We often listen to the word Media. Print media and electronic media play a vital role in news and information transformation from one to another. There is a third type of media called “The Social Media.” Social Media, like any other media, is a way of transferring the information from one person to the other. Social media apps are present in every smartphone, and hence with the increasing number of users of smartphones, the use of social media is also increasing.
Almost two-thirds of the world’s population use these social media platforms. They share all kinds of information in the form of graphics, videos, etc. With the rise in social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. user’s dependency on social media increased. Facebook alone has 2.6 billion users worldwide, in which 336 million users are Indians. Almost 80% of Americans use Facebook as well as other social media platforms worldwide.
There is nothing wrong with saying that in today’s era, social media has an essential place in every individual’s life, and its effect cannot be unseen.
Effect Of Social Media On Politics:
Social Media has dramatically influenced politics in India and the world. Different trends over Instagram and Twitter with a hashtag can be seen every day. It manipulates the minds of the people and is capable of turning the tides from one political party to the other.
The Umbrella Revolution of Hongkong against Chinese capitalism and the Arab Spring in the UAE exemplifies how social media plays a vital role with the intent of spreading the message outside the boundaries of these countries. The general election in India in 2014 also witnesses the role of Social Media in spreading the words.
Many famous leaders are on Twitter and Instagram, and they express their thoughts on it. Hence, we can say that Social Media has a massive impact on politics and politicians.
Effect of Social Media on Society:
Social Media also has a significant impact on society. Several youngsters are actively using social media to express their thoughts. Not as before, the youngster put forth their views more prominently and firmly. It makes them self reliant and an observer in society. Every coin has two phases. When the head is on the top, the tail is also present at the bottom.
The more rigorous and continuous use of Social Media can create a mental imbalance and also irresponsibility in youngsters sometimes. It can also make them depressed if they get abusive comments on the platform, especially about their skin color, size, or looks.
The propagation of fake news and false messages through social media is creating a lot of problems globally, and they impact all generations. It hurts people emotionally and disturbs them mentally.
Effect Of Social Media On Culture
Social Media has a significant impact on cultural life. The use of Social Media is all about representing ourselves in a group of known and unknown people. What we think and what we express over social media signifies our personality traits. Hence, we should be careful in what we are sharing over social media, as it can be either a boon or a curse.
Today Social Media stands as a mirror in front of society. It shows the community its ability and thinking when we react or discuss any topic. Sometimes what we shared on social media is misinterpreted, and hence, the receiver might not fully understand the correct meaning and intention behind the post. Therefore, it is essential that our post must have clarity so that future collision and generation gap can be minimized.
Effect of Social Media on Commerce:
Nowadays, social media is playing an essential role in building up trade and commerce throughout the world. With the emergence of E-commerce websites, the business has taken a long jump of modernization. With the help of Social Media, we can advertise our product and increase the customer base.
Creating a WhatsApp chat group and talk about the product is in fashion and also a part of business techniques nowadays. Facebook also helps in creating groups of different domains through which we can try to increase our customers and sell the product simultaneously. However, it has a negative impact too.
People pay for a good review of their products and advertise it to deceive their customers. Therefore, we should always double-check the product and also self evaluate the quality before purchasing anything. It will not only save our money but also protect us from risking our health.
Discussion On The Future Of Social Media:
As social media is becoming famous, we can hope that more steps will be taken to stop the misuse of the platform. These social media platforms have given opportunities to many people to show their talents and get famous. They are known as ‘social media celebrity.’ On the other hand, some people lost their name and fame after doing or saying something wrong on the platform.
It is in our hands, how we use or misuse this platform. It has the capability of making and destroying someone’s career. So, we should use it wisely and keep a check on other’s comments and posts.
These social media platforms provide everything to its user. They allow you to send report against the people and posts which are spreading fake news and hatred on the platform. You can also secure your information and data by changing the privacy settings of your profile. You can also send feedback to them if you face any issue. Everything has its benefits and loss. But we should concentrate on the good points more.
Conclusion
Social Media dramatically influences our lives and have an impact on society, as well. The consequences are both good and evil; social media is playing a pivotal role in making people aware of the goods and the bad too. There are many positive achievements of social media, but it is also responsible for some evils in society. Therefore, to make good use of social media platforms, the message of social media ethics and morality must be spread amongst people.
People should be made aware of what to write and what to share over social media. One can get a shining opportunity from Social Media, but only if its misuse in spreading fake propaganda is checked and strictly dealt with.
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