PROS & CONS OF SOCIAL MEDIA

It’s no doubt that the youth spends majority of their time on social media just looking at videos or talking to people. Social media for some people is considered bad right off the bat, for some it’s fine and others are just neutral. Social media can actually be a mix of both, it has its own pros and cons.

Let’s start with the negative side of social media. Number one thing is addiction which can be seen among many people which causes them to neglect responsibilities. People get so invested in social media that they get lost in a whole different world which makes them isolated from the people in their lives like family. Addiction to social media impacts someone both mentally and physically since it becomes a huge habit and they can’t go long without it which means improper rest or activeness.

People can get more insecure about themselves. This is where the beauty standard comes in. People think more negatively about themselves after they see models on Instagram and develop these unrealistic standards which causes poor mental health. Not everything on social media is realistic, most stuff are just filters and edits. People start comparing themselves and their life to others on social media and feel pressured to follow that so they try hard to change themselves which is bad.

One bad thing is that there could be content that is a bit mature for the younger viewers such as sexual or violent stuff. These things are very sensitive especially any posts about sexual assualt and rape which can constantly be seen on social media and there’s even pictures/videos that shouldn’t be exposed to the younger ones. There’s constantly violence being shown on social media and there’s even things about young kids being harassed or beaten which can badly cause mental disturbance to younger viewers.

Even though social media can expose negatives, there’s also positives such as social change. Social media has become a platform to advocate for change, educate people on certain issues and bring changes by making campaigns and organizations where they have a voice and will to do something about it. It’s a place to fight for change along with other people.

It’s a way to communicate with people easier whenever and also connect with anyone when you need help or going through something. Social media helps with feeling less lonely since through one app, there’s many people there for you like your friends to help out or just to talk to so you can feel more at ease.

Lastly, it gives us important information about world issues and helps us stay informed and safe. For example, covid. Social media is the only resource we have to help us figure out what to do or what’s happening. It’s giving us the latest updates and important information to help fight against the virus. Social media helps with keeping the community safe by providing information on every little detail needed to keep moving forward.

Social media has many ups and downs but it’s a huge part of our lives and how it can be used depends on the people using it. Some people can have positive effects because of how they make use of social media or negative effects. Regardless, social media is important in many ways and it’s needed in hard times.

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Author:

Medha Sarker

Hey! My name is Medha Sarker and I identify as she/her. I’m currently a 16 year old living in Toronto, Canada so a junior in high school! Writing and reading is my passion, I’m constantly writing and reading something and continue to improve myself. Other than that, I deeply adore the beach and during the summer, I always go a few times during the months and just sit on the rocks with total silence and admire the water. I also enjoy playing badminton and listening to music in my free time. Fun fact about myself, I can speak 4 languages fluently :) I am very excited to learn new skills with this organization as well as contribute my skills and get to know my peers!