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Do you think Social Media is good for you?

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Do you think Social Media is good for you?

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In my opinion it is. There are some good and bad to social media. Like in my last posts, social media can help internet businesses succeed. It helps people who are isolated or shy. As well as increase voter participation.
What is your opinion on social media? Do you think it's good for you?

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Back in 2012, Social Media Today published an article that asked the question: " Is social media a good thing or a bad thing?" Then, in 2015, the article was updated, asking the question: " Is social media bad for us?"

Both of these posts still get a high number of views each month, as people are still Googling, looking for the answer to "Is social media good or bad?"

I'm sure there are as many answers to this question, on both sides, as there are people using social media. Perhaps that number would even skew negative, if you also asked people not using social.

Social media, and the internet as a whole, has provided people with more access to information than they've ever had before. And not only more access, but quicker access - anyone with a mobile device can search for virtually any information they need, at any time.

"The amount of digital information increases tenfold every five years. Moreover, there are now many more people who interact with information. Between 1990 and 2005 more than 1 billion people worldwide entered the middle class. As they get richer they become more literate, which fuels information growth." - The Economist

So what is the answer? Is social media basically good, or does it have a "negative impact on society", as the original post's author Syed Noman Ali asked?

Here's my answer: social media is what you make of it. Like so many other things in life, both online and off, you get what you put into it.

Positive Effects

Social media connects people

Here's a personal example - I grew up in Chicago, and after 26 years, I moved across the country to Los Angeles. Going online gave me a chance to connect, in real-time, with more people than I could via a single phone call. I was also able to stay in touch via status updates, and peruse photos that helped make me feel as though I wasn't as far away as I was.

As Sarah Snow wrote in her updated post:

"People are more and more mobile, moving for jobs, living far from their families, so technology that helps bridge the social gap created by the modern economy is useful. We build and maintain relationships on social media."

Social networks began as a means of connecting with friends. How many of us sought out old friends from high school, or even grammar school, and were able to reconnect?

Human beings are inherently social creatures. We need other people to truly thrive. Social media connects us with people we may never meet in person, yet we're still able to develop as strong (and as I've found, many times even stronger) relationships with these people.

Social media gives everyone an equal voice

There are no gatekeepers when you publish via your social profile, (outside of each platform's terms of use) - you can write anything and anyone has the chance to view it.

It has truly democratized media, and given everyone a medium through which to be heard.

Social media can revolutionize business

Small businesses and large businesses now have the same opportunities to speak with people - giving small business, in particular, many, many more opportunities.

Whereas it used to be only the companies that were able to purchase ads getting their message out, now, any sized company can take the time to jump into a conversation on any social network.

Increased transparency

Consumers are also now more able to really see who they're paying their money to

With more access to each company and its employees, and more ways to share such insights - both positive and negative - companies need to be much more careful in what they say and do, because everything is now public and easier to access.

Consumer insight

Brands are also now able to tailor their products and services to what people really need and are looking for.

Social networking helps narrow the gap between a company and their current and/or potential consumers. The more a brand interacts with their consumers on social networks, the more they're able to learn how to target consumers with the right products and services at their time of need.

More education

Social media can also provide access to educational opportunities previously not available.

You can learn how to do almost anything you seek via videos and 'how-tos' on the internet, changing the way we learn.

Real-time news updates

News content is now available much faster due to social media.

I personally like the immediacy of Twitter for news - almost daily I'll learn about something that has occurred in the world via Twitter, without having to wait for (later) regularly scheduled television news updates.

Negative Effects

Misinformation and fake news

There's both real and "fake" information to be found via social content. People can find real news and they can find fake news, laid out as real.

Inevitably, there will always be people looking to capitalize on any media distribution method, which social media is, and there'll be those who'll believe anything they read and not look any further into finding out if what they're reading is an internet hoax.

This is an unfortunate side-effect of wider connection - it also opens the system up to those who would exploit it to push their own agendas. The platforms are now looking to police this, but it'll likely always play a part.

Reduced productivity

Social Media can have negative impacts on productivity, if people allow it. I know personally, that I've used the term "I just fell into a rabbit hole on (insert any social networking site) for hours, without even noticing".

People will use social media when they're supposed to be doing other things, however this is nothing new, nor can it solely be blamed on social media. Before the internet, people still wasted time while at work.

If you hire a slacker, you're going to get a slacker, whether you take their internet away or not.

Social media can be addictive

Studies have been conducted which show that people get the same dopamine high when someone likes one of their posts as an addict does from a hit of cocaine.

Just like an alcoholic that can't start their day without a shot of alcohol, many people can't get out of bed before checking Facebook.

As Snow wrote in her post:
"27% of consumers admit they check social networks as soon as they wake up, and 51% continue to log in periodically throughout the day..."
This type of behavior can obviously be problematic - especially so when also coupled with similar academic research which shows that social media usage can increase instances of depression.

Definitely, this is a key area that needs to be considered and addressed. Some individuals will be more susceptible to such conditions than others, and hopefully we're closer to reaching some level of understanding as to how these users can be helped, but it is a clear negative, and one that needs to be considered.

Cyber-bullying

Social media can also facilitate cyber-bullying, which can take disagreements to new levels, leaving little escape for victims.

