacts of social media on society as well as businesses.

Q2.What is the impact of social media in our daily lives?

Social media can impact you both positively and negatively. If you are a brand manager, or small business owner, then social media is a great platform for you to meet your customers. However, for individuals, social media is more like an addiction which may cause discomfort if not addressed properly.

Q3. What is the impact of social media in the modern world?

Social media in the modern world is used to connect with your friends and see what they are up-to without even calling them. It provides us a comfortable solution to connecting with our dear ones. For brands and businesses, social media is more like an advertising platform.

Q4. What are the five main benefits of social media?

Social media is a great innovation that has changed the way we communicate and interact with each other. Here are 5 main benefits of social media -

1. Stay updated with all the new things in the world

2. Communicate anytime, anywhere from the comfort of your home

3. Advertising platforms for brands to find their right-set of consumers

4. Easy to build relationships and connecting with like-minded people

5. Easy access to desired information, products and services.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Social Media: Advantages and Disadvantages | Simplilearn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Social media has revolutionized the way we interact, communicate and consume information. Discover the profound impact of social media on society and individuals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
#LikeMinded

A special series about social media and well-being

This month, BBC Future is exploring social media's impact on mental health and well-being - and seeking solutions for a happier, healthier experience on these platforms. Stay tuned for more stories, coming soon...

Share your tips for a happy life on social media with the hashtag #LikeMinded on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This story is featured in BBC Future's "Best of 2018" collection. Discover more of our picks.
Three billion people, around 40% of the world's population, use online social media - and we're spending an average of two hours every day sharing, liking, tweeting and updating on these platforms, according to some reports. That breaks down to around half a million tweets and Snapchat photos shared every minute.

With social media playing such a big part in our lives, could we be sacrificing our mental health and well-being as well as our time? What does the evidence actually suggest?

Since social media is relatively new to us, conclusive findings are limited. The research that does exist mainly relies on self-reporting, which can often be flawed, and the majority of studies focus on Facebook. That said, this is a fast-growing area of research, and clues are beginning to emerge. BBC Future reviewed the findings of some of the science so far:
STRESS
People use social media to vent about everything from customer service to politics, but the downside to this is that our feeds often resemble an endless stream of stress. In 2015, researchers at the Pew Research Center based in Washington DC sought to find out if social media induces more stress than it relieves.

In the survey of 1,800 people, women reported being more stressed than men. Twitter was found to be a "significant contributor" because it increased their awareness of other people's stress.

But Twitter also acted as a coping mechanism - and the more women used it, the less stressed they were. The same effect wasn't found for men, whom the researchers said had a more distant relationship with social media. Overall, the researchers concluded that social media use was linked to "modestly lower levels" of stress.

MOOD
In 2014, researchers in Austria found that participants reported lower moods after using Facebook for 20 minutes compared to those who just browsed the internet. The study suggested that people felt that way because they saw it as a waste of time.

A good or bad mood may also spread between people on social media, according to researchers from the University of California, who assessed the emotional content of over a billion status updates from more than 100 million Facebook users between 2009 and 2012.

Bad weather increased the number of negative posts by 1%, and the researchers found that one negative post by someone in a rainy city influenced another 1.3 negative posts by friends living in dry cities. The better news is that happy posts had a stronger influence; each one inspired 1.75 more happy posts. Whether a happy post translates to a genuine boost in mood, however, remains unclear.
ANXIETY
Researchers have looked at general anxiety provoked by social media, characterised by feelings of restlessness and worry, and trouble sleeping and concentrating. A study published in the journal Computers and Human Behaviour found that people who report using seven or more social media platforms were more than three times as likely as people using 0-2 platforms to have high levels of general anxiety symptoms.

That said, it's unclear if and how social media causes anxiety. Researchers from Babes-Bolyai University in Romania reviewed existing research on the relationship between social anxiety and social networking in 2016, and said the results were mixed. They concluded that more research needs to be done.

DEPRESSION
While some studies have found a link between depression and social media use, there is emerging research into how social media can actually be a force for good.

Two studies involving more than 700 students found that depressive symptoms, such as low mood and feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, were linked to the quality of online interactions. Researchers found higher levels of depressive symptoms among those who reported having more negative interactions.

A similar study conducted in 2016 involving 1,700 people found a threefold risk of depression and anxiety among people who used the most social media platforms. Reasons for this, they suggested, include cyber-bullying, having a distorted view of other people's lives, and feeling like time spent on social media is a waste.

