It is crystal clear that there are advantages and disadvantages to everything in everyone?s life, and that includes our social networking habits. The practical advantages and disadvantages of social media are a subject of frequent discussion. Participation in social media by the general public has increased sharply over the past nine years. In the U.S., the percentage of adults using social media has increased from 8% to 72% since 2005. Using social media is widespread across all ages and professions and is common around the world.
Social media enables users to connect with others and create a community. It?s more about building relationships than simply announcing or posting and not engaging with others. It is undeniably changing the way one communicates.
Here are some of the main pros and cons that most people are familiar with:
Advantages:
1. Educational process
Using online social networks in the educational process has been supported by several educational technology researchers, who have emphasized the benefits of technologies. Rising of social networking sites, and a general interest in students have attracted attention to the use of internet tools to develop distance education.
2.Worldwide connectivity
We have the chance to connect with others and share information through social media. It?s the communication that brings us all together, and it?s easily accessible.
3. Online marketing
You can build a relationship with your customers that makes them more likely to use your services. You can get the feedback right away.
4. Information spreads fast
All important things such as major news events, missing person, weather information, etc. can cover in the world in a moment.
5. It lets us share anything with others
Instead of convincing a publishing company, social media allows artists to satisfies a million people and keeps creative control for themselves.
6. It helps you to achieve your goals
If your objective is to be healthier, joining a group with the same purpose and making long-distance friends help keep you accountable can go a long way towards making those goals a reality. Encouragement and support are crucial, and Social Media can help with that.
Disadvantages:
1. Privacy problems
Sharing your online location or getting in trouble at work because of tweeting something inappropriate or sharing too much with the public can cause you some issues that sometimes can?t ever be solved.
2. It changes lifestyle habits, and it is sleep disruption
Since using a social network is all done on some computers or mobile devices, it can sometimes motivate too much sitting down in one place for too long. Staring into the light from a computer or phone screen at night can negatively affect your ability to get a proper night sleep.
3. Lacks emotional connection
The quality of a conversation when using social media is unpleasant because you cannot sense the emotion or interest from the other person. It makes you wonder if they mean what they say.
4. Reduces Family Intimacy
Texting, Facebook, Twitter, etc. separate us from our families more than we actually think it does. When a family is spending family time together and watching a movie, in reality, most children are on their phones rather than watching the film with their parents.
The debate about whether social networking is good or bad is expected to continue. There is nothing to be nervous about if you and your children use social media sites in moderation. So if you or your children are worried about using social networking sites, don?t be. Just keep your software update, double check information before you believe it and keep your privacy settings updated too. And if social networking is getting you down, take a break. After all, when you?re using it correctly, it improves your life.
