Is Social Media Helpful or Hurtful For You?

There has been a lot of buzz regarding social media lately due to the new Netflix documentary, The Social Dilemma. Two of the main points of the documentary are how social media companies use algorithms to make users addicted and the topic of “policing” the content on these platforms.

These are not new concepts, but they are important to re-examine in 2020. With all that is going on in the world, The Social Dilemma provides a new thought-provoking vantage point on the subject.

Not only has it started conversations throughout communities, but it caused many users to temporarily, or potentially permanently, not use social media.

Everyone has their own stance and opinion on the internet, and more specifically, social media. While there are some drawbacks to social media that are currently being talked about, there are also some benefits to it.

Pros of Social Media

The best part of social media — it’s in its name — the social aspect. It is a new way for people to feel more connected, stay in contact with old friends, interact and grow with their network, share recipes, find significant others, and anything else in between. The possibilities with social media are endless and will only continue to grow in the future.

These platforms can provide a great way for people to get recognized in whatever they are passionate about or for people to gain knowledge on almost any subject.

Because people are more connected it is easier to learn about others’ cultures and values. You can now learn about others’ communities in ways that were unimaginable before. In the past, you would need to travel to a location to understand it. While traveling still gives a better experience, social media allows you to step into that culture and get a sneak peek of what it is about.

It is also important to remember the economic benefits that have resulted from social media. There are now thousands of jobs related to social media. And many small businesses are able to promote their unique products and niches to people outside of their community, increasing their range and number of customers.

Cons of Social Media

As The Social Dilemma alludes to, there are also some drawbacks related to social media.

One of the main issues with social media is that it can be very distracting and addicting. In 2019, the average time spent on social media was estimated at 2 hours and 24 minutes per day. With the recent popularity of TikTok and the government lockdowns, people likely spend even more time per day on social media in 2020. People are free to spend their time how they please, but could a portion of this time be used more productively each day?

Another negative of social media is that is it very polarizing, and there are many reasons for this. Are you more likely to read a story about a storm that made a thousand people lose power or a million people lose power? Polarizing stories get people’s attention and views.

Another part of the reason for the polarization is because most of the time social media is short and to the point. People lose interest in having to read longer posts. A quick post will get people’s attention, but it won’t give the whole story. There is almost always more to the story than what is posted, but the goal is to get the highlight across in as few characters as possible.

Final Thoughts

Social media has had an impact on almost all of us, changing our society. Without social media, who knows how the world would currently look? It is important to remember that, like anything else in this world, there are pros and cons associated with it.

If you’re a big advocate of the benefits of social media, keep using it. If you want a break from it, take a short break and see how life goes without it.

If you haven’t yet seen The Social Dilemma, I would recommend watching the documentary. It may provide some new insight onto the platforms you use for hours every week.

If you do decide to keep social media in your life, feel free to follow us at Yard Couch on all major social media platforms.

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