This is true, scary and unfortunate. Whereas you used to have a problem with someone in person, today, that person's able to gather people from anywhere in the world to join their cause or hatred against people or institutions. People seem to feel bolder and more apt to attack others when hiding behind their screens.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, nor does it answer the original question, "Is social media a good thing or a bad thing?" Perhaps we should be re-framing this question - perhaps the better question to ask is "How can I use social media for good?"

What do you think? Let us know in the comments what your experience has been like.

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Is Social Media a Good Thing or a Bad Thing?

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Back in 2012, Social Media Today published an article that asked the question: " Is social media a good thing or a bad thing?" Then, in 2015, the article was updated, asking the question: " Is social media bad for us?"

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Corporations and small businesses use social media to benefit themselves and consumers.

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Corporations and small businesses use social media to benefit themselves and consumers.

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85% of fans of brands on Facebook recommend the brand to others and 71% of internet users are more likely to purchase from a brand that they are following on social media.

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Social media helps people who are socially isolated or shy connect with other people.

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Social media helps people who are socially isolated or shy connect with other people.

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More than 25% of teens report that social media makes them feel less shy, 28% report feeling more outgoing, and 20% report feeling more confident.

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Social media increases voter participation.

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Social media increases voter participation.

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Facebook users have reported that they're more likely to vote if they see on social media sites that their friends voted

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7 Ways to Use Social Media to Land a Job - pg.1

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Brad Schepp, co-author of How To Find A Job On LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Google+, shared tips for finding a job using social networking sites. Here's what he suggests: 7 Ways to Use Social Media to Land a Job - pg.1

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Social media is not always an online distraction or procrastination platform. While some may be addicted to their social media networks, it is one of the best ways to stay informed. Major news outlets, corporations and persons of interest use social media to deliver messages to the masses. With items posting immediately, the public stays informed. Some issues cause controversy, but social media does more good than harm in retrospect.
News Alert Distribution
With so much of the global community being nearly constantly connected to social media, delivering news alerts on social media channels reaches more people faster. News outlets can share breaking stories, alerts and other important bits of news instantly with their followers. When more people are aware of a situation, those working to secure locations and ensure the safety of the general public can perform their job duties more efficiently.
Traffic Message Delivery
Drivers around the world use their smartphones while driving. It is distracting. Safety authorities around the world are using social media to deliver lifesaving messages, videos and stories to help drivers keep their eyes on the road. Checking social media while driving is a hazard, and should be avoided.

Some road safety authorities have posted a call for independent, amateur videographers and filmmakers to create content for drivers, to rethink their driving habits. As more attention is drawn to the importance of ignoring mobile devices while driving, fewer severe crashes will take place. For some, it takes losing a friend or loved one to a distracted driver to realize the importance of this issue.

Social media is a valuable tool for sending safety messages and showing photos from severe crashes resulting from distractions. The posts make a large impact on driver attitudes and practices.
Increased Teen Awareness
Although some parents see social media as detrimental to their children, it actually does them some good to have social media accounts. Teens want to be aware and informed just as much as adults. Using social media allows teens to follow organizations and causes that they believe in. It makes them feel like they are a part of something, even when they feel like an outcast in society.

Increased teen awareness is important. Social media is one of the best outlets to reach the minds of young people to make a real difference.
Increased Marketing Exposure
Billions of people worldwide use social media networks. In terms of marketing, it is the most cost effective way to reach mass amounts of consumers. Consumers that support a cause, product or service are more likely to share posts from major corporations and non-profit organizations. Charitable organizations tug at the heart strings of the general population.

One of the benefits of marketing through social media, especially where charities are concerned, is that consumers and supporters worldwide can contribute. Making a contribution online can be done from anywhere in the world. Gaining global attention for a cause or major product release creates a buzz and draws attention to the original poster, in a positive manner.
Helps Understand Technological Needs
There are an estimated 4.4 billion people worldwide that do not have Internet access, according to statistics. Noting what areas of the world lack access helps developers understand the basic needs of a specific demographic group faster. This may mean that companies could step forward and bring technology to these underdeveloped areas for a more cohesive global connection in the future. Such efforts have been discussed at conferences for social good through technology.

An example of how technology works to improve social good is connecting families via VoIP conversations from locations around the world following a major natural disaster or tragedy. Loved ones living in different countries spend an extended amount of time worrying about the status of their friends and families due to lines of communication being down. Signals created for Wi-Fi during these times would allow those connections to take place. It would also allow global leaders to reach out to other countries for assistance.
Global Natural Disaster Relief Support
When natural disaster strikes and causes devastating destruction, social media is the ideal vehicle to deliver messages asking for support. Hashtags are created to help Internet users locate related stories and show their support for those affected by the disaster. This helps stories that begin locally to gain national or global attention. That being said, more entities can step-up to assist localities requiring assistance and raise funds to help those affected.

Social media itself is controversial. It is not all arguments, drama and controversy. Social media does have plenty of uses for good purposes. When news needs attention and causes need supporters, using social media outlets is the best way to reach a mass amount of readers as not all stories make it to local news channels for distribution.

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It's Not All Bad: The Social Good Of Social Media

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Social media is not always an online distraction or procrastination platform. While some may be addicted to their social media networks, it is one of the best ways to stay informed. Major news outlets, corporations and persons of interest use social media to deliver messages to the masses. With items [...]

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Social media spreads information faster than any other media. 

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Social media spreads information faster than any other media. 

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59% of Twitter users and 31% of Facebook users polled followed breaking news on these sites