However, as BBC Future will explore this month in our #LikeMinded season, scientists are also looking at how social media can be used to diagnose depression, which could help people receive treatment earlier. Researchers for Microsoft surveyed 476 people and analysed their Twitter profiles for depressive language, linguistic style, engagement and emotion. From this, they developed a classifier that can accurately predict depression before it causes symptoms in seven out of 10 cases.

Researchers from Harvard and Vermont Universities analysed 166 people's Instagram photos to create a similar tool last year with the same success rate.
SLEEP
Humans used to spend their evenings in darkness, but now we're surrounded by artificial lighting all day and night. Research has found that this can inhibit the body's production of the hormone melatonin, which facilitates sleep - and blue light, which is emitted by smartphone and laptop screens, is said to be the worst culprit. In other words, if you lie on the pillow at night checking Facebook and Twitter, you're headed for restless slumber.

Last year, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh asked 1,700 18- to 30-year-olds about their social media and sleeping habits. They found a link with sleep disturbances - and concluded blue light had a part to play. How often they logged on, rather than time spent on social media sites, was a higher predictor of disturbed sleep, suggesting "an obsessive 'checking'", the researchers said.

The researchers say this could be caused by physiological arousal before sleep, and the bright lights of our devices can delay circadian rhythms. But they couldn't clarify whether social media causes disturbed sleep, or if those who have disturbed sleep spend more time on social media.

ADDICTION
Despite the argument from a few researchers that tweeting may be harder to resist than cigarettes and alcohol, social media addiction isn't included in the latest diagnostic manual for mental health disorders.

That said, social media is changing faster than scientists can keep up with, so various groups are trying to study compulsive behaviours related to its use - for example, scientists from the Netherlands have invented their own scale to identify possible addiction.

And if social media addiction does exist, it would be a type of internet addiction - and that is a classified disorder. In 2011, Daria Kuss and Mark Griffiths from Nottingham Trent University in the UK have analysed 43 previous studies on the matter, and conclude that social media addiction is a mental health problem that "may" require professional treatment. They found that excessive usage was linked to relationship problems, worse academic achievement and less participation in offline communities, and found that those who could be more vulnerable to a social media addiction include those dependent on alcohol, the highly extroverted, and those who use social media to compensate for fewer ties in real life.
SELF-ESTEEM
Women's magazines and their use of underweight and Photoshopped models have been long maligned for stirring self-esteem issues among young women. But now, social media, with its filters and lighting and clever angles, is taking over as a primary concern among some campaigning groups and charities.

Social media sites make more than half of users feel inadequate, according to a survey of 1,500 people by disability charity Scope, and half of 18- to 34-year-olds say it makes them feel unattractive.

A 2016 study by researchers at Penn State University suggested that viewing other people's selfies lowered self-esteem, because users compare themselves to photos of people looking their happiest. Research from the University of Strathclyde, Ohio University and University of Iowa also found that women compare themselves negatively to selfies of other women.

But it's not just selfies that have the potential to dent self-esteem. A study of 1,000 Swedish Facebook users found that women who spent more time on Facebook reported feeling less happy and confident. The researchers concluded: "When Facebook users compare their own lives with others' seemingly more successful careers and happy relationships, they may feel that their own lives are less successful in comparison."

But one small study hinted that viewing your own profile, not others, might offer ego boosts. Researchers at Cornell University in New York put 63 students into different groups. Some sat with a mirror placed against a computer screen, for instance, while others sat in front of their own Facebook profile.

Facebook had a positive effect on self-esteem compared to other activities that boost self-awareness. Mirrors and photos, the researchers explained, make us compare ourselves to social standards, whereas looking at our own Facebook profiles might boost self-esteem because it is easier to control how we're presented to the world.
WELL-BEING
In a study from 2013, researchers texted 79 participants five times a day for 14 days, asking them how they felt and how much they'd used Facebook since the last text. The more time people spent on the site, the worse they felt later on, and the more their life satisfaction declined over time.

But other research has found, that for some people, social media can help boost their well-being. Marketing researchers Jonah Berger and Eva Buechel found that people who are emotionally unstable are more likely to post about their emotions, which can help them receive support and bounce back after negative experiences.

