Impact of Social Media

The growing use of social media is evident in the society. It has become a platform for people to communicate with others or to stay in touch with their friends and family who are in another country or state. It provides many facilities like information sharing, communication, starting a business, start an awareness campaigns, etc. the development of technology, especially the mobile phones, has played an important role in the impact that social media has created on the people. Social media sites like facebook, twitter, instagram, pinterest, etc. has become platforms for people to share their photographs or content online for their viewers to access it. It has also become a platform for people to share their opinions about various aspects of their life with others. Social Media has also paved a way for many small businesses to have an online platform; many existing businesses are now turning to social media to expand themselves in the online world. 

WHAT MAKES SOCIAL MEDIA UNIQUE?

Social media can be termed as a unique platform because it is easily accessible to most of the people around the world. Majority of the younger generation, teenagers, and middle-aged people contribute to the highest percentage of the total social media user population. From the business perspective, social media opens possibilities of direct access to clients without any third party intervention. Advertising using social media is cost friendly as compared to the costs of the print, TV, or any other media. Also the businesses have the option to promote their products to the target audience that they have the freedom to choose based on their products.

Social media is present everywhere creating an impact on different walks of life. Most of the times, the social media is used by people to support any issue or any cause they relate to or feel strongly about. It is also used by people to build their image and to demonstrate who they are and what they stand for. They can also participate and get a feeling of involvement in things that are currently happening in the world.

IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media has the following impacts:

1.  Impact on the society – almost a quarter of the world’s population use facebook and as the social networks grow due to the interaction between people, they become more and more powerful. Each person can now share their point of view online as they know they are not alone. Through the help of social media, the social, ethical, environmental, and political ills in the society come into the mainstream and give people the right to voice out their views for the same.
2. Impact on commerce– many of the organizations are now reaching out to its customer through either one of the social media platform, thanks to its growing use. Many businesses use the social media platform to connect with the customers, build revenue, generate insights, stimulate demands, and create targeted product offerings.
3. Impact on the world of work – sites like LinkedIn are important social media platforms that are used by people to find employment and to stand out in their profession. Social media has had a great impact on the recruitment and hiring processes of the companies. Also the candidates who develop skills in the latest and most advanced social media techniques are the preferable choice for being employed. 

CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media has the following challenges that are posed for its user:

1.  Lack of Privacy– many of the users end up sharing too much information on the online profiles that should not be made available for the public eye. By the time they realize their mistake; it becomes late and cause problems for the individual. Stalking, identity-theft, personal attacks, and misuse of private information are the most common issues faced by many users on the social media.
2. Deteriorating relationships – the increasing use of social media is affecting the relationships that people have with their families or their friends. People are now forming artificial bonds and cherishing them over the bond with actual people. The friends on the social media lack the intimacy of the conventional friendship that a person had where one gets to know each other or gets to meet each other face to face.
3. Cyber bullying– it is the most common thing that people face, especially teenagers, online. Teens have a notion that they have to fit in, or to be popular, or to do have better content than others due to which they have immense stress leading to mental illness. Teenagers mostly use the social media platform to spread rumors about each other, share content that has the potential to ruin someone’s reputation, or to blackmail others.