If only the opinions of social media could be broken down into two stark stances; good and bad. The reality is that opinions toward social media normally are not so simple in essence, and furthermore, I’m not entirely certain social media as a concept can be viewed as solely good or solely bad. There are definitely some overlaps in the mix, and I think they’re worth exploring.
A lot of folks from the Baby Boomer generation view social media as villainous, and no, I am not just saying that to play into generational stereotypes. My parents are both Boomers, and while my dad is rather tech-savvy and uses social media, my mom is not a fan and has no desire to participate in any type of social media platform.
Social media, in my opinion, has both altruistic and malevolent sides to it. On one hand, it has the ability to connect us with people all over the world; it serves as an opportunity to share our own lives with those we choose to affiliate with on social platforms; it is a creative outlet. On the other hand, social media has allowed for an increase in cyberbullying; it forces comparison, leading to self-esteem and body image issues; it can cause feelings of isolation.
I like social media, but my opinions toward it have certainly declined in the last few years. I use Instagram the most, Facebook, although I don’t love it, Snapchat periodically, and Twitter/X I haven’t used in a few years. I did not hop on the TikTok bandwagon and I refuse to, and I won’t be partaking in Threads, either.
Social media is arguably equal parts good and bad, much like most things in this world. When used with proper intentions and in moderation, I think it’s decent in its morals.
Photo by Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash
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