Has Social Media Changed The Society For Better Or Worse

Some of the most popular and widely used social media networks are Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Twitter. It is estimated that by the year 2021, the number of social network users all over the world would be about 3. billion per month (Statista). In North America, about 70% of the population is registered to at least one social media network while in USA alone, statistics from 2017 show that at least 80% of the population had a social networking profile (Statista). Someone would ask, why social media? What do the daily users gain from it? Is the society threatened by social media? Well, there are many benefits that the society has gained from the massive use of social media top of which is the instant access to information and communication to friends and family from all over the world.

Background Information Despite this paper focusing on the negative effects of social media to the society, It is undeniable that social media has been beneficial. First, social media platforms such as WhatsApp allows for individuals with like minds to form groups where they can have conversations to achieve particular agenda. Moreover, social media has provide a platform for students where they are able to connect, share ideas, and work on school projects together. This has helped improve performance of these students. Social media has also revolutionized marketing through activities such as brand promotion, online advertising, and awareness creation. First, being exposed to chronic stress through being constantly alert for messages from social media, to your flight limbic system is compared to being alert continuously for predators. This effect causes the release of the stress hormone cortisol which then leads to stress.

Second, social media leads to depression anxiety due to stress produced from constantly trying to project unrealistic perception of perfection. Social anxiety results from constantly trying to show a perfect self. Kreider also notes that, many are ever worried of the perception others have about them (Sylvan, Bedau, Ohara, 539). This term is borrowed from the MTV show, Catfish which is one of the best descriptions of social media illusion (Saedi). Catfishing is very deceptive and has ruined relationships and marriages as well as the emotional wellbeing of many individuals (Saedi). According to a research by Pauline Wiessner, anonymity on social media is responsible for allowing negative or darker impulses to blossom. In an extreme case, an 13 year old girl, Megan took her life after being bullied on Facebook by a Josh Evans who was a fake profile created by her neighbor (Saedi).

Social Media and Criminal Activities 1. Terrorism uses social media for gathering information, fund raising, recruiting members, and executing propaganda schemes. According to Weimann, terrorists started using the Internet almost 16 years ago (Weimann, 81). Throughout this period, terrorist affiliated websites have risen from 12 to over 9800. The 9/11 attack was one of the greatest terrorist act in history and since this time al-Qaida and other Jihadist movements have extended their operations to the cyberspace (Weimann, 81). Moreover, cyberterrorists also use the internet to share false information. Conclusion Despite the benefits of using social media, the costs of excessive use of social media are too high and in most cases expose the victims to depression, anxiety, false connections and strange. Many of the users of social media experience self-awareness issues or complexities that often lead to depression.

Social media also thrives on projecting a perfect self which leads to comparisons and causes anxiety and depression among those who feel they are left behind and thus need to match. Moreover, social media has caused a lot of long-term psychological and emotional problems by promoting superficial connections and false intimacy such as the catfish cases. It is therefore necessary to acknowledge the negative impacts of social media and stay vigilant not to fall a victim without which more emotional and psychological problems will be experienced. scu. edu/ehost/detail/ Jacobs, Tom. The Link Between Depression and Terrorism; SEP 29, 2014 http://books-andculture/antidepressants-depression-terrorism-weapon O'keeffe, G. S. and K. com/statistics/278414/number-of-worldwide-social-network-users/ Sylvan Barnet, Hugo Bedau, and John Ohara. Current Issues and Enduring Questions: a Guide to Critical Thinking and Argument. th Edition. Page 530-537.

Weimann, Gabriel.