Scrolling through social media is many people’s favorite way to kill time. Whether you’re waiting for your dinner to arrive at a restaurant or taking a break from work; we bet you’re spending a lot of time looking at posts and photos from other people on your social media feeds. Still, many people have conflicting feelings about social media and the pros and cons of social media.
The Pros and Cons of Social Media
One significant benefit of social media is faster communication. Still, one major drawback is the lack of in-person communication; we have when hanging out with our friends and spending time on Instagram. Here are the pros and cons of social media.
Pros of Social Media
Improved Communication
Social media allows you to check in on your friends without speaking to them. If you’re wondering what your cousin has been up to but don’t want to pick up the phone to make a call; you can go to their social media profile and see what photos they’ve posted. You can use social media to maintain connections with your friends who live far away, even in other countries. Not only that, but with Facebook Chat; you can even do messaging, video calling, and voice messaging without incurring extra costs on your phone bill.
Cheap Marketing for Businesses
Social media and social media marketing have helped many small businesses thrive. Not only can companies set up shops on popular platforms like Facebook and Instagram; but advertising is incredibly cheap compared to traditional advertising and even digital advertising, such as Google Ads. Small businesses also use social media to engage with customers while providing customer support; making it a crucial marketing tool to have in your belt if you’re running a small business.
Not only that, but businesses of all kinds can market using social media. Everyone from influencers and podcasters to B2B companies can find their target market on social media.
Opportunities for Introverts
Introverts are most commonly known to be the least likely in their friend’s group to leave the house for a party; which means they typically don’t get the same level of socialization as extroverts. As you already know, humans are social creatures, and we need human connections for our mental health.
Thanks to social media, introverts can make new friends from the comfort of their own homes. Not only that, but they can connect with others who share their interests and may live in other countries.
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Faster Communication
Social platforms allow you to quickly communicate with people; which means you can comment on your mom’s photo of her dog without the need to call her to tell her how cute they look. You can also reach out to individuals who might be asking for help; such as those looking for recommendations in a new city, while sharing opinions in discussions.
Decreased Sense of Loneliness
If you’ve ever felt loneliness, you may start to feel helpless. Luckily, there are groups on every social media site to help you feel less lonely. Not only that, but you can find support groups where you can support one another through tough times. For example, there are groups for those who recently lost a loved one and groups for those dealing with addiction.
Social media can also ease loneliness for the elderly. While you can’t always visit your grandma every day; you can tag her in posts to remind her you’re thinking about her.
May Save Lives
Social media users post statuses and images constantly, which means; they may end up in a situation where their lives are in danger, such as natural disasters and riots. The use of social media can help first responders; find these individuals based on the photos and locations that they post.
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Cons of Social Media
Addiction
If you’ve ever caught yourself scrolling social media too much, then you may have social media addiction. Social media addiction occurs when you spend most of your waking hours using social media and neglecting in-person interactions, work, and other responsibilities. Social media addiction is common among younger people, but it can happen to anyone.
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying has been causing concern ever since the first direct messaging software and social media platform. With the ability to remain anonymous, bullies can target individuals from school and make them feel poorly about themselves. Cyberbullying is common among school kids, but adults can also fall victim to bullies. You already know that bullying can significantly impact someone’s life, and cyberbullying is no different.
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Triggers Insecurities
Most photos you see on social media are edited somehow through various apps, but social media can trigger insecurities. Young girls, in particular, tend to compare themselves to the beautiful women they see on social media; much like they do with models who appear on billboards.
Fear of Missing Out
The same way social media can trigger a person’s insecurities is the same way it can trigger your fear of missing out (FOMO). When you compare your life to somebody else’s, you can no longer be grateful for what you have. Instead, you’re thinking about everything you don’t have without considering that the grass may not be greener on the other side.
Everyone has a little bit of FOMO, especially when you see your old high school friends going on lavish vacations, but at the same time; you don’t realize all of the things you have that they might not. You might not go on those vacations because you have pets or children that make your life fulfilling. Somewhat of focusing on what you don’t have, focus on what you have.
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Use Social Media Responsibly
There are so many pros and cons of social media. So, social media is neither good nor bad; it’s all about how you use social media. For example, if you’re using social media too frequently and putting off work or essential tasks; then social media might be considered flawed for you. However, if you’re using social media to express yourself and learn about the world, social media might be good.
By using social media responsibly, you can get all of the benefits and none of the drawbacks.
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About Author: Marné Amoguis has a B.A. in International Business (IB) from UC San Diego. Besides, she is a contributing writer at 365businesstips, where she loves sharing her devotion to digital marketing. Beyond writing, she also loves traveling, playing music, and hiking.
Images by Biljana Jovanovic and Gerd Altmann
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