Social Media: The Good, the Bad, and the Selfies

[by Sophie E]

Whether it be Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Tumblr, it’s almost guaranteed that the majority of AISG and the developed world has registered on one or more of these sites: they are extremely well known across the planet. However, not only is social media extremely popular, it also affects those who use it, both positively and negatively.

It is not a well-kept secret that students often visit some form of social media during the school day. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s during class, but these remedies for boredom frequently become distractions from school work. If students are distracted too often, well, we all know what comes next: bad grades, falling behind, getting in trouble. It’s not that these are direct effects of social media, but if a student is addicted to checking their Facebook page, then some of these things can occur.

To quote Youtuber Prince Ea, “Kinda ironic, ain’t it? How these touch screens can make us lose touch.” This quote applies to people today more than it ever has before. As technology has advanced in past years, people have begun to detach from reality, moving into a simulated world of tweets, pokes, and likes.

Instead of being called social networks, this kind of media should be renamed anti-social networks. That’s what they really are. “People may have long friend lists, but they might be friendless” (Prince Ea). Instead of going out and meeting people, they stay at home and browse Instagram for hours on end.

On the other hand, social media does have its positive impacts. People around the world are able to track down and keep in touch with those they thought they would never speak to again. People on opposite ends of the Earth have access to videos, documents, pictures, and so many other things that would be unavailable to them if others didn’t put it on their social media accounts.

Also, as was mentioned earlier in the article, social media is a remedy for boredom. Although they may suck the time out of your hands, these sites keep you entertained. This amusement is a principal reason that so many people have numerous accounts on different forms of social media. Once they get bored with Facebook, they switch to Twitter, or Instagram, or what have you.

Either way, spending excessive amounts of time on any of these sites have lasting effects. Once you become addicted, it’s almost as if you’re abusing something worse, something with physical effects.

However, social media addiction simply affects one’s mentality. For example, a situation that is extremely popular on the news these days: teens being affected by the media and believing that their body types are not “hot” or “fit” enough. Although these body-image thoughts are not only caused by social media, it plays a big role. Teenagers see advertisements of models with perfect bodies so many times that they become almost engraved in their minds: “I don’t look like that. Should I look like that?”

While these images that are common on social media are really awful, there is also a growing number of inspirational feel-good posts out on the internet. These are the kinds of posts that people look at when they are down, making them feel much better about themselves. 

Everyone has their own opinions about social media. Many believe that it is good, it helps you stay entertained and in touch with others. But, others say that social media is something that sucks up your time and ruins your intelligence. It’s not surprising that most students would probably agree with those who like it, and while there are bad aspects to it, social media, in general, is accepted by all, used by most, and enjoyed by many.