How Does Social Media Affect Us?

By Han Eun-ji, International School @ parkcity, Malaysia

Social media is a very big part of many people’s lives, bringing people around the world together and creating a community. However, as much as social media has many advantages for teens, there is always a negative side of it. Today, in this essay, I am going to talk about how social media affects us on both sides.

Starting off with the pros, social media brings together communities, cultures, and diversity from all around the world. With people from different places learning about countries across the planet, it brings more recognition to many unacknowledged countries, helping them with economic issues. Also, it gives a boost to major tourist attractions.

Social media is also a large contributor to trends. Trends define something that is popular within a short time on the internet. These are important for brands because they are given a firm direction to pursue. Trends also give us a sense of approval and make us feel like we belong somewhere. Research has shown that people may feel like a misfit without them.

On the other hand, the internet can have a negative side. Social media causes many teenagers to compare themselves with others. This will cause major stress and depression. It can also bring many misunderstandings because of the unrecognized tone of voice, misleading situations, and the uncertainty of what is happening behind the screen. When online, people often cannot recognize sarcasm or what might be cyberbullying. In contrast, in real life, we can fully understand when people are being serious or having a laugh. These misunderstandings have made people upset and have been the cause of fights.

Social media has also limited people’s time outside, and it has become more uncommon to step out and get some fresh air. The internet has also contributed to online addictions for people in their early 20s and mid-30s, ruining their lives and taking away opportunities.

In conclusion, I believe that social media should be avoided at a young age due to addictions, misunderstandings, and cyberbullying. Nevertheless, social media is a big contributor to many successful businesses and relationships. Without it, the world won’t be as modernized as it is now.