8 Advantages and 10 Disadvantages of Social Media are discussed in this article. This will help to guide your use of social media.
Social media advantages and disadvantages essay
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Social Media can be said to be a technology that facilitates the sharing of thoughts, ideas, personal messages, and information through the building of mutual networks and communities.
It is internet-based and gives users quick electronic communication of content. Since the introduction of the computer in the 20th Century, the internet was also introduced which has led to people creating platforms that help people to communicate easily, notwithstanding the distance, majorly through texting of messages, ideas, information, etc.
Social media platforms available include Facebook, 2go, LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest, Youtube, Facebook Live, Periscope, Vimeo, Wechat, QQ, Qzone, Skype, Viber, Telegram, Badooo, Myspace, etc. These allow the sharing of photos, videos, calls, information, etc.
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Advantages of Social Media
1. Education
It is easier and more convenient to access info, provide information and communicate. It is very easy to educate others and be educated by those who are experts and professionals via social media.
It allows us the widen our scope of knowledge in our field and other fields of study regardless of one location, and educational background without paying for it.
2. Connection
This is the most important reason for this kind of media. It allows people to connect with anyone in any part of the world notwithstanding location and religion. It allows one to connect with anybody to learn and share thoughts.
3. Help
Social media has helped in so many ways. You can get various help on these platforms such as advice, skills, how to fix a meal, and solve a problem easily with an expert who is not physically present with us at that time.
It can be used to promote NGOs, social welfare activities, and donations for needy people. It can serve as a quick medium to help people.
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4. Information and Updates
Social media keeps us updated on the latest happenings in every part of the world. This has substituted the use of newspapers, radio, and television for information. It aids in research for true information without stress and without or with electricity available.
5. Business Promotion
Social media has served as a good source of advertisement for businesses whether online or offline businesses. This is because it covered a large audience.
The whole world is open for you and can promote your business. It makes business marketing easier and cheaper compared to marketing on radio, newspaper, and television connecting you with the right audience.
6. Awareness
Social media creates awareness and guides the way people live. It has helped people discover new, thereby improving their way of life, culture, profession, and even skills.
From farmers to teachers, every individual in society in one way or another other benefits from social media.
7. Helps in building communities and fighting crime
Social media has made it easy to spy and monitor criminals, making it easier for security agencies to easily catch criminals.
It has helped in building and participating in the community of own religion and beliefs, to discuss and learn about communities such as game lovers, food lovers, and so on.
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8. Help in cultural integration
Through the help of social media, people can learn about other people’s cultures and traditions, thereby making it easy for them to adapt when they find themselves in such places.
Different cultural foods are now eaten in other parts of the world because, through social media, there are guides on how to prepare them, showing all the necessary items/ingredients needed.
Disadvantages of Social Media
1. Hacking
On social media, personal/private info can be easily hacked and shared on the internet which has led to financial loss and loss of personal life.
It has been used as a source of getting info by thieves, thereby endangering one’s life and property. It is advised that you be careful what you post on social media.
2. Security issues
Security agencies have access to people’s accounts and info. If one posts information that is not true, it is easily tracked and investigated by security agencies.
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3. Cyberbullying
On social media, most accounts cannot be tracked. We have many fake users on Facebook who go about bullying and threatening people on the internet.
It is easy to destroy people’s reputations on the internet because it has a very large audience and information shared is very hard to retrieve. Rumors can be shared faster, thereby causing conflict in society.
4. Glamorizes drugs and alcohol
5. Social media gives room for cheating in relationships
6. It is a platform where wrong ideologies can easily trend and influence people on a wider scale.
7. Social media can be addictive, consuming time and energy, and resources.
8. It is one of the avenues by which the youths are getting more involved in immoralities.
9. It masks the true identity of people, thereby encouraging fraud.
10. It can be expensive to maintain a data subscription, to continue to be on the social media platform.
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Whatever has advantages can also be detrimental, but that does not mean that social media should be discouraged.
It has made life easier and the dissemination of information faster, but its use needs to be regulated for maximum benefits.
