Essay on Social Media: The Modern Way of Sharing Content and Opinions

Introduction

Social media refer to the website and web-based applications that are created to allow individuals to share content easily, efficiently, and in real-time. The majority of the youthful users also refer it as the mobile apps on the modern smartphones, phablets, and tablets, due to the misconception based on the fact that the majority only access these apps through individual android or IOS based gadgets (Berryman et al., 2017). The ease of sharing media like photos, details of events, and opinions has transformed how the contemporary world and conduct daily activities. Social media is heavily used by young population and appears in the following categories; Social Networks, such as Facebook and Twitter. Media sharing networks such as Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat, and lastly the social shopping networks such as Polyvore, Fancy, and Etsy. The majority of the youths use social to update their daily activities like traveling fashion trends, spread news, and shopping (Berryman et al., 2017). This paper will review the negative effect social media has on the youths.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Cyberbullying

Despite its positive impacts, social media can harm the mental health of youth users. One of the most apparent impacts is the cyberbullying that social media exposes the youth users to. Cyberbullying has been connected to anxiety depression, social isolation that might lead to suicide (Cain, 2018). Unlike the traditional forms of bullying that affected a smaller group of people and were committed by known individuals, contemporary bullying affects a broader audience. The perpetrators remain unknown and anonymous, and the victims to cyberbullying find it difficult to evade. Although there are several attempts by the companies to tame this vice, the damaging effect usually reaches the targeted audience way before it can be censored. Research suggests that a majority of the targeted individual rarely seek support. Additionally, a majority of young people do not think social media has sufficient mechanisms to rid or prevent the vice of cyberbullying (Berryman et al., 2017). Thus, the majority end up absorbing the blows resulting in stress that can lead to a surge in suicide attempt.

Suicide and self-harm content

Besides being addictive, social media can lead to suicide and self-harm. Most of the teenagers on the internet are likely to do anything to get attention and likes (Abrutyn & Mueller, 2014). When the other users notice that through self-harm activities, a user receives more attention, they are more likely to copy the same the act without having much thought about it and since at this age-bracket majority feel that they need to prove themselves, or are just suffering immature psychological state (Cain, 2018). This particular situation can escalate when such content gets a wide sharing that increases the temptation to engage in suicidal behavior. A study conducted by the PMC, in the US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health, shows that suicide is contagious and is likely to spread fast through the social platforms (Abrutyn & Mueller, 2014). Research further suggests that when a person notices a suicide attempt or a death of a close person such as a friend or a relative, it activates the person's risk of the same suicidal thought that is highly likely to lead to an attempt (Cain, 2018). Additionally, the risks identified included contagion, where information on how to commit suicide, act as an encouragement for engagement in related suicidal behavior.

Comparison to Unrealistic Portrayals

This a common phenomenon on the heavy consumers of social media. The users of the internet shares their current development, and it is an everyday social media activity for others to view the content on such a profile. However, these portrayals are usually the edited version of people's lives (Tomoniko, 2019). According to a study by the International Review of Social Science, with a sample derived from young people, 227 participants were randomly selected via social media. Ninety-eight were men and 122 females. All the participants had a median age of 26.7. Seven participants lacked a befitting profile (Dorethy et al., 2014). The participants underwent basic training on the use of social media. Ten most recent pictures were picked form the participants' profiles, and from the data gathered, 69 percent of the participants strictly shared positive photos (Dorethy et al., 2014). This group admitted to deleting or avoiding to post any negative aspect of their lives, via photos. Twenty-six percent were neutral, and a distant five percent were comfortable sharing the negative aspect of their lives (Dorethy et al., 2014). From this analysis, it can be noted that photo sharing is predominantly positive, as this is associated with a higher online response. That means that people are highly likely only to share the aspects of their lives where they are enjoying themselves or the ones that look more attractive (Berryman et al., 2017).

So the young population is highly likely to develop a notion that their fellow agemates or even everyone else is having a better life, and theirs is disappointing, full of failure and less fun (Tomoniko, 2019). The phenomenon usually worsens when the same is accompanied by more like and positive comments the post might get. It is a fact that a majority of social media users, despite the age, will most likely delete a post that did not receive as much attention or enough likes. Additionally, the user feels inferior compared to the other social media users, and this is associated with a depression termed as social media depression, This population will attempt all the means necessary to fit, outstand or to be accepted by the virtual social media friends and this is highly like to bring forth emotional disturbance (Tomoniko, 2019).

Sleep Deprivation and Internet Addiction

One of the leading causes of sleep deprivation in teenagers is the internet and social media. The majority in this age bracket are always intrigued by what their social media counterparts are posting, sharing, or talking about (Berryman et al., 2017). It is widespread nowadays to find virtual profiles arguing about unnecessary and non-educative things online. As a result, adolescents are highly likely to stay active on the social platforms for longer if not demanded to stop. The majority of this happens during sleep time or a period before sleep (Cain, 2018). Due to the engaging content and intrigues, sleep is disrupted and delayed. The repeated pattern leads to an eventual sleep deprivation that may lead to conditions like insomnia.

Additionally, due to the increased time on the screen, and uncontrollable social media usage, among the youths, it leads to internet addiction. The more time the adolescent spends on the social media platform, the higher their chances of being exposed to newer things and ideas. This repeated pattern eventually leads to overreliance on the internet, a condition that can be termed as internet addiction (Berryman et al., 2017). It, in turn, affect performance at school due to the associated reduced creativity, related mental health conditions, and decline in personal development. Heavy reliance on the internet has also been associated with decreased physical, and mental. Additionally, the addiction is likely to lead to poor concentration in classes and the physical world that might lead to social isolation (Berryman et al., 2017).

Impractical Expectations and Associated Low Self-Esteem

In most instances, young people tend to compare themselves with celebrities online. As such, they want to look exactly like the celebrities, from the cars they drive, the social lives they have, and body shapes. This is because the majority of people usually want to be like their idols (Tomoniko, 2019). The imitation attempts negatively impact both their self-respect and dignity and are generally isolated from the real world, especially their friend's circles leading to low self-esteem. Additionally, due to the virtual nature of the friend lists, social media users are susceptible to consider, such as their real friends (Tomoniko, 2019).

Conclusion

Despite the so many advantages like interaction, leaning, and associated business-boosting, social platforms are associated with many negatives such as social isolation, suicide, and living virtual deceitful life. The heavy users should be recommended to visit addiction psychologists and start engaging in more physical activities to reduce their screen times. This will not only improve their reality of life but also improve their health.

References

Abrutyn, S., & Mueller, A. S. (2014). Are Suicidal Behaviors Contagious in Adolescence?: Using Longitudinal Data to Examine Suicide Suggestion*. American Sociological Review, 79(2), 211-227. https://doi.org/10.1177/0003122413519445

Berryman, C., Ferguson, C. J., & Negy, C. (2017). Social Media Use and Mental Health among Young Adults. Psychiatric Quarterly, 89(2), 307-314. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11126-017-9535-6

Cain, J. (2018). It is Time to Confront Student Mental Health Issues Associated with Smartphones and Social Media. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, ajpe6862. https://doi.org/10.5688/ajpe6862

Dorethy, D. M., Fiebert, S.M., & Warren C. R. (2014, January). Examining Social Networking Site Behaviors: Photo Sharing and Impression Management on Facebook. Researchgate.Net. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260285535_Examining_Social_Networking_Site_Behaviors_Photo_Sharing_and_Impression_Management_on_Facebook

Tomoniko, S. (2019). REFEREED ARTICLES Anxiety at Teenagers' Fingertips. BU Journal of Graduate Studies in Education, 11(2). https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1230220.pdf