Overall, social media's effects on well-being are ambiguous, according to a paper written last year by researchers from the Netherlands. However, they suggested there is clearer evidence for the impact on one group of people: social media has a more negative effect on the well-being of those who are more socially isolated.

RELATIONSHIPS
If you've ever been talking to a friend who's pulled their phone out to scroll through Instagram, you might have wondered what social media is doing to relationships.

Even the mere presence of a phone can interfere with our interactions, particularly when we're talking about something meaningful, according to one small study. Researchers writing in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships tasked 34 pairs of strangers with having a 10-minute conversation about an interesting event that had happened to them recently. Each pair sat in private booths, and half had a mobile phone on the top of their table.

Those with a phone in eyeshot were less positive when recalling their interaction afterwards, had less meaningful conversations and reported feeling less close to their partner than the others, who had a notebook on top of the table instead.

Romantic relationships aren't immune, either. Researchers at the University of Guelph in Canada surveyed 300 people aged 17-24 in 2009 about any jealousy they felt when on Facebook, asking questions such as, 'How likely are you to become jealous after your partner has added an unknown member of the opposite sex?'.

Women spent much more time on Facebook then men, and experienced significantly more jealousy when doing so. The researchers concluded they "felt the Facebook environment created these feelings and enhanced concerns about the quality of their relationship".

ENVY
In a study involving 600 adults, roughly a third said social media made them feel negative emotions - mainly frustration - and envy was the main cause. This was triggered by comparing their lives to others', and the biggest culprit was other people's travel photos. Feeling envious caused an "envy spiral", where people react to envy by adding to their profiles more of the same sort of content that made them jealous in the first place.

However, envy isn't necessarily a destructive emotion - it can often make us work harder, according to researchers from Michigan University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. They asked 380 students to look at "envy-eliciting" photos and texts from Facebook and Twitter, including posts about buying expensive goods, travelling and getting engaged. But the type of envy the researchers found is "benign envy", which they say is more likely to make a person work harder.
LONELINESS
A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine last year surveyed 7,000 19- to 32-year-olds and found that those who spend the most time on social media were twice as likely to report experiencing social isolation, which can include a lack of a sense of social belonging, engagement with others and fulfilling relationships.

Spending more time on social media, the researchers said, could displace face-to-face interaction, and can also make people feel excluded.

"Exposure to such highly idealised representations of peers' lives may elicit feelings of envy and the distorted belief that others lead happier and more successful lives, which may increase perceived social isolation."
CONCLUSIONS?
It's clear that in many areas, not enough is known yet to draw many strong conclusions. However, the evidence does point one way: social media affects people differently, depending on pre-existing conditions and personality traits.

As with food, gambling and many other temptations of the modern age, excessive use for some individuals is probably inadvisable. But at the same time, it would be wrong to say social media is a universally bad thing, because clearly it brings myriad benefits to our lives.

We'll be exploring this tension more over the next month, in a series of articles and videos in our special series #LikeMinded - and hopefully providing solutions that could help us all live a happier, healthier digital life.
Join 800,000+ Future fans by liking us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter, called "If You Only Read 6 Things This Week". A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Capital, and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Is social media bad for you? The evidence and the unknowns

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A special series about social media and well-being This month, BBC Future is exploring social media's impact on mental health and well-being - and seeking solutions for a happier, healthier experience on these platforms. Stay tuned for more stories, coming soon...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When most people think of K-12 students with constant access to their cell phones they envision students slacking off in class by scrolling through social media, texting their friends, and playing games. But the reality is this: the scenario represents a small majority of any student body, and if those students didn't have their cell phones, they would find other distractions. After all, class goofs, mindless daydreaming during math class, and causing class disruptions are behavioral types that have existed long before mobile phones even existed. Simply put, if kids didn't have cell phones in school to use as a distraction, they would find other methods of distractions.

However, the value and benefits that cell phones add to the students' experience have no substitutes. In fact, cell phones in schools do far more good than harm as they prepare students for the real world, help them learn how to be responsible, are engaging learning tools, and help promote safety.

This article is intended to help school administrators and principals learn why cell phones in schools are a good thing. You'll learn why schools should invest in a commercial cell phone charging station and charging lockers for school campuses and why they should be installed across campus.

