Social media has fundamentally changed how we connect and interact. Explore the positive and negative impacts of social media on individuals and society as a whole. Consider issues like mental health, misinformation, and political polarization. Propose solutions for mitigating negative impacts while maximizing the positive potential of social media.

Social media has fundamentally changed how we connect and interact.  Explore the positive and negative impacts of social media on individuals and society as a whole.  Consider issues like mental health, misinformation, and political polarization.  Propose solutions for mitigating negative impacts while maximizing the positive potential of social media.

 

In the last decade, the social media has emerged as a major factor that has not only forced us to change our lifestyle but it also dictates the majority of our personal decisions. Just 20 years ago, it was not common for local masses to take interest in the culture and lifestyle of foreign countries or people to earn online easily. Social media has revolutionize the way the people around the globe connect and interact. Previously, it was common for the people of lower economic standing to use letters to communicate with each others and for local administration purposes. Telegram and Telephone had already been invented, but they were not cost effective and long distance communications were ultimately handled manually. Email was created during 2000s but it was a tool meant for the educated and did not reached the common people who had no means of using a computer. 

With the innovation of new technologies, the cost of personal mobile devices became affordable, which was considered a luxury in 2000s. The internet prices were reduced too. Though the major social media platforms were long created in the starting of 2000s, they would start gaining users in millions not before 2007 when the internet was popularised and the cost of all the digital tools were affordable for the general public to purchase them.

Previously, the social media was the best way to share breaking news and things which were rather creative and outstanding, but nowadays, the quality of the content being uploaded has quite deteriorated. Social media was created for the people to interact with each other easily, but ironically it has become one of the major reason of isolation among the young generations.

The fake lifestyle which is seen in social media has affected the mental health of the youngsters. It not only affect the way of their thinking, but their beliefs and behavious too. The misinformation and fake news being shared on the social media is the cause of many riots and displeasure among the people. Social media has become a tool for spreading politically motivated lies and superstitious religious beliefs that has become an instigator for the instability in the modern society. 

It is ultimately the people's responsibility to limit the effects that the social media has in their lives and also limit the time they spent in it. It is also necessary to maintain regular social interaction and not to believe everything seen online.

Social media is a great tool for us to progress and present our creativities in front of the world. It is a tool which affects our life positively or negatively depending on how it is used.