Social media holds an amazing deal of power in most people’s lifestyle and takes up a great amount of time spending on social media platforms.
Is it a good thing, or a bad thing? Social media has both its pros and cons for private users and brands.
Pros of Social Media
It’s not too much difficult to see the benefits of social media. Social media is a great way to stay connected to friends and family, especially in the midst of the Covid, and allows people to easily understand one another from a distance. Below are the pros of social media.
Job Opportunities
Social media is not only helpful in making personal connections. It’s also an amazing professional tool that many people can use to expand their connections. Still, many people can easily find jobs, network, and connect with potential employers. It also helps small businesses or start-ups break through the noise and create connections with the people who are most likely to need and appreciate their basic services.
Raising Awareness
Social media is the most ideal platform for raising awareness about various types of issues. Recently, for example, it’s helped bring mental health into the spotlight and let people know that it’s okay if you are not okay.
Creative Opportunities
Content creators have the best opportunity to create an authentic experience for others who are interested to connect with them on social media. It’s an amazing way for many people to build income through a side hustle.
Easier Communication
For many people who are introverts, communication is a very common struggle. Social media, however, puts the power back in their hands, allowing them to share information, connect with others, and learn and grow through a readily accessible platform that creates less overall stress. Many introverts are more comfortable building relationships online than they are building them in person–and often, those online relationships can help build overall confidence.
Cons of Social Media
While there are many benefits to social media, it does have its downsides. Below is what we find to believe the biggest cons of social media
Conspiracy Theories
With the wide availability of people from a variety of backgrounds, it’s easier for people with niche conspiracy ideas to develop a wide following or spread disinformation–which can make it hard for even savvy scrollers to sort the truth from the lies, especially as content creation increases.
Addiction
Many people struggle with addiction to social media platforms and online access. They may have a hard time breaking away, even when it becomes apparent that social media involvement is having a detrimental impact on overall mental health.
Cyberbullying
Bullying doesn’t end when school is out for the day–and it may make its way into increasingly older age groups. Cyberbullying can increase rates of depression and anxiety among children and teens.
Overaccessibility
Social media is a great platform for raising awareness about a wide range of events and tasks. At the same time, however, it creates a strong risk of too much information. Everyone has a phone now, which means that anyone can be a “reporter.”