Cell Phones Prepare Students for Future Careers

Any working professional likely uses tools like Google calendar to schedule meetings, Slack for internal communication with colleagues and clients, and platforms like Asana for task management. We're only moving deeper into a growing digital age, and students need to be prepared to manage a digital life alongside the non-digital if they want to stick to deadlines, form strong professional relationships, and stay organized.

Today's students are savvy and can use digital calendars, like Google calendar, for keeping track of homework due-dates, study times, and extracurricular activities. By having a multi-device charging station in the quad, cafeteria, library, and in every building, students can keep their cell phones and tablets charged so they can manage their student lives while preparing for their working adult lives.

Cell Phones Teach Responsibility

There is a time and a place to browse Instagram, play Candy Crush, and take selfies. Just as a working professional would never do these things in the middle of a board meeting, so too should a student never do this in class. There's a time and a place to set your phone on silent mode and ignore it (unless there's an emergency call from family). And by allowing students the freedom to keep their phones in school, they're learning a big lesson in being more responsible that will serve them well.

Cell Phones are Tools for Emergencies

There are a number of emergency levels that constitute different threats. Whether a student left their essay at home and they need to call a parent to bring it in or if there is an intruder on campus posing a threat to the safety of all students, having a powered cell phone can help prevent a disaster from getting worse.

While we don't want to expect tragedies to happen, it's important for schools to have appropriate measures in place in the event that this happens. That includes allowing them to access their cell phones during school hours. And, cell phone charging stations and charging lockers at schools can help keep campuses safe and help alert emergency services in times of need.

Contact a Commercial Cell Phone Charging Company for Schools Today!

By providing cell phone charging stations and charging lockers throughout your school, you will be improving campus safety and empowering your students to be successful. Call a company that designs cell phone charging kiosks for schools today, and learn about the various types and options available that can enrich your school.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why K-12 Students Should Have Access to Cell Phones and Why Cell Phone Charging Stations Matter

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When most people think of K-12 students with constant access to their cell phones they envision students slacking off in class by scrolling through social media, texting their friends, and playing games. But the reality is this: the scenario represents a small majority of any student body, and if those students didn't have their cell phones, they would find other distractions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why Smartphones are a Really Useful Tool in the Maths Classroom

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When I was at school if someone asked a teacher why we were bothering to learn our times tables, given that calculators were able to multiply two numbers together, one... | Teachwire News

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Many businesses effectively use social media to promote their products and connect with customers. However, social media can also pose a risk to companies. Not only can social media use interfere with productivity, but information shared on social networks can do real damage both to co-worker relationships as well as your brand.

Most of your employees have social media accounts. Unfortunately, many have developed the habit of checking their accounts multiple times during the day, even when they are at work. Time spent on personal accounts is time that is not spent on work tasks. Even when an employee spends just a few seconds on social media, it can take several minutes to refocus on the task that she was working on before checking her phone. It is also time not spent interacting with colleagues and developing quality work relationships.

Many mental health professionals are deeply concerned about the impact that social media has on mental health. Some believe that the constant distraction of social media contributes to shortened attention spans. In addition, many people who regularly use platforms like Facebook or Twitter report high levels of stress.

Employee mental health can have a direct impact on your business. When employees are happy, confident and relaxed, they can be more productive and have better relationships with co-workers, clients and customers. Stress, on the other hand, contributes to multiple physical and mental ailments that can affect their work.

The cry of "fake news" has become commonplace and consumer confidence in even traditional media outlets has been significantly eroded. Unfortunately, false, misleading, or confusing online content can harm your brand's reputation, upset even loyal customers and can dissuade people from even considering the purchase of your products or services.

Online reviews: Retailer and stand-alone review sites exist to help consumers make good choices. While many reviews on these sites truly reflect the experiences of others, some are not. Fake reviews that heap either praise or derision on a business are commonplace.

Unfortunate incident: Even well-run companies make mistakes or have an employee who behaves inappropriately. If a story regarding an incident goes viral, even if something like it has never happened before, your company may find itself in a lengthy online public relations battle.

Unclear or unreliable health information: Online rumors can get started about the safety of certain foods, products, ingredients or treatments that have little basis in fact. Unfortunately, social media users may continue to spread this misinformation, which may cause readers to avoid purchasing, or even considering the products or services referenced in these posts.

Political Lines in the Sand: In 2018, owners of restaurants and other businesses found themselves in the crossfire of intense political loyalties when they appeared to take sides, either on the left or the right. Even if your company doesn't take a side politically, the mere appearance of favoring one party over an other can cause political fallout with boycotts and fake reviews.

