Us bloggers tend to be avid Social Media users, whether it be promoting our latest posts or connecting with others, so what more appropriate post to upload on a Tuesday than a re-worked version of my speech I wrote for a GCSE spoken assessment- am I right? There's no need for a long introduction day, so if you're up for a ramble about the pros and cons of social media, then stick around and scroll down!
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Social media: something you love, or something you hate. It goes without saying, though, that social media has become an ever predominant feature within society. The question I pose to you today, however, is whether social media is now posing more harm than it is good.
Some may agree, and for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, I would like to touch upon the sensitive subject of body image. Many teenagers, myself included, can vouch that growing up in today’s society is not the easiest of experiences- in a society surrounded with ideals of who and what you should be. Take a scroll through Instagram, and it doesn’t take long to see the never-ending list of sponsored posts- teeth whitening kits, ‘detox’ teas, all somewhat questionable products. Would you be surprised if I told you that the secret to success of these 'detox' teas is laxatives? Healthy, am I right? Not only is there criticism surrounding what is promoted though, but also the unrealistic body image and endless photoshopping scandals that social media is connected with. Plumper lips, smaller stomach, longer legs- all achieved through photoshopping, and un-disclosing this makes it seem as if these are the influencer’s natural figures, knocking the confidence of those with exactly that… natural figures. As Instagram’s total number of active users reach a staggering 700 million, and as other platforms grow rapidly, it seems influencers and celebrities may not be having a positive impact. Recently, a survey reported by ‘The Sun’ asked 1479 people aged 14-24 to rate apps on issues such as body image and loneliness… but Instagram came out with a poor performance, rated the worst with negative impacts on body image, bullying, depression- to name a few!
Leading on, social media has swiftly spawned into an addiction for many. In fact… did you know that (according to website Social Media Today) teenagers can now spend up to nine hours a day on social media! It goes without saying that this has lead to negative consequences- say for teenagers, proving to be a distraction from their studies, resulting in poorer academic performance. But, for adults and teenagers alike, it seems social isolation is a soaring issue. Australian website Herald Sun reported that adults who visit social media sites 58 or more times per week were three times more at risk of social isolation than those visiting nine or fewer times. What a shocking statistic, don’t you think? Social isolation has many negative impacts, such as leaving a lack of energy and vitality, and can even increase the likelihood of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer! So, is social media still some harmless fun?
Some may agree, and I myself can tell of its advantages- because if social media was all addiction, body shaming and crime… nobody would use it! From personal experience, I know that social media is an incredibly useful way to stay in touch with family and friends abroad. As my family and I moved to the UK in 2006, staying in touch with grandparents and family was more than an annoyance- with phone bills meaning the simplest weekend call came at its own cost; with the introduction of Skype, though, staying in touch became free of charge and far simpler. Not only is social media good for reconnecting families, it is also a good place to make friends with others- and I myself have made a fair share of friends through social media apps, like Instagram. Whilst it may be argued that this arrises opportunity for cyber criminals, it also stems an opportunity for those who are careful to find friendships and for some, even relationships! Did you know that now over a third of US marriages are as a result of meeting online?
Another reason why some may argue social media has more advantages is due to the new field of work it has opened up. Bloggers and YouTubers like myself can now work with brands on posts and videos, allowing some to make their living this way- something you wouldn't have seen 10 or so odd years ago! Yes, while some may be argued as poor role models, other bloggers and YouTubers are working to inspire. Most of you will have heard of Zoella, a blogger who shot to fame (now with a respectable 11 million subscribers on YouTube), but have you heard of her collaboration with WHSmith- a book club encouraging a technology crazed society to take the time out to read? Would we rather no influencers and fewer taxes? Think, the more employed, the more taxes paid- and what do these taxes go on? Communities, services, the NHS to name a few! Not only that, but blogging and YouTube can be a brilliantly convenient job for many- with its flexible hours and in many cases, you being the boss.
