Positives And Negatives of Social Media

There are numerous positives and negatives of social media. Everyone uses it. Many of us are addicted to it, so it is vital to use it responsibly. Using social media is an excellent way to catch up with friends and show our creativity to the world.

However, it can also be dangerous as it is addictive. Also, there can be unrealistic lifestyles shown by celebrities and social media influencers. As a result, unrealistic lifestyles can mean there is a higher risk of depression and anxiety in young people.

Many of us use lots of social media platforms. Also, many of us spend a lot of our day scrolling through social media without thinking about it. This shows the positives and negatives of social media as we could be shocked to know how much time we spend on it!

The Positives

Despite how addictive social media can be, there are lots of positive effects of social media. For example:

• Catching up with friends
• Keeping in touch with people we do not see often
• Keeping on top of current trends in music, fashion, current television programmes to watch
• Having a platform to show your creativity and achievements
• Promoting a business

The Negatives

Like anything, there are positives and negatives of social media. Therefore, we must be mindful of how we use it. There can be a negative impact of social media. For example:

•  It can be addictive
• Social media can promote unrealistic ideals of someone’s life 
• Showing unrealistic lifestyles can mean people feel like their own life is not good enough
• Increased risk of depression and anxiety
• People can find out personal information about you that you may not have wanted to share

One of the best ways to use social media is to keep in touch with friends. Using social media to stay in touch means we can see what others have been up to, see their triumphs, and show our own. Keeping in touch with people is a positive effect of social media, but it is essential to remember the positives and negatives of social media.

As well as keeping in touch with friends, it is vital to make sure you keep your information private, so you only share information with the people you want. Keeping privacy settings to your friends can save your personal life from being shared with the whole world.

The many positives and negatives of social media can result in us being wary of using social media. However, if we use it safely, it is a great way to talk to people!

For creative people, there are many positive effects of social media. For example, if someone wants to sell their paintings, clothes they have made, or graphic design pieces, social media can be a way to advertise across the world. Social media can be an excellent way for people to build their creative side into a business.

People advertising their businesses online shows a positive effect of social media. Social media can be an excellent way to reach others and show what they have created. Since social media has increased in popularity, there are many positives for small businesses. For example:

• Many small business owners can grow and develop
• Business owners can meet other like-minded people 
• They can gain many more customers to buy their products!

Therefore, there are many positives and negatives of social media. A few things to remember when starting up a business on social media are:

• Do not take unkind people too seriously
• Don't post personal information 
• Look after your mental health

We can express our creativity on social media by learning from people. We can also see current trends in fashion, books and travel. However, we can also become unhealthily consumed by social media. This shows the many positives and negatives of social media.

Putting yourself on social media can attract abuse and ‘online trolls’. This shows the positives and negatives of social media. Some people use social media as a way to abuse people as they can hide behind a screen.

Users like this demonstrate the negative impact of social media. For some, this can cause depression and anxiety, so it is vital to look after your mental health. For example, here are some ways to consider:

• Not spending excessive time online
• Taking the time to go out and see people off social media
• Get some fresh air
• Keep your information and settings private, so you do not attract negative people 

It is crucial to consider the higher risk of depression and anxiety when using social media. As we have talked about the many positives and negatives of social media, we can talk about a higher risk of mental health issues. This shows the positives and negatives of social media. It is also important to say this does not affect everyone, as, after all, we are all individuals, and we deal with things differently.

Some people who follow influencers and celebrities on social media believe their own lives are not good enough. Many of us love to follow celebrities on social media. Therefore this shows the positives and negatives of social media. Comparing yourself to others can be a negative impact of social media. As human beings, we compare ourselves to other people. It is normal, but it is crucial to remember that our lives are equally great!

Also, what we see on social media is not someone’s whole life! So, it is essential to love ourselves and our own lives. Valuing our own lives can prevent us from feeling inadequate when we become consumed by social media. Therefore, there are many positives and negatives of social media. We see a small proportion of others’ lives, and like us, they are ordinary people!

Social media has slowly changed our approach to life. There are countless positives and negatives of social media, but I think it is impossible not to notice how people have become more unsociable. However, it also brings people together. We are in a position to meet people and keep in touch with people we otherwise would not speak to.

Evidently, there are so many positives and negatives of social media.

Written by Lily Shaw