Many people think of cyberbullying as being a problem for young people. Unfortunately, adults may also bully each other online, and sometimes their targets are coworkers. Typical types of bullying include aggressive and unpleasant emails, private messages and public comments, putting unflattering or manipulated photos of the bullying target online. Employees who are victims of bullying often report experiencing extreme stress. which may eventually affect their performance.

Colleagues may also experience tensions if they follow each other on social platforms. While many workers are careful to avoid expressing opinions on controversial subjects at work, they may be less restrained online. If a colleague spots an opinion or meme that he finds upsetting, the disagreement may spill over into the workplace, potentially damaging morale and interfering with productivity.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Negative Effect of Social Media on Society and Individuals

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Social media has its benefits, but it also can have a negative impact on society and individuals, both of which can affect your business. From decreased work activity to untrue information spread via memes, media platforms deserve your attention, for the sake of your business and its reputation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Social media has had a huge impact on today's society. We walk down the streets of the city and see people looking down at their phones, talking on the phone, or listening to today's podcast. As more people start to use social media platforms; Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. there has been an increase in the amount of communication used through these platforms.

Although there has been an increase in communication, it is not necessarily the healthiest way. Many users today have become addicted to social media, resulting in more people isolating themselves from society. It is important to know the negative impacts social media has in today's society.

In today's society, it is all about staying connected with others. With staying connected through social media it is beginning to affect our social and communication skills. When it comes to being given the option to meet up with an individual and talk face to face or text the individual, most individuals prefer to text them. A reason could be it is easier for them to text and get it done in one text message, whereas if you meet face to face you have to plan where, and when. People have become lazy due to social media usage.

With social media playing a huge role in today's society, we have lost our ability to understand emotion. We have learned growing up to read others body language through face to face interactions. With the increase in social media usage, we have not been able to tell how others may be feeling, therefore, we "read" the persons words wrong. Opponents argue, there can be positivity when using social media and communication. In young adults, we can see an increase in positive relationships with other peers. However, with building these strong relationships over social media it can possibly help others cope with certain issues, but could possibly lead to cyberbullying.

With posting about certain issues on social media individuals run the risk of hurtful comments or messages. Receiving these messages can affect the individual's confidences. There is no escape goat when it comes to receiving the messages through a screen. Cyberbullying has become easier for individuals because they can disguise who they are online. They can send these messages anonymously, post personal information about others, and even tag them in other posts that are considered negative. They have the ability to beat down individuals confidences and self-esteem through one simple message. Once it is on the web it will always be there.

With cyberbullying, it can later lead to those who are being bullied to commit suicide. Opponents might argue that standard face to face bullying is an issue, so they can never get away from it. However, this is the coward's way of bullying. If we were to limit and be more aware of the power social media as well as our words can impact individuals, it can change the way individuals think before they post something that could cause harm. On the contrary, the need to post information has become more addicting to some of its users.

A bigger problem with social media today, is the users are becoming addicted. We could say we are going on our phones to check on something but end up staying on the phone for hours. Take a look at those who are in school. Procrastination. When it comes to doing homework we often spend more time on our phones worrying about what people may be posting rather than studying to get a good grade on the next exam. This later results in the student's grades dropping. When it also comes to homework assignments some teachers require their students to look up assignments online. When doing research online students may find an article on the sidebar that is interesting to them.

This, then, results in them spending more time in front of the screen and not able to remove themselves. If we were to have individuals give up their phones and all social media usage most of those participating may not be able to last. The more screen time one has the harder it is to give it up. Our brains have learned and grown accustomed to having a device near us so that we cannot go 10 minutes without checking a status or text message. However, others would say being on our phones can help us stay in the loop on certain issues going on in the word, it is not always the healthiest way.

