There are some good things about Social media and there are some very bad things too. I am going to talk about the good and bad. Some of them obvious and others not so much. So the good first.
Pros of Social media:
Friendship
Ability to connect to other people all over the world. One of the most obvious pros of using social networks is the ability to instantly reach people from anywhere. Use Facebook to stay in touch with your old high school friends who've relocated all over the country, get on Google Hangouts with relatives who live halfway around the world, or meet brand new people on Twitter from cities or regions you've never even heard of before.
Communication
Easy and instant communication. Now that we're connected wherever we go, we don't have to rely on our landlines, answering machines or snail mail to contact somebody. We can simply open up our laptops or pick up our smartphones and immediately start communicating with anyone on platforms like Twitter or one of the many social messaging apps available.
Informational
Real-time news and information discovery. Gone are the days of waiting around for the six o'clock news to come on TV or for the delivery boy to bring the newspaper in the morning. If you want to know what's going on in the world, all you need to do is jump on social media. An added bonus is that you can customize your news and information discovery experiences by choosing to follow exactly what you want.
Opportunities
Great opportunities for business owners. Business owners and other types of professional organizations can connect with current customers, sell their products and expand their reach using social media. There are actually lots of entrepreneurs and businesses out there that thrive almost entirely on social networks and wouldn't even be able to operate without it.
Enjoyment
General fun and enjoyment. You have to admit that social networking is just plain fun sometimes. A lot of people turn to it when they catch a break at work or just want to relax at home. Since people are naturally social creatures, it's often quite satisfying to see comments and likes show up on our own posts, and it's convenient to be able to see exactly what our friends are up to without having to ask them directly.
Everyone can find something to benefit them on social media. All most everyone has some sort of social media. It has became the normal thing to have. Be aware it's not all good. We need to talk about the cons. There is more of them then you would think.
Cons of social media:
Depression and Anxiety
Do you spend more than two hours per day on social media? Spending too long on social networking sites could be adversely affecting your mood. In fact, you’re more likely to report poor mental health, including symptoms of anxiety and depression. So how to use social media without causing yourself psychological distress? If you turn to the same research (and common sense), the recommended amount of time you should spend on social networks is half an hour per day. So, as with so many things in life, it’s all about moderation.
Social media is often described as being more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol. With the worst social media apps being Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat when it comes to addiction.
Don’t know if you’re addicted to your social networks? Think when was the last time you went a full day without checking your social media accounts? What if your favorite social networks completely disappeared tomorrow; would it make you feel empty and depressed?
If you just realized you’re addicted to social media, don’t worry, as most of us are there with you in varying degrees. And it’s not necessarily a reason to go and wipe yourself off all those social networking platforms. However, if you think quitting is the best solution for you, we won’t stop you. In fact, one of our writers tried quitting social media once, and it was an interesting experience.
Cyberbullying
Before social media, bullying was something only done face-to-face. However, now, someone can be bullied online anonymously. Today everyone knows what cyberbullying is, and most of us have seen what it can do to a person. And since screens hide our faces, you can even be a jerk on sites like Reddit without realizing it. While social media made making friends easier, it also made it easier for predators to find victims. The anonymity that social networks provide can be used by the perpetrators to gain people’s trust and then terrorize them in front of their peers. These online attacks often leave deep mental scars and even drive people to suicide in some cases. You’ll be surprised to find out that cyberbullying isn’t just affecting kids, but also full grown adults.
Disturbed sleep
People who frequently checked their social media accounts throughout the week were three times more likely to experience disturbed sleep than counterparts who monitored their social media accounts less frequently. Furthermore, those who spent the most total time throughout the day on social media exhibited twice the risk of disturbed sleep versus their counterparts.
Distracts from Real Life
Social media focuses on rather trivial things—such as what your buddy ate last night for dinner or your sister’s cat in a dress. Sure, it’s amusing stuff, but it’s not life-changing. Few are the true momentous events, like the engagements, births, and graduations that social media shares among “friends”. Because of this it can be argued that the time you spend on social media distracts you from being present in your own real life.
Promotes Inactivity
If you spend all of your free time on social networks, not only will you be unproductive, you’ll be inactive as well. That’s why it’s important for your body and mind to break away from your social networks to get some physical exercise. This increase of endorphins and blood flow to the brain will keep you healthy—mentally and physically.
Here are the numbers, it's scary!
Social network Monthly Active Users
Facebook 2,230,000,000
YouTube 1,900,000,000
Instagram 1,000,000,000
Qzone 563,000,000
Weibo 376,000,000
Twitter 336,000,000
Reddit 330,000,000
Pinterest 200,000,000
Ask.fm 160,000,000
Tumblr 115,000,000
Flickr 112,000,000
Google+ 111,000,000
LinkedIn 106,000,000
VK 97,000,000
Odnoklassniki 71,000,000
Meetup 35,300,000
My conclusion is you need to be aware of how much time you spend on your social media accounts. Everyone is going to be different but you need to find the right balance for you. If you feel like its effects you in any way you should take the necessary step to treat the problem. It's not hard to become consumed by the enjoyment it may bring. Just be careful and mindful and you will be just fine!
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