Social media is a platform for people to connect with each other. Sometimes we are able to see and connect with someone with whom we have lost touch for decades. In addition, we get exposed to knowledge that is available with much less effort. All this is available at very little cost, and that too sitting at one place. Such enticement is enough to keep people hooked on social media.
Also for the people who like to be popular and visible to others find the patform quite interesting and effective. Also the platforms are now providing with business opportunities and is become more attractive in the additional way too.
Therefore, social media has revolutionized the present communication system and has therefore attracted the time and energy of people.
However, social media itself is just one big hoax. Spamming each other with our burning commentary of bullshit masquerading with insight. Our social media faking as intimacy. I’m not saying anything new, we all know why we do this. Not because Hunger Games books makes us happy, but because we want to be sedated. Because it’s painful not to pretend, because we’re cowards.
Social media is huge. It has become one of the largest ways to communicate and meet people, and it keeps getting bigger. Some think it will eventually die down, but from the trends, you can see, it won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. 
There are about 3.48 billion people that now use social media, 366 million of those people are new people that just started using social media in the past year. That’s more than a million new people joining social media every single day.
Just look at how much content is published on each platform daily:
- TikTok – 23 million
- YouTube – 216 million
- Facebook – 350 million
- X – 500 million
- LinkedIn – 2 million
- Instagram – 95 million
- Astonishingly, over 140 billion messages are sent via WhatsApp daily. To break it down, that’s 5833 million messages every hour, 97 million messages per minute, and 1.6 million messages each second. On average, a WhatsApp user spends about 19.4 hours monthly on the app, which is approximately 38 minutes each day
I see all this potential, and I see squandering. We’re the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War is a spiritual war. Our Great Depression is our lives. We’ve all been raised on television to believe that one day we’d all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars..but we won’t, and people like you and me are learning that fact.
Social media platforms can be deceitful. When you are done viewing something you like, the platform has an algorithm that gives you suggestions at your feed. This causes you to most likely to watch more than you would expect. This is how the biggest social media platforms like Youtube and Facebook make more money. Its a marketing strategy. And you are the unnotified moneymaker. We are slaves to the internet. Many don’t know this. Don’t be one of them.
Tobias noted, You get (nearly) instant validation from your friends that lets you know that your friends like you. And you can give other people equal amounts of validation to let them know that they (presumably) like you. its a big circle of validation.
According to Aditi (2024), reducing your presence on social media could boost your happiness. This happiness is very well justified. Your life on social media was a crafted one. When I say crafted, it means you portrayed your life in a manner just to impress people or, being a little honest, to seek attention. Amidst all this chaos, you lost your individuality.
Benefits of not being on social media-
You live life the way you wish to
You have nothing to pretend
You appreciate yourself the way you are
You are not bothered about the no.of likes and comments on your profile
You are not bothered about the number of likes and comments on other people’s profiles
There is no fear of being judged
You now use less filters for your already good pictures(Mind you, those filter apps consume a lot of phone’s memory)
You are liberated of the virtual world.
Ellis noted that Some people waste time on social media because
- They have little respect for their priorities.
- They undervalue their priorities.
- They’re too busy day dreaming and envying people who have what they don’t.
- Trolling.
On the flip side of that, social media isn’t a waste of time if:
You spend your time wisely on social media.
It’s a part of your job or career.
It’s required for your business.
You use it as a means to connect with friends and family.
You’re contributing to Social Media, not just scrolling through the never ending stream of updates.
You’re not letting Social Media get in the way of your priorities.
Soniya Roy (2023) noted there are 10 ways social media has negative effects on the society.
Social media has become an essential part of modern society, offering us an easy way to communicate with others, connect with new people, and share information. However, it has also been observed that social media has many negative effects on society. Here are ten negative effects of social media on society, explained in detail.
Cyberbullying: Social media has enabled individuals to harass and bully others online. With the anonymity that social media provides, cyberbullies can harass people without facing any consequences. The victims of cyberbullying experience severe emotional stress, low self-esteem, and in some cases, even suicide.
Spread of misinformation: Social media has become a breeding ground for spreading false information. With fake news and rumors easily shared across various social media platforms, people are often misguided, leading to confusion, distrust, and chaos. The spread of misinformation can also harm democratic processes and public trust in institutions.
Addiction: Social media addiction is a real problem that many people are facing. With easy access to social media apps and platforms, people tend to spend a lot of time online, often ignoring their real-life responsibilities. This addiction can lead to a lack of productivity, depression, and anxiety.
The decline in face-to-face communication: With the rise of social media, people are becoming less inclined to interact in person. Social media is convenient, but it can lead to a decline in social skills and emotional intelligence, making it hard for people to develop deep and meaningful relationships.
Self-esteem issues: Social media often portrays an idealized and unrealistic version of people’s lives, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. People tend to compare their lives with others and become dissatisfied with their own. This can lead to a lack of confidence and poor mental health.
Social isolation: Social media can make it easy for people to connect with others, but it can also lead to social isolation. People tend to spend more time online than in person, leading to feelings of loneliness and social disconnection.
Polarization and echo chambers: Social media algorithms reinforce existing biases and create “echo chambers,” where people only see content that confirms their existing beliefs. This can lead to polarization and a lack of open-mindedness, ultimately leading to an unhealthy society.
Cyberstalking and harassment: The anonymity of social media makes it easy for individuals to stalk and harass others online. Cyberstalking and harassment can be traumatizing for victims and can lead to severe legal consequences for the perpetrators.
Decrease in privacy: Social media platforms collect vast amounts of personal data, which can be sold to third-party companies or used for targeted advertising. This can lead to a decrease in privacy, and people’s personal information can be misused by others.
Comparison and envy: Social media often encourages people to compare themselves with others, leading to feelings of envy and dissatisfaction. This can harm mental health and well-being and can lead to depression, anxiety, and other psychological disorders.
In conclusion, social media has brought many benefits to society, such as increased connectivity and access to information. However, it has also brought several negative effects that cannot be ignored. These negative effects include cyberbullying, the spread of misinformation, addiction, the decline in face-to-face communication, self-esteem issues, social isolation, polarization, and echo chambers, cyber stalking and harassment, a decrease in privacy, and comparison and envy. It is essential to understand these negative effects and take steps to mitigate them, ensuring a healthier and more balanced use of social media. We should strive to use social media positively, promoting mental health and well-being, and creating a safe and healthy society.