The Trend of Using Social Media - Essay Example

The trend of using social media has influenced people of all ages and has created personal spaces for individuals to connect with friends online. Social networking websites like Facebook (2004), MySpace (2006), Twitter (2006), Google+ (2012) and Pinterest (2009) have become increasingly popular from teens and young adults including people over the age of 50 (Bryfonski). The extensive use of these websites has no doubt had great effects on different aspects of contemporary human life. Though at first, it might seem that these websites are harmless and their only objective is peer interaction.

However, the truth is that these websites have been known to give birth to a number of negative traits within the personality of an individual. Furthermore, there have been incidents where social networking websites have been used to perform immoral and illegal activities (Bryfonski). Social media provides its users with a platform where they are likely to share personal information such as thoughts, experiences and relationship views. The main objective of such a feature is to allow other users to get to know these users on a personal level.

However, such a feature also provides stalkers and sexual predators an opportunity to collect more intimate information about their victims. The ease with which they obtain such information has become a grave concern not only for parents around the world but also for law enforcement agencies that are rarely able to connect the perpetrator with these crimes (Topping). Furthermore, this information has also been used by peers from school or university to bully their fellow students. The phenomenon has been dubbed as cyberbullying.

Cyber-bullying is a critical issue of social media. Hilary Stout in her article writes “Worry about the social repercussions has centered on the darker side of online interactions, like cyber-bullying or texting sexually explicit messages” (Stout). Even though cyber-bullying has been officially categorized as an illegal activity within a number of states in the United States it is extremely difficult for law enforcement to indict someone for cyberbullying (Gannett). Concerns are raised by experts that extensive use of social networking websites has adverse effects on the mental health of its users more specifically its effects on children.

Studies have shown that 47% of kids who were exposed to more than 16 hours of social media either got Cs or less on their assignments and tests (Lewin). The effect of social media has up until now been on the academic performance of children, however, recent studies have found out that extensive time spent on social media tends to have adverse effects on children’s friendship (Stout). In a number of cases, victims of cyber-bullying tend to suffer from psychological problems. Victims of cyber-bullying are forced into doing something rash out of frustration.

As mentioned above cyber-bullying is an illegal activity that is usually carried out through the use of social media (Stout). Social media, however, is also involved in playing a positive role within society. Ten years back, interacting with people across the country was expensive and difficult. Social media offers change for people all over the globe to converse and correspond in a speedy and efficient manner Furthermore, applications like Skype, Facebook etc has allowed people to make calls at cheaper rates.

Social media has significantly increased interaction patterns in society; it has enlarged out social circles. Social media has provided a platform for people around the world to communicate and interact with each other (Bryfonski). In addition to improving personal interaction social media has widely been used by different institutions as a source to cheaply market their product and in the process target a large number of audiences (Bryfonski). Even though social media has had some positive aspects it is largely being used and manipulated by individuals to carry out illegal and immoral activities.

These illegal activities have had some serious consequences on the victims. Cyber-bullying and stalking are a few examples of crimes that are being committed through the use of social media. These crimes usually take a mental toll on their victims and force them to act in a rash manner. Furthermore, social media has had some negative impacts on the mental and psychological health of children. Experts have noticed odd behavior in kids that are exposed to social media for a long period of time.

The positive impacts of social media, such as increasing interaction and helping businesses market their products online, are not enough to compensate for all the negative activities that are being supported by the use of social media.