Social Media is a very important tool of our generation today. We can go all day mentioning all the benefits and the advantages we can get from this media. However, the question, which I’m sure everyone is not being concerned is, how can we police social media use in our institutions and ensure that usage is not damaging? Unconsciously, social media is creating a diversion in our daily activities and instead of breaking the wall towards socialization, in some cases, it builds it.
Numerous studies confirm that social media is creating negative effects in our interactions with other people and our mental health. Studies also suggest that addiction to social media sites like Facebook contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression and for us students, failing or near 75 grades. It’s clearly addictive to us students because the fact that you’d choose Facebook, Twitter or any social networking site over education is a bit alarming. The irony of some “social students” is that they are too busy bashing the educational system in the country, of how it is not helping them, but instead, they’re not thinking that once you turn your social switch off, you’ll realize that you’re even lucky to get any education or the like than most people of their age in some parts of the world . Some would say social media helps them lift their emotional state in a way that it is comforting, but that vary from time to time. Having a lot of friends in Facebook, for example, doesn’t mean that you’re social. People need actual, not virtual friends to elevate our emotions. Likewise, social media sites trick us to patronize fake news. This year, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) urged the public to remain responsible online to avoid confusion and panic. Amid the clamor for assistance, fake news and “memes” on the Taal crisis looms panic as people share numerous faux. As it is being shared by a lot of irresponsible social media users, the more it causes damage to people most affected by this disaster. The spread of fake news in the internet might also be your fault. Social media literacy is of paramount importance and admittedly, you’ve shared contents that you didn’t even read or scan.
In a network where 40% of the global population are users, every time the green circle appears in your account, you are more vulnerable to certain negatives. It is, however, unadvisable for everyone to stop using these social media sites, but all should be in moderation. It’s a perennial concern that needs attention.
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