Negative Effects of Technology and Social Media - Essay Example

Introduction Most of us use social media for communications, business purposes and entertainment. Social media and technology have made significant changes in our lives. It has been easy for people to communicate with friends, families and business partners in far places globally. Some have developed their careers through the use of technology and social media. Others have improved their businesses and increase the number of customers using social media. Social media and technology have made it easy to understand someone’s cultures despite the distances or complexity of their language. However, social media and technology has also brought serious burden to our society. Most users of social media waste their time chatting with their friends. It has also made some people to isolate themselves from others. This and other negative effects will be discussed on this paper. Background Application of social media and technology has been developed extensively in business fields and traditional firms with the most recent development of web-based information. Such developments are good for businesses. Additionally, the Web-based information use to avail personal and business information in real time in case need arise. For example, social media such as MySpace, twitter, Facebook can be used to transfer information in real time to the variety of users through Internet-enabled phones, laptops and iPads. Corporations have benefited a lot from social media and technology. They use the mentioned social media platforms for communications, advertising and business transactions. Additionally, firms have been using social media to show their experiences and legality. On the other hand, students use social media to show their legitimacy and to socialize with other interested parties. Social media came into light in early 1990s. Users were able to communicate privately, one on one. However, with the development of social media platforms such as Facebook and MySpace, user’s information can be seen by every person on social media. Since the invention of such social media sites, many people flocked to take the advantage of free registration. Statistics shows that in 2008, close to 25% of adult populations used Facebook. This was an increase from 8% in 2005. Users of Facebook were able to view personal information of other users after it was launched by Mark Zuckerberg. Changes were however made by the company after several lawsuits were filed by users regarding privacy settings. It enabled users to control the viewers of their personal information such as date of birth (Lane and Coleman 3). There is a variety of forms that can be used as a medium of socialization. For example, magazines, micro blogging, wikis, internet forums qualify as a social media platform. Technologies applicable in social media include picture sharing, email, instant messaging, wall postings music and video sharing. Social media and technology have emerged as the most addictive part of our daily activities. For example, studies reveal that 63% of the U.S. citizens use Facebook daily. Many of us have a variety of reason for use of social media. Significant number of people uses social media to share their pictures, post their status and other related activities. Others use social media when they are bored or as a way of venting of emotions. Many of use post status updates on social media such as Facebook when they are bored or emotional. When they receive supportive comments or likes, they will do it again and again in case they have a problem. This case of posting and updating status becomes a habit that is quite difficult to stop. Social media causes mental illness There is more to mental illness as a result of use of social media right from depression to relationship problems. Studies reveal that social media such as Facebook can have negative effects on our life. Research shows that frequent users of Facebook have had negative, unsatisfying results of their daily activities. According to Whiteman (2014), research conducted in the UK showed that social media has made different changes on personal lives. For examples, 53% the participants on the survey showed that social media has made changes on their behavior. Additionally, 51% pointed out that social media has negatively affected their lives. The persons surveyed who revealed that social media have had huge negative impacts on their lives say that they are less confident with social media. Additionally, two-thirds of the surveyed population explained that they usually have problems while sleeping ones they have been browsing online. Others say that they are often worried when they do not access their social networking accounts. Cyber Bullying Cyber bullying occurs through technological devices such as Internet-enable phones or computer connected to the web. Cyber bullying is another negative effect of technology and social media because it leaves a person emotionally affected. The perpetrator chooses social media because he or she can carry on without being noticed. Social media users can operate anonymously or use names that make it hard to trace them. The agent carrying on bullying can do it with less effort provided he or she has the Internet and device. Additionally, the bully can do it as many times as possible at a convenient time. The bully is also advantaged by the fact that everyone sees his or her operations and the victim’s humiliation (Breguet 8). Before the introduction of the Internet and mobile phones, things were a bit difficult. One had to pass information to another person physically. You had to avail yourself to a person you are passing information to physically. However, with the introduction of the Internet and mobile phones, things have changed; it is easy to communicate to the person on any corner of the world virtually. One does not need to have a pen and paper to pass information. However, such benefits provided by the Internet have been submerged by things like cyber bullying and other unfortunate things that happen on the Internet. The Internet has great features such as convenience and reliability. However, such features have been used by some people to abuse others. A victim of cyber bullying can receive disturbing messages through various technological platforms such as emails and instant messaging. Additionally, the bully can utilize other forms such as online gaming, chat rooms and websites. Studies reveal that cyber bullying is quite disturbing; its effects can last for a longer time just like physical bullying. The problem with cyber bullying is that it is not easy to deal with it. Most guardians, teachers, parents and other people who interact with children find cyber-bullying a problem to address (Kowalski 2). Impacts at the Workplace Social media and technology have been of great importance to many organizations. Businesses can obtain any information on social media and websites anytime they need. Firms are leveraging on the power on the Internet to get business opportunities, sources of requirements, experience and advice. Additionally, companies are using social media to obtain and share information about marketing techniques and strategies. Social sites also assist the company to pass information regarding their products and services to potential customers (Lane and Coleman 2). However, social media and technology can harm a company. Studies reveal that social networking is called for the increases in loss of productivity of workers. Additionally, company’s data can leak out to people who may harm the firm, as a result, from employees’ free gossiping on social media. The firm’s reputation can also be affected through leaked information on the social media. In addition, hackers can take the advantage of outdated passwords or employees’ lack of knowledge of cyber security and obtain sensitive information of the company. Companies have been more concern with their reputation because anything posted online can affect them. Such case happens when a company fires one of their workers. A fired worker may go online and post anything that can affect the company. Lower productivity has also been a major concern of many companies because of availability of social media and tools. Approximately all companies provide their workers with computers and access to the Internet. However, some employees spend so much time chatting online with their friends this could have a huge effect on company’s productivity (Lane and Coleman 5). Impacts on Global Security Terrorist have been able to carrying on their activities such as recruitment and passing on of information through social media. It is widely known that Al-Qaeda terrorist have been using the Internet for the last two decades to communicate with their allies throughout the world. There is however a new group that is currently terrorizing people in Iraq and Syria, ISIS is a radical group that has been able to recruit and call sympathizers from many parts of the world. The group has been using social media to recruit fighters from other countries. Social platforms such as twitter and Facebook have made it possible for ISIS to call fighters from foreign countries. Radicle messages can reach far places, and terrorist groups can get into minds of young inexperienced people. The group also circulates images on twitter and Facebook regarding what is happening in Syria and Iraq. Due to increasing number of ISIS fighters in Syria and Iraq, the only step that can be used to fight them is cyber security (Ryan). Conclusion Despite the level of your personality, social media and technology are of great importance to you. It became part of our daily activities; clearly all the people globally have made use of social platforms such as Facebook. However, despite the advantages brought by social media and technology, some people have taken it to harm others. The fight that is currently happening in Arab countries is influenced by social media. Works Cited Breguet, Teri. Cyberbullying. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, 2007. Print. Kowalski M. Robin, Limber, P. Susan and Agatston, W. Patricia. Cyberbullying: Bullying in the Digital Age. UK: John Wiley & Sons, 2012. Print. Lane, Michelle and Coleman Phillip. “Technology ease of use through social networking media.” Journal of Technology Research. (n.d): 1-12. Print. Ryan, Laura. “Al-Qaida and ISIS Use Twitter Differently. Heres How and Why.” National Journal. 10 October 2014. Print. Whiteman Honor. “Social media: how does it really affect our mental health and well-being?” Medical News Today. 16 April 2014. Print. Read More