The day of an average teenager consists of getting up in the morning, checking how many notifications he or she got on Facebook, posting a “selfie” on Instagram that was somehow shot in Mathematics, then ending the day tweeting about one’s absolute hatred of school and why it is a waste of time. But how are social networking sites making one’s life any better? What are one’s constant updates about their lives proving to the world? Do they make people happier or supplement people’s lives for the better? The use of social networking is expanding the ever growing narcissistic, solitary, and lazy society that the world is soon to become.
Social media is feeding the rising human ego. People are now becoming fuller of their selves thus hurting the world in return due to caring only about appearances than other major problems affecting the world. Elliot Panek, who recently received a doctorate in communication studies, makes an interesting point by stating, “Young people may overevaluate the importance of their own opinion” (Chan). Panek’s statement shows that Sally’s update on what she is wearing tomorrow is unimportant to the community who is reading her pointless statuses. How are one’s constant tweets about what they are eating or wearing helping solve the world’s problems? One says that they will be on for just five minutes but it turns into a horribly wasted two hours. These non-stop updates, instant checking of tweets, and looking at the endless streams of pictures are taking up precious time for one to make an actual difference in this world. It also seems that social networking, “fuels middle aged adults’ narcissistic tendencies by serving as a mirror where they can curate images of themselves” (Chan). Peopl...
... middle of paper ...
.... Case in put, society needs to make a difference and actually take a stand for the change this world so desperately needs. Social media may help achieve this, but one also must help the surrounding communities to actually make this change evident.
Works Cited
Chan, Amanda L. "What Social Media Reveals About Narcissism." The Huffington Post.
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 13 June 2013. Web. 03 Nov. 2013.
Obeidallah, Dean. "Are Social Media Creating the Laziest Generation?" CNN. Cable News
Network, 18 July 2011. Web. 03 Nov. 2013.
Parrack, Dave. "The Positive Impact Of Social Networking Sites On Society
[Opinion]."MakeUseOf. MakeUseOf.com, 19 Apr. 2012. Web. 03 Nov. 2013.
Schultz, Connie. "The National Memo » The Lonely World Of Facebook." The National Memo
The Lonely World Of Facebook Comments. The National Memo, 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 03 Nov. 2013.
There are numerous studies on the impact of advancing technology on adolescents, usually leading to the conclusion that social media networks often take part in creating the teen to isolate themselves from anything other than the internet. Social media however, does allow anyone to connect to the people living on the other side of the world. It is a way to keep in touch with old friends, and meet new people no matter where they live. Social media is often used to keep up with the latest news and often informs users of what is going on before the news channels catch it. It is obvious that social media has various positive uses. While these points are important, the fact that the younger generation spends most of their time with their heads down looking at a screen rather than engaged in conversation takes precedence. An article by Morgan Hampton states that,“children and teens spend 75% of their waking lives with their eyes fixed on a screen.” Social media connects people through a screen, but cannot excuse the fact that people are being disconnected from what is right in front of
Even though Sherry Turkle and Stephen Marche share the same claim of technology causing loneliness, Marche uses statistics of the dropping number of confidants to explain his point in a superior manner compared to Turkle’s worrisome evidence of technology destroying conversation. Sherry Turkle, Director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self, gave a speech in 2012 titled “Connected, but Alone?” She spoke about how social media is deterring people from having conversations face to face. With the absence of in person conversations, people are losing the intimacy of the interaction. Similarly, Stephen March wrote an article in 2012 titled “Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?” Along with shocking examples of social media’s influence on society,
One’s amount of Facebook reflects how popular one wish to appear online more than how healthy one’s friendship truly is. Constant usage of Facebook allows user to potentially feel like they have a meaningful social life, when in reality, they are missing something. In Stephen Marche’s 2102 article, “Is Facebook making Us Lonely?” he notes that Facebook was introduced to the world in the midst of spreading and intensifying loneliness, an idea to which he greatly attributes Facebook’s appeal and success (Marche 26). Initially, social networking sites seem to be evidence of modern-day social interaction being easier and more convenient than ever.
In my opinion, social media is a way to bring the world closer and an assertion of consumer choice can be used for promoting issues that matter. A human rights activist can make an unknown story reach hundreds of thousands of people by the ‘simple click of a button’.
