Connor BrookeBy now, we are all aware that social media has had a tremendous impact on our culture, in business, on the world-at-large. Social media websites are some of the most popular haunts on the Internet. They have revolutionized the way people communicate and socialize on the Web.
However, aside from seeing your friends’ new baby on Facebook, or reading about Justin Bieber’s latest brush with the law on Twitter, what are some of the real impacts, both positive and negative, that social media has had on our society?
Here is a closer look at the effect of social media on politics, business, socialization as well as some of the negative effects such as cyber bullying and privacy.
Impact on Politics
Every politician worth his salt needs to jump on the social media bandwagon. This is because social websites have played an important role in many elections around the world, including in the U.S., Iran, and India. They have also served to rally people for a cause, and have inspired mass movements and political unrests in many countries.
Impact on Business
Net savvy companies are using social media to advertise their products, build customer loyalty and many other functions. Interactions and feedback from customers help businesses to understand the market, and fine-tune their products and strategies. Many firms organize contests and give away prizes to enthuse consumers to visit their social website page more often. Compared to television advertisements and other expensive forms of marketing, social media presence is a cheap and effective means to enhance brand image and popularity.
Effect on Socialization
Social networks offer the opportunity for people to re-connect with their old friends and acquaintances, make new friends, trade ideas, share content and pictures, and many other activities. Users can stay abreast of the latest global and local developments, and participate in campaigns and activities of their choice. Professionals use social media sites like LinkedIn to enhance their career and business prospects. Students can collaborate with their peers to improve their academic proficiency and communication skills. You can learn about different cultures and societies by connecting with people in other countries.
Negative Effects of Social Media
Unfortunately, there are a few downsides too to social networking. Many introverts and socially reclusive users place too much emphasis on virtual interaction, and ignore the real world outside. Read on to learn about a few more negative repercussions of social media.
Cyber Bullying and Online Harassment
If you are not careful, unscrupulous people can target you for cyber bullying and harassment on social sites. School children, young girls, and women can fall prey to online attacks which can create tension and distress. If you are a victim of cyber bullying, do not take it lying down, but try to take appropriate legal action against the attacker.
Impact on Productivity
Many companies have blocked social networks on their office Internet as addicted employees can distract themselves on such sites, instead of focusing on work. In fact, studies show that British companies have lost billions of dollars per year in productivity because of social media addiction among employees.
Impact on Privacy
If you are not careful, what you post on the Net can come back to haunt you. Revealing personal information on social sites can make users vulnerable to crimes like identity theft, stalking, etc. Many companies perform a background check on the Internet before hiring an employee. If a prospective employee has posted something embarrassing on social media, it can drastically affect their chances of getting the job. The same holds true for our relationships too, as our loved ones and friends may get to know if we post something undesirable on social networks.
Conclusion
Social media has its advantages and drawbacks as revealed in this article. It is up to each user to use social sites wisely to enhance their professional and social life, and exercise caution to ensure they do not fall victim to online dangers.
Read more:
- It’s National Social Media Day! The Top News and Tips
- Negative Effects of Social Networking Sites for Students
- Top 15 Social CEO’s Tell What Social Media Taught Them
This article was written for Business 2 Community by Connor Brooke.
Learn how to publish your content on B2C
Join our Telegram channel to stay up to date on breaking news coverage
Add B2C to your Google News Feed
I found this to be an interesting article on Social Media – if not brilliant. At least it wasn’t an all-out condemnation of Social Media as many similar articles are. One area that should also be considered is how Social Media can foster creativity, allow people – especially women and young people to gain confidence, and allow people to connect with others that share their interests. I’m surprised the article zoned in on woman as victims of Cyber-Bullying. There are a number of women’s groups on-line, especially in the areas of Tech, STEM, and women-owned businesses. These websites, blogs, and social media accounts allow women who may have been isolated before to learn from each other and grow their businesses. Still, I felt this was a good start and I’d like to see a follow-up.
Based upon the Cyberbullying Facts [38% of online girls and women report to being bullied online. This is compared to a lower 26% of boys or men online], 38% of online girls and women report to being bullied online. This is compared to a lower 26% of boys or men online.
A woman was bullied on national television, Dancing with the Stars by a man. Kelly Clarkson was bullied by a male news anchor.