With knowing the negative impacts of social media in today's society as individuals we can spread awareness through our children and hope to see a change in the way we interact with others. We can start to see an increase in our communication and social skills with others, as well as limit the amount of cyber bullying that takes place. Most importantly we can limit the usage of social media that can later become addicting to its users. Overall, we have the power to change the way social media works and effects ourselves as well as those around us. It is ultimately up to us.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Negative Impacts Social Media Has On Society

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Social media has had a huge impact on today's society. We walk down the streets of the city and see people looking down at their phones, talking on the phone, or listening to today's podcast. As more people start to use social media platforms; Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Health experts love to say that sitting is the new smoking. Given the number of diseases to which sitting is linked, and the number of people it apparently kills every year, sitting is one of the worst things we can do for health. But possibly as concerning is the thing that we often do while we're sitting: Mindlessly scrolling through our social media feeds when we have a few spare minutes (or for some, hours). And as we probably know intuitively, and as the research is confirming, it's not the best habit when it comes to our collective psychology.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned about the potential for negative effects of social media in young kids and teens, including cyber-bullying and "Facebook depression." But the same risks may be true for adults, across generations. Here's a quick run-down of the studies that have shown that social media isn't very good for mental well-being, and in some ways, it can be pretty damaging.
It's addictive
Experts have not been in total agreement on whether internet addiction is a real thing, let alone social media addiction, but there's some good evidence that both may exist. A review study from Nottingham Trent University looked back over earlier research on the psychological characteristics, personality and social media use. The authors conclude that "it may be plausible to speak specifically of 'Facebook Addiction Disorder'...because addiction criteria, such as neglect of personal life, mental preoccupation, escapism, mood modifying experiences, tolerance and concealing the addictive behavior, appear to be present in some people who use [social networks] excessively." (They also found that the motivation for people's excessive use of social networks differs depending on certain traits-introverts and extroverts use it for different reasons, as do people with narcissistic traits. But that deserves a piece of its own.)

And studies have confirmed that people tend to undergo a kind of withdrawal: A study a few years ago from Swansea University found that people experienced the psychological symptoms of withdrawal when they stopped using (this went for all internet use, not just social media). Their recent follow-up study found that when people stop using, they also undergo small but measurable physiological effects. Study author Phil Reed said, "We have known for some time that people who are over-dependent on digital devices report feelings of anxiety when they are stopped from using them, but now we can see that these psychological effects are accompanied by actual physiological changes." Whether this is true of social media per se is unclear right now, but anecdotal evidence suggests it may be.
It triggers more sadness, less well-being
The more we use social media, the less happy we seem to be. One study a few years ago found that Facebook use was linked to both less moment-to-moment happiness and less life satisfaction-the more people used Facebook in a day, the more these two variables dropped off. The authors suggest this may have to do with the fact that Facebook conjures up a perception of social isolation, in a way that other solitary activities don't. "On the surface," the authors write, "Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling such needs by allowing people to instantly connect. Rather than enhancing well-being, as frequent interactions with supportive 'offline' social networks powerfully do, the current findings demonstrate that interacting with Facebook may predict the opposite result for young adults-it may undermine it."

In fact, another study found that social media use is linked to greater feelings of social isolation. The team looked at how much people used 11 social media sites, including Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, Vine, Snapchat and Reddit, and correlated this with their "perceived social isolation." Not surprisingly, it turned out that the more time people spent on these sites, the more socially isolated they perceived themselves to be. And perceived social isolation is one of the worst things for us, mentally and physically.
Comparing our lives with others is mentally unhealthy
Part of the reason Facebook makes people feel socially isolated (even though they may not actually be) is the comparison factor. We fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others as we scroll through our feeds, and make judgements about how we measure up. One study looked at how we make comparisons to others posts, in "upward" or "downward" directions-that is, feeling that we're either better or worse off than our friends. It turned out that both types of comparisons made people feel worse, which is surprising, since in real life, only upward comparisons (feeling another person has it better than you) makes people feel bad. But in the social network world, it seems that any kind of comparison is linked to depressive symptoms.
It can lead to jealousy-and a vicious cycle
It's no secret that the comparison factor in social media leads to jealousy-most people will admit that seeing other people's tropical vacations and perfectly behaved kids is envy-inducing. Studies have certainly shown that social media use triggers feelings of jealousy. The authors of one study, looking at jealousy and other negative feelings while using Facebook, wrote that "This magnitude of envy incidents taking place on FB alone is astounding, providing evidence that FB offers a breeding ground for invidious feelings." They add that it can become a vicious cycle: feeling jealous can make a person want to make his or her own life look better, and post jealousy-inducing posts of their own, in an endless circle of one-upping and feeling jealous.

