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Social media is a marriage of technology and communication that impacts almost everyone’s lives on a daily basis. However, it comes with advantages and disadvantages.
It has allowed people from all over the world to connect to each other, sharing cultures and ideas in any language they speak.
Communication on social media sites can also lead to eventual face to face interactions of people with common interests. It can promote voter participation in major elections and facilitate political change. Social media also helps destigmatize struggles like mental illness and can be used to promote the idea of getting help for it.
Social media has allowed for the promotion of things such as telemedicine. This allows us to treat mental illness remotely.
With the pandemic still occurring, people are feeling much more isolated and alone.
Social media helps with this by allowing people to connect with one another while staying socially isolated, keeping themselves healthy both physically and mentally.
However, Social Media can potentially exacerbate feelings of disconnection and possibly put children at higher risk for anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, eating disorders and even suicide*. Social media is a tool that must be used carefully. This is particularly true for young impressionable people.
One must also always remember that social media posts can never be completely deleted. Even if you can’t see it anymore, it is still out there somewhere.
Social media may or may not be for you, but it seems that in a rationed way the rewards of it
outweigh the risk.
PROS AND CONS: SOCIAL MEDIA
ARTICLE AND INFOGRAPHICS BY: GIANNA D'ALESSANDRO
*If you or a loved one you know are experiencing thoughts of suicide, depression, or mental health issues, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255, or reach out to a health professional. You are never alone.