The world is changing every day and so is social media
The world is changing every day and so is social media. The author of the article “Antisocial Networking” is Hilary Stout, who is writing for the New York Times. She believes social media is a sort of curse that today’s youth should have no part of, I believe it is a huge building block to more learning and creativity. One thing is for certain, social media has become a huge part of our daily lives in the past 5 years. Stout claims that today’s youth are “missing out on experiences” and “the ability to understand emotion” because of social media, however many studies and articles have shows that social media has benefited today’s youth in ways such as being able to interact with others, become more confident with themselves, and express their emotions; it can also be used to affect business in many positive ways.
In today’s world more than 73% of teens are on a social networking site. Social media and networking has provided the opportunity to connect with friends or people you may not see everyday. It also gives us many opportunities to build better relationships. With social networks we are able to communicate our thoughts and express ourselves about different topics with a large number of audiences. As well as that, we have access to information around the world such as presidential elections or even something closer to home such as your best friend’s birthday party or perhaps a baby shower. In today’s world almost everyone has a social footprint, including newborns. Now, you might be thinking what is she talking about, let me explain, the mother of a newborn may send out a text message or picture which someone else may post on facebook. After that, someone may write a tweet about it or post a picture of the baby on Instagram. As, I am someone who spends nearly every waking hour on some form of social media or electronics(even when I am exercising I am listening to music) and let me tell you it has really improved the quality of my life.
However, connecting with the world( which is amazing by itself) is not the only thing social media can do. Social media can also be used for business. Almost every website you visit will have ads or pop-ups on the side. Businesses are noticing how important social media is in our lives. Almost 47 % of Americans say Facebook is their no.1 influencer of purchases. As social marketing is cost effective and brands have a huge audience, they are shifting more towards social marketing. Also, social networking sites spread information faster than any other media.
Stout claims that the use of social media makes conversations more superficial and public. In my personal experience and many of my friends as well, social media has been a huge building block. It is shown that kids who use social media can become more confident and open, which may help them feel more secure in new situations, such as going to college, joining a sports team, and meeting new friends. A problem we typically think about when we hear social media is predators and stalkers. However, law enforcement actually uses social media to catch criminals. 67% of federal and local law enforcement surveyed think social media helps solve crimes more quickly. I read another article titled “Teenage Social Media Butterflies May Not Be Such a Bad Idea”, written by Melissa Healy, included in the Los Angeles Times. This article was also written in 2010. Both articles have very different viewpoints as their titles infer. Healy claims that social media helps teenagers connect with their friends and express themselves.
Social media keeps on changing and is important to keep with the times. It can help in many ways such as connectivity, expression, and even a great tool for businesses small and big alike. As you can see, social media is a great tool to connect with others, feel confident, and express yourself and does not force today’s youth to miss out on experiences or the ability to understand emotion. Don’t be afraid of social media! Use it wisely and as a tool to brighten your future.
