Social Media Cons

With the advance of technology in our modern society, an online presence is almost essential. Just by the end of 2008, 78 percent of adults spent time online daily. (De Choudhury) That percentage continues to climb over the years. An essential part of having an online presence includes social media. This is a tool that the majority of the population uses that may present dangers that are unknown to the population. Social media is an online platform that allows people to interact in an internet environment, which consists of sharing ideas, information, content, etc. The proper definition of it is the electronic communication between people and social networking online. As technology continues every day to advance the result is that the social

Communication is broadened by social networking. The world becomes smaller and geographic boundaries of communication are broken be the capacities and opportunities of communicating online. In fact Jack Dorsey, the founder of the popular social networking site Twitter, states that not only does social networking such as Twitter diminish geographic boundaries but it empowers people to take action politically as well. (shapiro) Information travels more quickly, knowledge is more available, and people are more accessible, yet that’s not always beneficial. Regardless of the benefits that social networking does hold, the cons are more more important to understand because they are so easily hidden or ignored. As a result of damaging mental effects, such as chronic distraction, and worsened mental illnesses, as well as sociological hindering, and the predisposition that certain individuals have to these effects, it has been concluded that social media is detrimental to healthy lifestyles and the use of it is not sustainable for individuals’ health and

Mostly the overarching and underlying problem that social media creates is that it inhibits and interferes with good communication and personal interaction in real life. Social skills are an essential part of life that is needed on a day to day basis, which is why these hindering qualities of social media are so detrimental. It is said that one of the main reasons that social skills are lost is because of social media addiction, which is needed to be treated. Loss of social skills due to social media is found in many different social realms, ranging from leisure to business. In a study by Liben-Nowell and Kleinberg it was shown that there was a problem within a collaboration network of scientists because of small-world problems due to social media. (p. 1026) This means that colleagues, although they have access to more information and mean of communication, they have more problems when trying to work together outside of the internet in a work environment. This can become a huge problem business wise, and socially for the individuals, as collaboration among colleagues is necessary for true success. Working with others is essential for any type of sustainable