Social Networking: The Positive Side Of Social Media

The vast expansion of the internet and its capabilities continues to build the foundations for a society to succeed. Specifically, social media has expanded the capabilities for connection as people at the two ends of the earth can converse by signing into an account on a social platform within the internet. However, the spectrum of potential for this communication is wide as on the positive side people can discuss world issues, create partnerships or create lasting friendships, but on the more prominent negative side, people can suffer with internet addiction leading to depression and loneliness. Though social media is capable of connecting the world and making every living person accessible at a moment’s notice, there is a paradox which is

Since social media is ubiquitous it provides users the capability of extending their social circle beyond their neighborhood. Evidence proves that, “60% of those who use an online neighborhood discussion forum know ‘all or most’ of their neighbors” ( Pewdie 10) which correlates to local engagement. This is positive as social networking substitutes for some neighborhood involvement and helps build a strong trusting neighborhood. There are 2.03 billion active social media users globally, which depicts not only the prominence of social media worldwide but also how accessible social media is as 25% of social media users are active (We Are Social). Lacking language and distance barriers, social media has helped bring social issues to light as court rulings and government actions are debated online and brought to the attention of government officials. For example, the death of Eric Gardner back in July as the video of a cop choking him to death went viral recently due to social media, which has caused riots and lack of faith in the justice system. With users all across the globe posting their opinions, planning protests and debating on social media, politicians have been forced to discuss the equality of the American justice system as the government’s people are distraught (Salon). Although social media is utilized to connect the world on the negative side of the spectrum, individuals suffer

The extensive cross-lagged panel study, by Mike Z. Yao and Zhi-jin Zhong in 2014 revealed that, “Internet addiction is one of the possible contributors to the subjective feeling of loneliness and depression” (169 Yao, Zhong). There is no extent to which users are addicted to the internet as the brain has adapted to constantly be connected. Since the internet and social media is also available on phones, the addiction is easily satiated. Despite the fact that this mobile social media addiction is the most rudimentary forms of internet addiction, many users exhibit illnesses. Those even mildly addicted to the internet exhibit the most basic illnesses, one of which is the Phantom Vibrating Syndrome. Phantom Vibrating Syndrome is when the brain senses or perceives that a mobile phone notified the user of internet activity when in actuality the phone never sent a notification. In 2010 a study was conducted to see who exhibited this syndrome and 88% of participants admitted to experiencing it on a weekly or monthly basis, revealing that there is clearly some sort of addiction (DROIN STUDY). Nomophobia, a phobia of being without a phone, is also a prominent illness which exemplifies the extent of internet addiction. In a survey conducted among 1,000 found that two thirds of participants suffered from nomophobia and that nomophobia