Many arguments exist out there about whether social media has been a good thing or a bad thing for the world and humanity as a whole. Whatever you believe, there are many different opinions and ideas to explore. It’s also possible that social media is simultaneously a good thing and a bad thing! One thing is inarguable, however, and that is the fact that social media has undeniably changed the world. Here are 3 ways it has done just that.
It Can Pit People Against Each Other
People who normally get along well in person can easily be pitted against each other on social media simply because of politics and other things they may post. It is very sad, but commonly seen these days. Especially when people reach retirement, they typically have a lot more time on their hands. When this happens, they may find themselves posting more and more on social media to pass the time, and because of this their online friends may begin to form new opinions about them.
Communication Is Easier
Communicating with people you know has arguably become much easier with the advent of social media. Whether you want to reconnect with someone you haven’t seen in a while or contact someone you know but don’t have the phone number of, things have never been more simple. In fact, before the internet and social media, these things may not have been possible at all. For many reasons, it is a good thing that communicating is this easy. However, there are also negative aspects.
Sometimes people use social media to stalk or threaten people, or to otherwise contact people who do not wish to be contacted by them. This can be annoying but also downright dangerous, and this is something important to think about.
Spreads Information Quickly
One of the biggest and perhaps most important and memorable ways social media has changed the world is that it has changed the way – and the frequency with which – people share information. All kinds of news can spread in a matter of hours or just mere minutes with the help of social media. This can be helpful in terms of important info getting out to the masses quickly, but it can also be a bad thing.
If misinformation is posted and shared, it can spread like wildfire, and this can be very dangerous. Because anyone has access to social media, this makes it even scarier. Anyone can post whatever they want to – including things that are not factual. This just means that everyone should be careful what they read on the internet and be sure to fact-check before spreading information around.
Social media is one of the biggest things to happen in the last several decades, and just because it has now become a normal part of our everyday lives does not mean it should be ignored. It has changed the world in so many ways, a few of which are listed above!