The emergence of the internet of things (IoT) led to a ripple effect. On one hand, individuals became conversant with leveraging the benefits of the web, while on the other hand, there are concerns regarding the negative effect of such kind of technological advancement. Understandably, the internet has led to the growth of social media platforms which have been revamped the manner in which individuals interact with each other. One can now communicate with a friend in another country in real time. There is no longer the issue of longer wait times as one expects to receive a letter from a loved one in a different geographic region. Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, among others, have made it convenient for individuals to communicate instantly. However, there is an existing argument regarding the degree to which social media promotes either positive or negative effects.
Various scholars have addressed the issue at hand with an aim to elaborate on the effect of social media on individuals. Greetham, Hurling, Osborne and Linley (2011) noted that individuals high in social integration were more interaction and smoked and drank less. However, it is important to note that social integration was not associated or related to affect. The idea is that social integration is contingent on numerous factors such as one’s ability and ease to fit in with a particular target group. Furthermore, Greetham, Hurling, Osborne and Linley (2011) also explained that personality traits play a fundamental role in determining whether social media brings about a positive or negative affect. In the context of social integration, while an individual might be part of a particular group, he or she might not have a liking towards what is common among his or her friends. Therefore, becoming influenced to act or behave in a way common to other group members is difficult. Thus, based on the said line of thought, one ought to consider the potential effect of individualism on the outcome of one’s use of social media despite he or she being high in social integration.
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Advancing the argument above, Weinstein (2018) described social media as being a see-saw which has both positive and negative influences. She discussed various factors which determine the type of effect that social media has on individuals. Based on her study, Weinstein (2018) noted that relational interactions play a vital role in influencing the degree of closeness or disconnection of an individual with a particular target group. The respondents in her study affirmed that self-expression targets affirmation and goes hand in hand with one showing concern for judgment from others (Weinstein, 2018). Basing on such a finding, one can notice that there is a demand or desire among users to be part of a particular group. Through self-expression, individuals not only seek to project an appealing image of themselves, but also wish to receive positive reviews from their friends via social media. Hence, one can notice why respondents confirmed that affirmation is one of the factors that guides an individual’s social media presence. In this regard, Weinstein (2018) projects the view that there is a desire for one to be relevant while on social media. The implication is that one is likely to experience both positive and negative effects based on the nature of one’s experiences on social media.
Vural (2015) discussed the effects of the phenomenon in question on students in higher education. He acknowledged that there are both positive and negative effects of using social media. One thing that social media allows users is to create a public and semi-public profile which is in a bounded system. Therefore, individuals can meet strangers and establish a strong and positive bond thereby expanding one’s social circle which is not limited by geographical boundaries. While in school, students are able to use social media to interact and communicate with each other about course concepts. They share ideas in various forums thereby allowing for an information exchange. Through such kind of use, social media brings about positive effects which are reflected on students’ grades. However, one should acknowledge that belonging in a bounded system might lure one to adopting behaviors from others. Vural (2015) noted that some students are vulnerable and hence waste their time on social networking sites instead of studying. Further, their social lives become damaged as most of them prefer chatting or texting as opposed to face-to-face meetings. In the end, instead of being constructive, students lag behind in their studies thereby performing poorly.
Conclusion
A discussion of the effects of social media demonstrates the potential for both positive and negative effects of social media use. Authors Greetham, Hurling, Osborne and Linley (2011) noted that individuals can actually manage the kind of impact following social media use. An individual’s personality can help mitigate negative effects while also promoting positive ones; the opposite is also true. Other scholars accept that social media is more like a see-saw which can lead to beneficial and detrimental outcomes. The longing for affirmation and concern for judgment from others can affect one’s perception of self. However, while that is the case, it was also mentioned that social media allows for information sharing among students hence promoting positive academic outcomes. Following the discussion in question, it becomes difficult to give a firm judgment regarding the effect of social media; there are numerous factors which determine whether an outcome is positive or negative as demonstrated.
References
Greetham, D. V., Hurling, R., Osborne, G., & Linley, A. (2011). Social Networks and Positive and Negative Affect. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences,22 , 4-13. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.07.051
Vural, O. (2015). Positive and negative aspects of using social networks in higher education: A focus group study. Educational Research and Reviews, 10 (8), 1147-1166.
Weinstein, E. (2018). The social media see-saw: Positive and negative influences on adolescents’ affective well-being. New Media & Society,20 (10), 3597-3623. doi:10.1177/1461444818755634
