Social media; Is it really worth it?

Social media is everywhere in modern society. Most people have some form of technology present in their life whether it be a smartphone, tablet, or laptop the same kinds of tasks are able to be done. People are able to connect and share with others through these devices and they can be very helpful in the process of making contacts. Which can be amazing as well as terrible depending on who you ask. I must admit that I myself over indulge in my phone and use it a bit too much despite knowing that it’s bad for me. They are so easily accessible and convenient that it makes it hard to ignore them as an option. I honestly believe that social media has some good things going for it but many people aren’t using it in a way that could be helpful towards themselves or society turning it into a bad thing. 

Part of why I believe that social media is a bad thing is because of the way it was created to become addictive. Creators purposefully created apps in a way that makes them hard to stop using. For example TikTok, the app was created as an app that shows you short little videos that were chosen for you because of the things you enjoy. It’s a very smart idea honestly and the people that made the app did a good job at strategizing a way to keep people hooked. Especially since it has become so popular among teenagers, I feel like the app has become an escape. We use it as a way to forget about the things that are bothering us and to connect with others with similar problems. Which is great in the moment and in the aspect of showing support for others but not for the long term. It’s so much easier to hide from our problems rather than facing them which is part of why social media has been so popular in recent years. There are many other factors that play into what could be causing said problems but it’s obvious that this is a key factor since it is showing up in so many cases. And even with apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat it’s the same kind of thing. Short little bursts of dopamine are being felt from seeing these silly little pictures or snaps and it makes the pleasure center of our brains feel good. Which is why it’s so hard to stop and do other things that might not bring you as much pleasure or happiness. Making procrastination a very big problem for many people. The thing that tricks people is that social media might not be bad itself; it’s the overuse of it that changes it into a problem. Aside from social media’s addictive properties it can be a really good place to make connections and develop strong relationships with others. As well as also being a good place for spreading information and resources that might be helpful to those in the community. 

Although there is a positive side of social media I still believe that there is more bad than good. Social media in my opinion has become too addictive and it distracts people from their real lives. Which is fine in small amounts but in many cases it is used excessively and causes big problems for people. It’s not only addictive too, it can be a really dangerous place if you aren’t careful. Many people use the internet as a way to relieve stress and in some situations that means being mean to other people and spreading hate. There is just so much risk associated with social media that it makes it hard to justify it being a good thing. 

“Collage of Digital (Social) Networks” by Frau Hölle is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.