Social media has a lot of impact in the current world more than anyone would have thought of 15 years back. Development of technology not only for business and corporate purposes but significant changes in the social field where teenagers are mainly involved. In the previous years, social media was on computers which had the private connection to the Internet, today with an existence of smartphones and tablets accessing the different sites is easier and faster. Access of social no longer has limitations to Cyber cafes offering Internet services; an individual can sign in and connect with friends anywhere. In as much as social media has its benefits with regards to information on the education field and pleasures where people now spend time alone as leisure, there are side effects and problems associated with the same (Borgmann, 67). In seeking to evaluate the benefits and side effects of the Internet and social media in this digital age, the CRA essay attributes to the fact that the ubiquitous nature of Internet and online platforms have great impacts on society as a whole.
In this century popularly known as the digital age, social media, and sites have an influence on interactions in community today both for the old and young people. Physical meetings are no longer necessary, the urge of making an appointment to meet an old friend over a cup of coffee to catch up no longer exist in society. According to Benson et al., (33), people meet with friends and family online basically every day, anyone you want to meet is available at a click. Facebook, Twitter, and Whatsapp for instance among others provide its users a platform to share pictures, and real-time videos. Skype, for example, provides users with an interface where two people in communication can see each other live on screen, where they are and what they are doing. The existence of such erodes the need of human beings in this digital age to meet physically.
According to the essay, I agree with the fact that the social media sites provide people with opportunity and easier way of connecting with people of similar interests regarding hobbies as well as in the professional area. Twitter and Facebook, for instance, have search bar tools where users can search accurate information about individuals in their field of interest and get to them (Issa et al., 46). Social platforms enhance networking in the community, it is faster and easier to share information today; people of a common element either religion, students in class, professionals at work, hockey players can create a group of their own and share information on it anytime on click of a button.
I agree with the author's argument on the positive effect on human beings; social platforms help to fulfill one of the fundamental needs of a man, physiological needs. A person is a social being, and everyone, therefore, has the need to belong and share with people of same interests, a niche. Social media has a great sense of influence in connecting people considering that one has the power to choose who to join and avoid on the various platforms. In as much as there are diverse personality types, for instance, the introverts, individual style of life is not practical for human beings. There is a constant need to share, communicate and talk with colleagues or friends about a common topic of interest.
Social media provides an easier way of establishing an identity which in turn helps in connecting with friends on the same line. Most of the social platforms require every user signing in to create a profile of themselves where one is free to share hobbies, dislikes; skills enhance networking of people on professional terms. Users therefore in social media have the choice to skim through the profile of an individual before requesting or accepting to connect. In as much as I agree with this argument in the essay, it is not convincing because of impersonation possibilities and possible sharing of false information for personal gains.
Therefore I do not accept parts of the article; some arguments are not entirely real with regards to effects that social media has on the community today. I do not agree with the assumption of the active nature of this platforms as an active element in all aspects. In as much as sharing information in a click of a button is positive, it can only beneficial when it comes to news and important, urgent information. It is not possible to undermine the effect that social media has on ruining the reputation and spreading out false accusations and threats in minutes. Several instances of tension exist in society because of false information spreading through social media including terrorist threats that may not be real, forwarding of information coming from an incredible source to one tense individual range.
Concerning ruining the reputation of competitors in business or political antagonists is also an element of malicious use of the social media that the essay does not point out. Today social platform is the easiest and the fastest way to reach a big mass of people with whichever information one has to share and considering the interfaces operate on garbage in, garbage out basis; there are no filters on what to share. Malicious information that some users go to extents of using vulgar language depicts the dark side of social media and the fast nature of spreading information. By the time an individual is aware of a bad name online, information is spread out so far out of control. Just like other tools of technology especially with regards to computers, social medias are prone to hackers for malicious reasons, either to ruin an individual's reputation or to impersonate and achieve a deal for business enterprises.
In addition to adverse effects, the essay also elaborates on the side effect of personal information on the social platforms. In as much as being credible and honest on posting personal information is important on these platforms, there is also a security risk that comes with the same (Fuchs, 12). Information on the particular private place, place of work and cell phone numbers expose users to risks; a malicious user of the same platform may take advantage for instance and blackmail a mother using her family because of pictures online to get a favor from her place of work. I agree with this argument especially in this digital era where tracking using satellite locations is possible; this is beneficial when it comes to locating a criminal in hiding, but the same criminals may use to achieve their selfish needs.
On the other hand according to health specialists, there are several health hazards associated with technology gadgets including smartphones which people especially the young generation spend hours on them. On average, a teenager in college checks his or her phone in an interval of ten minutes; this depicts the time individuals log in their respective social platforms to reply and share information and pictures (Couly et al., 89). Anytime today that a person is out on a bus, walking, and in bed is on mostly on social media; this leads to eye problems because of the bright light from screens. Radiation problems as well due to constant contact with the gadgets and negative behaviors including drug isolation and depression in extreme cases because of addiction to social media.
I agree with the CRA essay argument on the effect of social media on kids. Considering that there are no filters on what is on the social platforms, there exists photos and videos of violence and sex which can be the distracting and pollute mind of the growing generation who are among users of these social platforms. The production of growing kids has a responsibility to ensure they do not hand over the role of raising a responsible and well-behaved generation to the social media. If parents and children all spend most of their time on their phones and tablets, no relationship between the two; apart from school curriculum, the platforms have a high influence on the kids social values, molding their character to damaged teenagers in involved in criminal activities.
Change brings out the bright and the dark side, the technology era of gadgets and social media is changing the society by taking most of the people's time that undermines the importance of physical interactions. In as much as the benefits of Internet and digital migration cannot be underestimated, effects are way too much disastrous. It is important for the community to appreciate basics of communication, the importance of physical interactions and use technology but not let technology use people.
Work cited
Borgmann, Albert. "The Moral Complexion of Consumption." Journal of Consumer Research. March 2000. Print. 17 July 2016.
Benson, Vladlena, and Stephanie J. Morgan. Cutting-edge Technologies and Social Media Education. , 2014.
Couly, Nick. Media, Society, World: Digital Media Practice and social theory. Place of publication not identified: Polity Press, 2013.
Fuchs, Christian. Social Media: A Critical Introduction. , 2014. Print.
Issa, Tomayess, Pedro Isaias, and Piet A. M. Kommers. Social Networking and Education: Global Perspectives. , 2016.