It’s fair to say that social media is on the rise- and disappearance far in sight. To conclude, I leave you with the question: “Is social media posing more harm than it is good?”. Personally, I think social media sites boast both their advantages and disadvantages- but if used safely, that it’s pros can outweigh its cons. What do you think?
Some may agree, and for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, I would like to touch upon the sensitive subject of body image. Many teenagers, myself included, can vouch that growing up in today’s society is not the easiest of experiences- in a society surrounded with ideals of who and what you should be. Take a scroll through Instagram, and it doesn’t take long to see the never-ending list of sponsored posts- teeth whitening kits, ‘detox’ teas, all somewhat questionable products. Would you be surprised if I told you that the secret to success of these 'detox' teas is laxatives? Healthy, am I right? Not only is there criticism surrounding what is promoted though, but also the unrealistic body image and endless photoshopping scandals that social media is connected with. Plumper lips, smaller stomach, longer legs- all achieved through photoshopping, and un-disclosing this makes it seem as if these are the influencer’s natural figures, knocking the confidence of those with exactly that… natural figures. As Instagram’s total number of active users reach a staggering 700 million, and as other platforms grow rapidly, it seems influencers and celebrities may not be having a positive impact. Recently, a survey reported by ‘The Sun’ asked 1479 people aged 14-24 to rate apps on issues such as body image and loneliness… but Instagram came out with a poor performance, rated the worst with negative impacts on body image, bullying, depression- to name a few!
Leading on, social media has swiftly spawned into an addiction for many. In fact… did you know that (according to website Social Media Today) teenagers can now spend up to nine hours a day on social media! It goes without saying that this has lead to negative consequences- say for teenagers, proving to be a distraction from their studies, resulting in poorer academic performance. But, for adults and teenagers alike, it seems social isolation is a soaring issue. Australian website Herald Sun reported that adults who visit social media sites 58 or more times per week were three times more at risk of social isolation than those visiting nine or fewer times. What a shocking statistic, don’t you think? Social isolation has many negative impacts, such as leaving a lack of energy and vitality, and can even increase the likelihood of chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer! So, is social media still some harmless fun?
Some may agree, and I myself can tell of its advantages- because if social media was all addiction, body shaming and crime… nobody would use it! From personal experience, I know that social media is an incredibly useful way to stay in touch with family and friends abroad. As my family and I moved to the UK in 2006, staying in touch with grandparents and family was more than an annoyance- with phone bills meaning the simplest weekend call came at its own cost; with the introduction of Skype, though, staying in touch became free of charge and far simpler. Not only is social media good for reconnecting families, it is also a good place to make friends with others- and I myself have made a fair share of friends through social media apps, like Instagram. Whilst it may be argued that this arrises opportunity for cyber criminals, it also stems an opportunity for those who are careful to find friendships and for some, even relationships! Did you know that now over a third of US marriages are as a result of meeting online?
Another reason why some may argue social media has more advantages is due to the new field of work it has opened up. Bloggers and YouTubers like myself can now work with brands on posts and videos, allowing some to make their living this way- something you wouldn't have seen 10 or so odd years ago! Yes, while some may be argued as poor role models, other bloggers and YouTubers are working to inspire. Most of you will have heard of Zoella, a blogger who shot to fame (now with a respectable 11 million subscribers on YouTube), but have you heard of her collaboration with WHSmith- a book club encouraging a technology crazed society to take the time out to read? Would we rather no influencers and fewer taxes? Think, the more employed, the more taxes paid- and what do these taxes go on? Communities, services, the NHS to name a few! Not only that, but blogging and YouTube can be a brilliantly convenient job for many- with its flexible hours and in many cases, you being the boss.
It’s fair to say that social media is on the rise- and disappearance far in sight. To conclude, I leave you with the question: “Is social media posing more harm than it is good?”. Personally, I think social media sites boast both their advantages and disadvantages- but if used safely, that it’s pros can outweigh its cons. What do you think?