“Nothing is perfect.” Though social media brings us uncountable convenience, there is a trade-off with the convenience. Due to the advanced technology we have, social media has become part of our life, which it means that social media could determine our sociability. In Peggy Orenstein’s “I Tweet, Therefore I Am,” though she praises Tweeter for its convenience, at the same time, she also worries that “(Tweeter) makes the greasepaint permanent, blurring the lines not only between public and private but also between the authentic and contrived self.” Since we don’t care about who we talk to, we might act abnormally due to our feelings, and
In Austin McCann's Impact of Social Media on Teens articles he raises that "social networking is turning out to be more than a piece of their reality, its turning into their reality." Teens grumble about always being pushed with homework, however perhaps homework isn't the fundamental wellspring of the anxiety. Ordinary Health magazine expresses that, on insights, a young person who invests more energy open air is for the most part a more content and healthier child. Be that as it may, since 2000, the time adolescents spend outside has diminished altogether bringing on more despondency and heftiness. Not just does it influence wellbeing, social networking denies folks from having an intensive discussion with their youngsters without them checking their telephone. Despite the fact that the constructive outcome of having an online networking profile is to correspond with companions/family, they don't even have the respectability to lift their head and take part in a discussion. Appreciating the easily overlooked details around them turns into a troublesome errand to the normal adolescent when they're excessively caught up with tweeting about it. The repudiating impacts of it goes to demonstrate that social networking is not all it is talked up to
Social media is so popular that according to a recent article published by forbes.com, “72% of American adults are currently using social media sites; that figure has gone up 800% in just 8 years”(Olenski). Social networking was originally created to simply reconnect people with old high school pals, but in recent years it has evolved into a completely different operation. When social media first originated it was also intended for adult usage, which has in recent years expanded into the usage of all ages. Social media can create a negative affect on lives because it has been proven to be a dangerous addiction, for it takes away interpersonal relationships that are essential in life, and it has been proven to prevent people from being productive in life.
In conlusion, social networking sites can have a very big impact on how we interact and make friendships but we can only be influenced by them if we want to be influenced. These sites can be “vast teenage playgrounds—or wastelands, depending on one’s perspective” (What Matters in America 48) but so can anything else, depending on your point of view.
There has been controversy as to whether parents should limit the use of social media by teenagers. Teenagers feel that there is no need to limit the use of their social media networking, but on the other hand parents should feel the need to limit their use and also keep track of their teen’s social networking. Social media has allowed to be connected with their peers, teens who post positive status are more likely to be involved in extracurricular activities, and to many teens putting up “selfies” is a self confidence boost; however, too much social media can affect students GPA in school, cyber bulling can affect social health. Social media networks can give out personal information.
We live in a world that has become addicted and dedicated toward social media and it is driving America’s youth into the ground. Teenagers and adults are so wrapped up in social media that is runs their lives every day. Constantly people are checking their phones for the latest on social networks. They have to see pictures, tweets, statuses, comments, likes, and the list goes on and on. Social media is becoming the focus point in the modern American society that it is beginning to control people’s social skills, communication skills, and their livelihood.
Did you remember to tell your cousin happy birthday on Facebook? Do you know how many people liked your latest picture on instagram? Or how many retweets did you get on your totally relatable and borderline inspirational tweet? As of January 2014, 74% of online adults use social networking sites (Rainie). Also more than 9 out of 10 American teenagers use social media(Blaszczak). Because of social networking we are becoming more connected than ever before. Important information can spread faster than wildfire, and we now have the ability to have friends and relationships all over the world. With the ability to communicate and interact with anyone at our fingertips what could go wrong? Well...lots of things.
In the twenty -first century, teenagers live in a life of social networking and life’s online. It’s hard to believe how much the world has changed over the decades, especially in technology. Technology helps people to contact relatives and friends from long distance more easily and conveniently. People can now talk to each other from everywhere in the world simply through chat and video calls. By time, internet connections have spread throughout households and social networking such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram has increased gradually. However, the internet and several modern technologies have wasted many times and has hurt the society. Social media plays such a big role in people’s lives that some people couldn’t even imagine
Social media can be used in our days as a very helpful tool for many things in changing any person’s life ant attitude. It has a positive impact on the society level. These media will keep the person socially active and open to all what happened in the world. Sharing the latest news, photos, finding new friends and knowing the culture. Also, it allows for millions to keep in touch with each other and update for all the new technology. And, it helps people who have difficulties in communication with others to be more socialized and stronger and develop more confidence to feel more comfortable, protected and relaxed just sitting behind a screen. “It saved me time and money without ever requiring me to leave the house; it salvaged my social life, allowed me to conduct interviews as a reporter and kept a lifeline open to my far-flung extended family” says Leonard(231).
Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest. These are only a few of the websites that have become omnipresent in the typical teenager’s life. First launched in 2004, Facebook seemed like the perfect means to connect with old friends and take part in organizations. Eleven years later, the social media industry has snowballed from its original purpose of simply a network for interaction. Most likely launched by the incredible popularity of Facebook, other networks have popped up. According to The Huffington Post, 71% of teenagers engage in more multiple social media networks, 24% of these teenagers admit to checking social media almost constantly. Scrolling, posting, and liking are actions
Social networking sites like Facebook can have both negative and positive effects. Facebook can leave us feeling like we are not good enough if we don’t have enough likes on our pictures or if we do not have a certain amount of friends. While on the other hand it can make us feel empowered and worthy when we have a significant amount of likes on our picture and thousands of friends on Facebook. The following two articles argue whether or not social networking sites like Facebook, have a negative or positive effect on one’s overall well-being. As the old saying goes, there are always two sides to everything.