The Growth of Social Media

 

Over the past 10 years, the way people communicate has changed rapidly before our eyes. Social media has become a way to have a window to virtually anyone's life. You can come into contact with someone who you otherwise would have never communicated with. Social media gives us the opportunity to build friendships, relationships, networking opportunities, and other endless opportunities. The power of social media also comes with many consequences. The ease of connectivity also makes it easier for conflict and confusion to happen. Everyone has seen the negative side of social media. From fights between your friends to high profile celebrities and politicians misusing their platforms, social media comes with a responsibility.

 Social media has had a huge effect on young people. Especially regarding politics and activism, it gives young people a platform to express their views that they had not been able to do before. Many of the recent human rights movements are powered by young people. Many of them who have gained a passion for topics like Black Lives Matter have done it through social media. Platforms like Twitter give users a unique experience in the way that anyone can share their experiences and views. Before social media, some could say it was limiting to only have the main 2 or 3 news stations. When it comes to human rights movements, many college aged students find it useful to have social media. The people being affected by these movements can have their voices be heard, as opposed to watching someone on a big time news network speak about a problem that they have not directly lived through. Although normal cable news networks are beneficial to watch, platforms like Twitter expand the possibilities of information sharing. 

With every positive innovation comes negative aspects. Although social media can be a great way to inform and inspire others, false information spreads quickly. Facebook and Twitter are known for being platforms where hoaxes and rumors are spread. While Facebook has tried to crack down on the spread of misinformation, it is still something that the website struggles with. Unless they were to completely filter the posts of every Facebook user, the spread of misinformation seems inevitable. Social media websites would have to think of a way to stop the spread of false information without infringing on people's right to free speech. They’d also have to worry about privacy concerns.

 Social media also has negative social ramifications. People tend to have more confidence online which can cause conflict. It can be easy to disconnect from reality. There can be a breakdown of relationships between friends and family when potentially offensive opinions are publicly shared. This is a part of using social media responsibly.

The future of social media is full of possibilities. The levels that it has grown to in a span of 10 years make it hard to imagine what could happen in the next 10. It seems inevitable for social media to be further integrated into everyone's lives in the future.