SOCIAL MEDIA HAS REVOLUTIONISED THE WAY WE CONNECT , COMMUNICATE , AND CONDUCT BUSINESS . ON A PERSONAL LEVEL , IT HAS RESHAPED HOW WE MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS , SHARE EXPERIENCES , AND EXPRESS OURSELVES AND PLATFORMS LIKE FACEBOOK , INSTAGRAM , AND TWITTER HAVE BECOME INTEGRAL PARTS OF DAILY LIFE , ENABLING INSTANT COMMUNICATION AND THE SHARING OF THOUGHTS , PHOTOS , AND VIDEOS .
ON A BUSINESS LEVEL , SOCIAL MEDIA OFFERS UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITIES FOR MARKETING , CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT , AND BRAND BUILDING . COMPANIES CAN REACH VAST AUDIENCES , TARGET SPECIFIC DEMOGRAPHICS , AND GATHER VALUABLE FEEDBACK IN REAL- TIME .
HOWEVER , THE RISE OF SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ALSO INTRODUCED SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES AND CONCERNS AND , WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT SOUTH AFRICA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST INTERNET USAGE RATES IN THE WORLD WITH THE AVERAGE INTERNET USER BETWEEN THE AGES OF 16 AND 64 SPENDING OVER NINE HOURS A DAY ONLINE , THESE DO NEED ADDRESSING .
OVER EXPOSURE TO SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BEEN LINKED TO A SLEW OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES , INCLUDING HEIGHTENED LEVELS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AND FEELINGS OF INADEQUACY AND ISOLATION .
AS YAEL GEFFEN , CEO OF LEW GEFFEN SOTHEBY ’ S INTERNATIONAL REALTY AND STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL WELLNESS SAYS : “ NOT UNLIKE DRUGS , NONE OF US IS IMMUNE TO BEING SUCKED INTO THE DIGITAL WORLD NOR TO THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF CYBER OVERLOAD . WE ’ RE ALL VULNERABLE AND I , TOO , HAVE FOUND MYSELF GOING DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE AND GETTING LOST IN THE ABYSS BETWEEN INFORMATION , POP CULTURE AND A DELUGE OF FAKE STATUS POSTS WHICH ENGENDERED FEELINGS OF INADEQUACY AND DEPRESSION . I HAD TO FORCE MYSELF TO PUT MY PHONE DOWN AND FIND LESS INVASIVE FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT .”
BELOW , SHE TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT BOTH THE MULTITUDE OF BENEFITS AND ALSO THE CONCERNING NEGATIVE AFFECT OF OVER-EXPOSURE TO SOCIAL MEDIA ON OUR LIVES AND OFFERS GUIDANCE FOR USING IT CONSTRUCTIVELY RATHER THAN OBSESSIVELY AND TO OUR OWN DETRIMENT .
CAPTION : DIGITAL SAVVY : SOCIAL MEDIA HAS REVOLUTIONISED THE WAY WE CONNECT , COMMUNICATE , AND CONDUCT BUSINESS , ENABLING US TO EXPRESS OURSELVES , STAY IN CONTACT WITH LOVED ONES AND REACH MUCH A MUCH WIDER AUDIENCE IN BUSINESS BUT , ON THE FLIP SIDE , OVER EXPOSURE HAS BEEN LINKED TO A SLEW OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES , INCLUDING HEIGHTENED LEVELS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AND FEELINGS OF INADEQUACY AND ISOLATION .