Or you could get up and move around between job tasks or while on a call. At home, you could stand up during TV ad breaks or while the kettle is boiling. Some smart devices and wearables buzz if you have been sitting for too long as well. When laws are similarly imprecise, courts can use the ‘void for vagueness’ doctrine to strike them down.
Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, allowing us to connect with friends and family, share information, and discover new trends. However, the question remains: is social media helpful or harmful?
Nearly 6 out of 10 teen girls say they’ve been contacted through social media platforms by a stranger in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. The team surveyed university students, so their results may not accurately reflect experiences of the wider community and there were only 77 participants in the end. But it adds to other research that’s shown passive social media use has a negative impact on wellbeing. The results were even starker when Wirtz and team compared interacting via social media to offline interactions (including phone calls), finding the latter increased participants’ positive emotions.
If social media is your primary source for news and other information, you could end up in a filter bubble, which is when you’ve isolated yourself from new information and engaging with people who have different perspectives. If you’ve managed to stay in a bubble of harmful misinformation, it can damage relationships and even be dangerous. You have to admit that social networking is just plain fun sometimes. A lot of people turn to it when they catch a break at work or just want to relax at home.
Helpful Aspects of Social Media
One of the key benefits of social media is its ability to connect people from all over the world. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter allow us to stay in touch with loved ones, even if they are thousands of miles away. Social media also provides a platform for sharing important information quickly, such as news updates or emergency alerts.
The state will save more than $15 million by using technology similar to ChatGPT to give initial scores, reducing the number of human graders needed. “I view many cases, and probably this one too, that the real plaintiff is the lawyer seeking money, like you,” Musk said. “I think I really did this in good faith, because I would not ask for a fact-check which is what I do by adding Community Notes,” Musk said, referencing how he had tagged Community Notes in his post.
The more you prioritize social media interaction over in-person relationships, the more you’re at risk for developing or exacerbating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. We need the companionship of others to thrive in life, and the strength of our connections has a huge impact on our mental health and happiness. Being socially connected to others can ease stress, anxiety, and depression, boost self-worth, provide comfort and joy, prevent loneliness, and even add years to your life. On the flip side, lacking strong social connections can pose a serious risk to your mental and emotional health.
Whenever we’re in a social situation and feel anxious, awkward, or lonely, we turn to our phones and log on to social media. Of course, interacting with social media only denies you the face-to-face interaction that can help to ease anxiety. BetterHelp is an online therapy service that matches you to licensed, accredited therapists who can help with depression, anxiety, relationships, and more. Take the assessment and get matched with a therapist in as little as 48 hours. Business owners and other types of professional organizations can connect with current customers, sell their products and expand their reach using social media. There are actually lots of entrepreneurs and businesses out there that thrive almost entirely on social networks and wouldn’t even be able to operate without it.
‘For some kids, being able to connect with others and find support is really important. For others, social media may create more challenges than it solves,’ Nesi said. ‘The key is making sure we don’t accidentally do any harm’ by enacting restrictions and legislation that are not backed by science. Moreover, the findings from such studies were often inconclusive, or the effects on mental health so small as to be inconsequential. In one study that received considerable media attention, psychologists Amy Orben and Andrew Przybylski combined data from three surveys to see if they could find a link between technology use, including social media, and reduced well-being. The duo gauged the well-being of over 355,000 teenagers by focusing on questions around depression, suicidal thinking and self-esteem.
Another positive aspect of social media is its role in raising awareness for important causes. Movements like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter have gained traction through social media, bringing attention to issues that may have otherwise gone unnoticed.
Harmful Aspects of Social Media
While social media has its benefits, it also has its drawbacks. One of the most concerning aspects of social media is its impact on mental health. Studies have shown that excessive use of social media can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
In addition, social media can also be a breeding ground for cyberbullying and misinformation. The anonymity provided by social media platforms can embolden individuals to engage in harmful behavior, such as spreading false information or harassing others.
Conclusion
In conclusion, social media can be both helpful and harmful, depending on how it is used. It is important for users to be mindful of their online activity and to strive for a healthy balance between their virtual and real-world interactions. By being aware of the potential risks associated with social media and taking steps to mitigate them, we can harness the power of these platforms for good while minimizing the harm they can cause.
