Is social media helping or hurting us?
By Jekca
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
Centralia, Missouri
March 21, 2017 5:46pm CST
Is social media helping or hurting us? I mean think about now and think about 20 years ago. The world has changed a lot!
On one side we can talk to each other, have friends all over the world, stay in contact easier, have info at a keystroke. We can have whole lives online! We can be outgoing even if we aren't, and have interactions even if in person we are too shy or anxious....
On the other hand how many of us know our neighbors names anymore? We live online. Maybe don't have as many real friends. Spend more time inside, alone, isolated.....
I see two sides to this. What do you think?
11 people like this
13 responses
@JudyEv (382016)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Mar 17
Certainly there are two sides and it's hard to know if there are more positives than negatives or not. Privacy, particularly for anyone in the public eye, has gone completely out the window. Sometimes this is good but at other times, it is a terrible imposition to have everything you do broadcast throughout the world in a matter of seconds.
4 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Mar 17
and once it's on the net, there is no way to be sure it's ever gone
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59690)
• Philippines
22 Mar 17
I believe that how we use social media dictates if it is helpful or hurtful.
3 people like this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
11 Apr 17
Well, Social Media is a great way to learn new things, and learn about different countries, but it is true. You get too busy that you do not really get time to know the people around you anymore. So in theory even with eBay, and Amazon or writing sites like myLot, yeah, they can be a Great way to earn some extra money, but a great way to isolate yourself which could become dangerous for some.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189838)
• Boise, Idaho
22 Mar 17
I think with all good there does come some bad with it. Definitely two sides.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189838)
• Boise, Idaho
24 Mar 17
@Jessicalynnt .....That's always a good thing.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Mar 17
right? at least it helps us shy ppl still have ppl to talk too
2 people like this
@Shavkat (141906)
• Philippines
24 Mar 17
@Jessicalynnt I have the same situation. My world is more doing online work, be in my virtual friends and family. I am contented with my present situation.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Mar 17
I like it, but I have no local friends, so it's all I have
1 person likes this
@TheInvisibleMan (17594)
•
21 Mar 17
Unfortunately, depends on their intention... Whichever is more convenient.
3 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Mar 17
or available, which I guess would be part of convenience
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169448)
• United States
24 Mar 17
The internet, and social media are tools. It is up to us to control those tools. For me, since I moved, I would be horribly isolated if I did not have the online outlets I do. Of course that is part of why I have a job as well. I think it does contribute to anxiety for some people because all the awful things in the world come into our homes almost immediately.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
25 Mar 17
And you are quite right, it is up to us. It may make it easier to become isolated since we don't have to leave our homes to socalize, but no one is forcing us to do so
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
29 Mar 17
I think for the most part I prefer the world that I grew up in, but there are some nice perks that resulted from modern inventions.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
29 Mar 17
I missed a lot of what people grew up with, as we lived in the country and had no 'neighbors' to hang around with. so that hasn't changed much for me really
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
23 Mar 17
I agree... it's difficult.. the new technology of media is good in some respects but not in others... I believe social media is a good tool when used in the way it was probably designed to be used... but like a lot of things... when humans enter into the equation things go awry... and use it and abuse it... but I think it is a bad thing because like you say it leads to isolation... plus a lack of social and communication skills ... when young people do not know how to communicate with the real world in person... because they have not got their phones to communicate via txt... 
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Mar 17
I worry about the tendency for isolation and stuff, @TheHorse you wanna weigh in on this one? Am curious what you think.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Mar 17
yeah, I don't blab everything out there for sure
@Plethos (13718)
• United States
22 Mar 17
social media is killing the news networks on t.v., but with all the suspicion lately its not surprising that people are looking for alternate media to get the news from. most people go to more than one source, around 5 or 7 i think would be common. then just compare the info and come to your own conclusions.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Mar 17
yeah, as long as people do their research! I hate when ppl take whatever they see on say Facebook, and don't check! So much false out there
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Mar 17
Despite the positives, social media is disease upon society. It feeds narcissism as people are obsessed in seeking attention. Privacy has been ruined. Too much info available.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
23 Mar 17
that is something I see too, there are good things about it, but... like when people take what they see on facebook as news, so many memes out there, one HAS to go research!
1 person likes this