While Social Media has great impact on people, there will always be a negative impact too. That’s natural. It’s just the proper choice that we should choose. Even in cyber world, we should also be responsible too. Always think before clicking and commenting.
British companies wouldn’t loose billions of DOLLARS per year, seeing as we don’t use dollars as a currency. Also, “School children, young girls, and women can fall prey” yeah i’m pretty certain Men can too??
As for as third world is concerned effects of social media is more nagitive and less positive.since it is mostly used for political gain or to spread religious hatred among followers.it has created social isolation,unrest and panic.it is reported that social web is being used for deceptive purposes.it is an artificial word and being treated as public toilet,write or upload what ever rubbish you want.
This subject matter is always fascinating (to me).
This subject is always fantastic and intreasting[to me]
Privacy, unscruplous post or remark, stalking are some of the terms are in the buzz nowadays on social media. Yet these are our inherent parts and we can’t avoid that.
useful x
Greats and interesting articles it is nice info in this post.
Social media is really affecting our daily lives as well as business lives.
If used correctly in business, it can do wonders. on the other hand side it can destroy our repo if we unneccesarily jab about our business.
Thanks
Abhishek Jain
Social media is here to stay. Although I think the world got on just fine without it too :)
Social media although wonderful has many effects on behavior and heavily influences teens
Amazing Article
Hi,
Me as a target of cyberharassment and stalking can say that social media can be very dangerous to decent, naive people…its unfortunate, but many “people” online pose as if they were our friends and as if they cared of us…but in reality, they usu want to stalk us and bully us…concretely my harassment developed into offline stalking as well…I met “people” laughing at me in cafes, restaurants, even on train…They even tried to arrange sexual meetings with me and I refused, so they took further revenge…further stalking, further harassment and even tracking by GPS!….
I really hope that has stopped and you are ok now
good.Its really correct. Social media has two different faces. Its according to the people how they are using.
bizbilla
Super-Duper blogs! I love it really!! . Thanks For Sharing This Useful Information .Would come back to visit soon, again Thanks.
i have to give a speech on the social network. I found this to help alot and i got an a on this speech because of this artical
Nice article and got the things that were required to get
My daughter find this article really helpfull for her essay competition…thank you very much
This article is the epitome of social media…Poor research, poor sustenance and highly opinionated. Social media has very few rewards and is plagued with issues, ranging from stalking to psychological disorders and destroying the borders we should have around our personal lives in order to prevent hostility and inequality of life…Social media may have had its roots in genuinely helping people, but today it is reserved for those to overshare their lives, feelings and beliefs…Especially their opinions.
This article is great! Thanks for all of the help!!
“Unfortunately, there are a few downsides too…..”
Just a few – like the existential risk it poses, for starters. Almost all the scientific research to date is heavily negative. It suggests social media is more addictive than smoking or alcohol, and work in progress says it may be more dangerous to your health than either.
To look at it another way, if a single individual were to be have as the majority do presently, they would be considered seriously mentally ill.
So, tell me again about the upsides……….
The irony that social network is (mostly) about gossip and human interest yet the author has not bothered with an image… social is a gruesome phenomenon that would be utterly and totally different if not free. Then you would see real ‘numbers’, business impact and a slight amount of sanity.
You say in your article that, “School children, young girls, and women can fall prey to online attacks”, which on it’s own is true, but also excludes the fact that most men face online harassment as well. As any man whose ever been in the middle on an internet discussion will tell you, there’s always someone being called “loser” or a “faggot”. Women and young girls aren’t exclusively harassed.
i did’t know that
what impacts has social media? Specifically cultural, financial, and social impacts.
Great article
I agree
In my opinion social media has made that lots of people stay in contact during all day sharing their opinions and the things that they like or not. The case of Prita Mulyasari I think that is really unfair because freedom speech is a right and you have to be able to say that the services in one public place were really good or really bad and anybody have to try to put you in jail or something like this because is a right. And if you don’t want that anybody say you something bad about your services try to do it in the good way from the beginning. Also as you can see social media played an important role in this case because it got that lots of people were concerned about her and some famour people organised concerts and staff like this to help Prita so social networks helped her a lot while in a traditional situation maybe it wouldn’t be so much famous and only few people would been conscious of her situation.