Another study looked at the connection between envy and depression in Facebook use and, interestingly, discovered that envy mediates the Facebook-depression link. That is, when envy is controlled for, Facebook isn't so depressing. So it may be the envy that's largely to blame in the depression-Facebook connection.
We get caught in the delusion of thinking it will help
Part of the unhealthy cycle is that we keep coming back to social media, even though it doesn't make us feel very good. This is probably because of what's known as a forecasting error: Like a drug, we think getting a fix will help, but it actually makes us feel worse, which comes down to an error in our ability to predict our own response. One study looked at how people feel after using Facebook and how they think they'll feel going in. Like other studies suggested, the participants in this one almost always felt worse after using it, compared to people engaging in other activities. But a follow-up experiment showed that people generally believed that they'd feel better after using, not worse. Which of course turns out not to be the case at all, and sounds a lot like the pattern in other types of addiction.
More friends on social doesn't mean you're more social
A couple of years ago, a study found that more friends on social media doesn't necessarily mean you have a better social life-there seems to be a cap on the number of friends a person's brain can handle, and it takes actual social interaction (not virtual) to keep up these friendships. So feeling like you're being social by being on Facebook doesn't work. Since loneliness is linked to myriad health and mental health problems (including early death), getting real social support is important. Virtual friend time doesn't have the therapeutic effect as time with real friends.

* * *

All of this is not to say that there's no benefit to social media-obviously it keeps us connected across great distances, and helps us find people we'd lost touch with years ago. But getting on social when you have some time to kill, or, worse, need an emotional lift, is very likely a bad idea. And studies have found that taking a break from Facebook helps boost psychological well-being. If you're feeling brave, try taking a little break, and see how it goes. And if you're going to keep "using," then at least try to use in moderation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
6 Ways Social Media Affects Our Mental Health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Health experts love to say that sitting is the new smoking. Given the number of diseases to which sitting is linked, and the number of people it apparently kills every year, sitting is one of the worst things we can do for health.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The average American teenager spends up to nine hours per day on social media. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and many more platforms allow people of all backgrounds to have a voice and connect in the virtual world. Especially as a member of the younger generation, I understand how social media can take control of our lives.

Growing up we have all heard the negative side effects of social media, but do we really understand how these small apps on our phones impact our brains? According to a UCLA study, the brain's reward center, the nucleus accumbens, lights up when people receive "likes" on social media. People strive for this acceptance, and this addiction of social media is now more prevalent than the addiction to cigarettes and alcohol.

According to Dr. John Richey, a Virginia Tech associate professor in the psychology department, "Humans are uniquely cooperative and social creatures, and we likely need to interact with others in order for our brains to develop optimally. Restricting interactions to a relatively artificial platform could potentially deprive a person of the richness of face-to-face social interaction, which includes many important nuances such as nonverbal cues displayed through the face and body."

Instagram alone has more than 700 million users worldwide. Instagram and Snapchat are the two worst social media platforms for those with mental health disorders. Body image, sleep patterns and a sense of "FOMO" (fear of missing out) are all impacted when we log into our profiles.

There is a sense of a "perfect life" on people's accounts. We all see the Snapchat stories of people laughing and having a great time. We all see the Instagram posts of beautiful people, happy, not a care in the world. However, these images do not show the rawness and true beauty of even the hard times of life.

This facade of "perfection" impacts the way we live our lives in reality. People who spend more than two hours per day on social media have a higher tendency to report a mental illness. Even without a mental health disorder, these platforms can make anyone feel negatively about themselves.

Now that you have the facts, what does all of this mean? How can we diminish these negative effects? How can we use social media for good?

First, we can decide to put our phones down more and focus on what is right in front of us. Yes, our virtual world has an abundance to offer, but it is not nearly as cool as who we are spending our time with and what we spend our days doing in reality.

Second, when we do use social media platforms, we can post positivity on our timelines rather than commenting or reading negativity. Follow people and organizations that are uplifting and inspiring. Post pictures and writings without filters that show people who you really are.

Lastly, remember that social media is not real. The images have been edited, the information has been altered and the people are only showing you what they want you to see. If we all were who we are on social media, there would be no authenticity and no one would truly know anyone.

Overall, social media is going to be a part of our lives for many years to come. These platforms will stay relevant, and we just have to make sure it becomes a positive aspect in the lives of those who use it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The average American teenager spends up to nine hours per day on social media. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and many more platforms allow people of all backgrounds to have a voice and connect in the virtual world. Especially as a member of the younger generation, I understand how social media can take control of our lives.