The Truth About Social Media: Stepping Away to Save Own Life

Regardless of how people feel about social media, it is a consensus that it has changed the way people live their daily lives. Many individuals see social media as a medium that has improved lives. Social media has brought new ways to bring people together, it has created endless opportunities for millions, and it is widely used by people of all ages as a time sink to find entertainment or distraction in their lives. For all its benefits, it is sure to stay. Along with those benefits, however, come some serious detriments that are often overlooked. The aim for this argumentative essay about social media is to reveal all the pros and cons, so only then social media may truly not be all its made out to be.

As people grow older, they become distracted with education, career goals, and/or relationships. In the past, people may have held close community groups and only really spoke to those in it. So what happens if an individual wanted to reach out to an old friend they had in their high school years? Perhaps a letter would be sent if they knew their address and hopefully they would hear back from them eventually. Nowadays, thanks to social media, that is a thing of the past. Everyone is just a few clicks away from being able to say “How is it going?” to anyone, even those they have never met in person. This at first glance must seem like absolute positive, and while there is no denying that social media has brought people together in a way never possible before, it may have evolved from its intended purpose.

Avid users of social media may attest that they have been able to keep up with all their friends’ lives and even meet new people. They might not, however, realize the impact that social media has on their real-life encounters and relationships. It is often said by some that the more connected someone becomes online, the more disconnected they become with their immediate reality. Whether it be a loss of focus on education, work, or previous hobbies, social media can quickly become a top priority. Similar to consumption addictions, the human brain begins to crave and desire attention and/or validation from others. There is a certain rush felt when receiving a certain number of likes or followers. This is backed by scientific research, as Lauren Shermant, a researcher from the UCLA brain mapping center states, 'When teens learn that their own pictures have supposedly received a lot of likes, they show significantly greater activation in parts of the brain's reward circuitry, this is the same group of regions responding when we see pictures of a person we love or when we win money'. Like gambling, however, social media users become stressed if they do not “win” or reach that threshold of attention they expect or hope to receive. This commonly leads to having self-esteem issues, as individuals will find themselves constantly comparing themselves with others. It might seem 'normal' to some nowadays, but the lengths people go to achieve their goals in social media can be a bit excessive. This behavior also extends from appearance alone. In hopes of portraying themselves in the same light as celebrities or successful people they may know, some will rent luxurious cars and partake in other facades to put a wealthy lifestyle on display. Unfortunately, those who cannot keep up with this constant competition of idealistic appearance and success, especially at a young age, can become vulnerable to cyberbullying and depression.

Social media has played a vital role in providing many individuals with an immense amount of opportunities. Throughout its many forms, social media has created pathways for musicians, actors, entrepreneurs, and other creative minds to display their talents or spread their ideas. In this new digital age, just about anybody can become an influencer or find success in any number of ways, sometimes not even intentionally. Social media has also been a great tool for foreign aid, as it helps amass resources from many communities towards a shared goal. A recent example of this is the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, which burned down earlier this year. In a short amount of time, people from around the globe donated over one billion dollars in hopes of restoring the historic structure.

On the other hand of the spectrum, social media has also opened new opportunities for more nefarious activities. In this era where young teens are aspiring to be models or want to attain a social status of popularity, there are many predatory hoax companies and agencies who have fake representatives fabricate scoutings for gullible individuals. In hopes of fame or money, many young aspiring men and women are tricked into thinking that they are wanted for a modeling career or a great opportunity to become successful. These types of fraudulent criminals are always looking for ways to exploit others, or in worst-case scenarios, kidnap people for human trafficking purposes. While it is great that social media has provided individuals with ways to express themselves, certain dangers in its use should not be overlooked. Aside from such heinous crimes like human trafficking, social media has also had a hand in normalizing and glorifying substance abuse of alcohol and drugs. This can be especially harmful to young teens, as they are highly impressionable. As part of an experiment conducted by the UCLA brain mapping center, participants were shown several sets of pictures of both normal things such as food and friends, as well as more mischievous pictures containing things such as alcohol and cigarettes. The study found that the content of the picture was not as relevant to the amount of attention received by teens, as they focused more on what was more popular, regardless of what was being shown. This study shows the dangers of peer pressure, and how easy it may be for an individual to become interested in those activities.

Social media has been going through a constant evolution that has begun to completely replace old entertainment sources such as magazines, newspapers, and even traditional television. This can be helpful for a lot of individuals who need an escape from the stress and complicated nature of everyday life. Due to this, people of all ages can spend an unbelievable amount of time on their phones. Whether the time is being spent to keep up with friends and family or to watch videos, everyone in this society has an all-purpose entertainment source always at their disposal. For parents, when used in moderation, social media or phone use, in general, can be seen as a safe alternative for their kids, as it might seem easier to supervise than old-school outdoor activities. This might be misguided, however, as many parents, especially the older generations may not fully understand the extent to which social media can be utilized.

Along with inappropriate content that may be found on social media sites, social media as a whole may promote unproductiveness and laziness to its users. It is not unusual to find both teens and adults who spend the majority of their free time on sites and apps like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. Social media has become embedded in modern culture and it is now a part of millions of individuals’ daily schedules. This new integration now often leads to issues arising in both academic and work environments, as many individuals become distracted every time they hear or feel a notification go off on their phones. Rather than being productive, these individuals find themselves wasting their time instead on social networks, even without it always being their original intent. In a study conducted by researchers from the University of Winchester, ten self-proclaimed social media addicts were asked to stop their use for four weeks. One of the participants quickly stated that “My fingers seem to be programmed to seek out the Facebook app every time I pick up my phone.' While the study did not find that social media use was inherently wrongful, it did find that its heavy users felt symptoms of withdrawal during the duration of the study. Also, some participants realized that without the use of social media, they spent more time with their kids, or caught up on chores they had been putting off. This study is a great indicator that shows how much of a time-sink social media can be, and the opportunity cost that goes along with it.

To end up this argumentative essay, social media use has been a hot topic for many over the last decade, and it is sure to continue to be up for debate in the near future. There is strong evidence that it has had a positive effect on society, as it has allowed new forms of communication for individuals, it has created millions of opportunities for people all around the globe, and it is now a top form of entertainment and distraction for those who need it. There is, however, still a strong case to be made against social media. Just like anything else, moderation is key, and when it comes to social media that is not as common as it should be. In clear contrast to its benefits, social media has damaged our interpersonal relationships, it has created just as many opportunities for predatory criminals, and it has also taken time away a considerable amount of time for individuals to develop skills, hobbies, and relationships. With these things in mind, stepping away from social media might be a revealing experience for many people in this society.