One of the most effective tools widely used by all is social media and it's appropriate to say the world has been made easier and smaller since its introduction.
Almost every engagements today first of all starts off on social media before physical meeting of persons. Much of our time is channelled to ensuring we are up to date with the latest trends on the internet, as some may call it.
There are of course several benefits social media has brought to humanity but then the other side of the coin is also true. Inasmuch as we may find so many positives with social media, a lot more negatives may also be derived. This article will basically dwell much on bringing out some of the negatives that are somewhat hidden or ignored, in an attempt for us to develop the ability of utilizing the power of the internet in a positive sense.
It will surprise you to know that the negative effects of social media are both physical and mental. It can change your perception of the world and yourself, and not always for the better.
The first negative effect of social media I want to bring your attention to is cyberbullying. Before the introduction of 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.
While social media made making friends easier, it also made it easier for predators to find victims. The anonymity that social media networks provide can be used by perpetrators to gain people's trust and then terrorize them in from 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 know that cyberbullying isn't just affecting kids, but also full grown adults.
Another aspect of the negativity that comes with social media is "unrealistic expectations." Platforms like facebook, instagram and snapchat severely lack online authenticity, as most people see it as a norm to fake their identity in order to win the approval of people, and hence become "social media celebrities." Many people have so lost their self-esteem to the extent, the life they live in real time is the direct opposite of what they portray on social media. In essence, they feel so insecure but then think it's too late to truly live out their real life on social media.
One of the most undermined effects of social media is the general addiction that comes with it. Many have often described social media as being addictive than alcohol and cigarettes. Platforms like facebook, instagram and snapchat are mostly seen as the most addictive. A lot of us just can't go on our normal day-to-day activities without checking on those networks and also can't have a good night sleep without spending great amount of time online, late in the night.
Several researches have confirmed that work productivity in several fields have greatly been affected due to social media addiction of employees. In the same sense, performances of students in the secondary and tertiary levels are also badly affected.
There are surely more negatives to be identified but the most important thing is to find solutions to the bad effects the 21st century's most cherished tool, social media has brought.
In short, the solutions to all of the negatives pointed out above can be realized if we put to action the direct opposite of those. For instance, being real to yourself instead of faking your identity, channeling more time on your studies or job than unproductive social media chats, refraining from cyberbullying, amongst other factors.
In a latter article, we may seek to delve deeper into ways and mechanisms to deploy in order to take advantage of the positives of social media and make the virtual world a better place to live in.
Writer: Edward Kyei Frimpong
Email: Eddybless200@yahoo.com
