World Situation on Social Networks

This is a new era of digital innovation and information. Virtually all information is within the grasp of anyone who wields a smartphone or has computer access. This has prompted connections across the world, positive and negative but connections all the same. Streams of ones and zeros have countless capabilities to uplift or unhinge at the dictation of any user. The problem lies in the possibilities, every variable is a responsibility and there is no consistent system of accountability for users.

In the world of social media, there are two schools of thought. Those who believe the social internet is a tool for good that connects people and serves as a positive outlet that has the capabilities to close gaps and open doors; and those who believe the social internet is a menace and poses a threat to society at large in it’s concealed threats. Regardless of the stance taken the internet is a basis of the modern world and what happens on the social internet effects most everyone personally and professionally.

On one side, many people believe that social media has played a positive role in society and it will continue to do so. Social media is an avenue for social and political activism. According to Karamat, “technology has hugely encouraged the communication development and mass media has risen as universal and covering plans of politics.” In other words, social media is expanding the reach of politics and more people are becoming aware as they converse online, this trend is fed by the mass media which gives information through the internet. It is a cycle, the media feeds the people, the people get involved and shape what happens, therefore controlling the media. Social media facilitates broad communication that would otherwise be virtually impossible. “Strangers Are Friends I Haven’t Met yet: A Positive Approach to Young People’s Use of Social Media,” gives the idea that social media offers a way for people to communicate, as well as manage correspondence, through different apps for different levels of relationships regardless of whether the relationship originated in real life or on the web. Thanks to social media keeping in touch is a much simpler process.

On the other hand, many people see social media as a dangerous avenue for anonymity and corruption. Due to the many facets of the internet social media offers anonymity which facilitates cyberbullying. The findings of Wang suggest that young people are vulnerable online and that is consistent with Elipe’s findings in that cyberbullying “across the world … [effects] between 40 percent and 55 percent” of people ages twelve through eighteen. Harm is also caused without the direct correlation of cyberbullying, within the friendly interfaces of many social media sites there are many forgotten dangers. In the words of Dvorak, “ these apps give... too much information and will result in crime sprees, rapes, and murders[,]” while this is a listing of the worst case scenarios they are still real possibilities when the information put out into the net is not carefully monitored.

Both supporters and those who oppose the use of social media care for the psychological well being of others and see how the broad the usage of the social internet can be powerful with a lasting impact. Boycotting the social internet and foregoing social media completely is virtually impossible and would ostracize anyone who could do it from the rest of the population. Instead social media should become more transparent with users and there should be digital footprint training in schools to help guide people in what gets shared. Teaching people how to maintain positive usage will make the internet culture stronger and more engaging. Schools are an easy place to implement these systems, and if internet responsibility is ingrained in the curriculum from a young age there could be a decline of the harmful effects of social media overall. In “Social Studies: A Shift in Teaching Students, Parents, and Faculty about Online Transactions Is under Way-and It’s Taking a Positive Turn.” Tierney advocates for this type of system because it, “encourages character development, health, and wellness.”All of which would be beneficial to society as a whole.

Some might say that people out of school will not be exposed to classes over online behavior, and just because something is taught does not mean it will be taken to heart. This is possible because people will always have free will and being less than nice is part of human nature. Making social media courtesy a standard that is taught will help some realize the responsibility that an online presence comes. The more people who change how they act on social media the bigger the possible impact. Even if people do not receive that sort of training well there is a chance that more people who do take it and run with it will impact those who did not receive any training and or just chose to not change. Any chance of a kinder international online community is a chance worth taking.

In conclusion it is hard to not be impacted by what happens on social media regardless of a person’s lifestyle, age, and level of online activity. Regardless of how someone feels about social media itself, people care about their own personal privacy of sensitive information and the psychological well being of others they come into contact with. Making the social internet more transparent and teaching people about smart and safe behaviors will set society up for a better internet than before, accessibility and being secure online do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Works Cited

1. Cain, Jeff. “It’s Time to Confront Student Mental Health Issues Associated with Smartphones and Social Media.” American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, vol. 82, no. 7, Sept. 2018, pp. 738–741. EBSCOhost,search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph &AN=132137452&site=ehost-live.
2. Dvorak, John C. “Stalking by Any Other Name Is Still Stalking.” PC Magazine, Mar. 2012, p. 1. EBSCOhost,search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=82061119&sit =ehost-live.
3. Elipe, Paz, et al. “Development and Validation of an Instrument to Assess the Impact of Cyberbullying: The Cybervictimization Emotional Impact Scale.” CyberPsychology, Cyberbullying:& Social Networking, vol. 20, no. 8, Aug. 2017, pp. 479–485. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1089/cyber.2017.0069.
4. Karamat, Ayesha, and Ayesha Farooq. “Emerging Role of Social Media in Political Activism: 9, and Practices.” South Asian Studies (1026-678X), vol. 31, no. 1, Jan. 2016, pp. 381–396. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN= 116697086&site=ehost-live.
5. Tierney, Laura. “Social Studies: A Shift in Teaching Students, Parents, and Faculty about Online Transactions Is under Way-and It’s Taking a Positive Turn.” Independent School, vol. 77, no. 4, Summer 2018, p. 42. EBSCOhost,search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct= true&db=f5h&AN=130252036&site=ehost-live.
6. Wang, Victoria, and Simon Edwards. “Strangers Are Friends I Haven’t Met yet: A Positive Approach to Young People’s Use of Social Media.” Journal of Youth Studies, vol. 19, no. 9, Nov. 2016, pp. 1204–1219. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/13676261.2016.1154933.
7. WILHELM, HEATHER. “The Great Unplugging.” National Review, vol. 69, no. 11, June 2017, p. 22. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN= 123235931&site=ehost-live.

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