World Social Media Day: The good and bad of everyone's favourite habit

Social media is a word that has in today's date become a part of everyone’s life. It has, literally, made the world a smaller place, helping people connect, share, exchange information from across the globe.

From getting their dose of news, sharing envy-inducing vacation posts, to starting movements, social media is the millennials go-to spot for everything.

Social networking gives people the ease to communicate with anybody in any part of the world at any time.


The origin of this trend can be traced back to 1997, when the first social media site SixDegrees gave people the option to share profiles and make virtual friends.

Technology, or SoNet, has changed a lot since then. In the era of LinkedIn (2003), Youtube (2005), Facebook (2006), Twitter (2006), Instagram (2010), and Snapchat (2011), people communicate in the language of filters and stickers.

And while, social media has made the transfer of information much simpler, it comes with its own share of pros and cons.

So, on this Social Media Day, here’s taking a look at the impact it has had on global communication, and what it really means in the present day scenario - a boon or bane.

Pros

Ease of connectivity
The most basic function of any social network is connecting people, helping them communicate and share information. Social media bridges the distance, letting users share their lives, sorrows and joys, with people who matter.

Live news in your hand
In today’s digital age, no one wants to wait for the newspaper to get their load of what’s happening in the world. It’s all about instant information, and social media helps spread the information. It’s also a medium where movements for driving change begin and gain momentum. Whether it was #MeToo that gave women the world over a voice to speak up against sexual assault, the ice bucket challenge that raised awareness and money for ASL, or other campaigns against and for several other topics, social media has often helped drive change.

Opportunities for businesses
Social media has also turned into a marketplace for new and existing businesses. It gives them the power to reach customers across boundaries. It also facilitates direct consumer interaction.

Cons

Information overload
The barrage of information on social media can at times be overwhelming, whether it’s posts from friends or fake news doing the rounds. While information is good, too much of it can make your feed feel cumbersome.

Privacy questions
The recent Facebook - Cambridge Analytica scandal has raised questions about how much of the users data do social media companies keep, and more importantly what do they do with it. Data privacy is the tech-age’s biggest war at the moment.

Lack of personal interaction
While social media is a great way to stay connected, it has in some ways also led to loss of personal interaction. Conversations have been replaced with ‘pings’ and emoticons; and the charm of meeting and talking to people face-to-face often lost.

Cyber Harassment
Harassment, whether online or offline, can scar people for a long time. And social media makes users easy targets. Trolls don’t spare anyone, and cyber harassment can often lead to depression.

Addiction
Too much of anything can be unhealthy. And this stands true for social media too. On an average, users spend nine to ten hours on social media, this is longer than a normal person’s sleep time. This affects people in ways they often don’t realise, from mood swings to the quality of work.