Debate continues about the effects of social networking sites on society. While some argue that these platforms can be harmful, citing concerns like cyberbullying and shorter attention spans, others believe they have advantages in promoting communication, teaching computer skills, and facilitating global connections. There are also worries about children’s exposure to predators and increased vulnerability to viruses. Additionally, negative impacts on worker productivity and the promotion of narcissism are noted. Ultimately, whether social networking sites have a positive or negative impact on our society is still a topic of debate.
One of the negative effects of social networking sites is cyber bullying, which can have multiple consequences on an individual. It can promote anti-social behavior by heightening self-awareness and seclusion. Moreover, it can cause depression and dampen motivation for daily tasks. Furthermore, cyber bullying has the potential to drive individuals towards contemplating suicide or participating in other harmful behaviors.
According to the National Crime Prevention Council, cyber bullying can have detrimental effects on its victims, such as decreased self-esteem, lower grades, and signs of depression. A tragic example illustrating the harmful consequences of cyber bullying occurred in 2006 when Megan Meier, a 13-year-old girl, tragically took her own life. It is believed that Megan’s former friend’s mother created a fake profile to gain her trust and obtain information about her. However, their interaction gradually turned hostile. In 2009, Sameer Hinduja and Justin W. Patchin conducted a study which unveiled that 17% of middle school students have been targets of cyber bullying. Consequently, social networking platforms present dangers for young individuals due to the prevalence of this form of harassment.
Additionally, these social networking sites expose users to sexual predators and other dangerous individuals because they lack mechanisms to authenticate users’ true identities; thus making it easy for online predators to conceal their real personas.
Social networking sites have a drawback in that they give individuals the ability to create fake identities, leading to potentially harmful interactions such as rape. MySpace acknowledged in February 2009 that there were 90,000 registered sex offenders on their platform, while Facebook chose not to reveal their figures (Nathan Olivarez-Giles). Consequently, the existence of online predators on these sites poses a major danger to the safety of young people. Moreover, these platforms can be detrimental by serving as distractions that result in loss of concentration and procrastination of important duties.
Both young people and adults are negatively affected by social networking. In the case of youngsters, it can cause a decline in academic performance, while for adults, it can decrease productivity and the quality of their work. It also leads to shorter attention spans and a lack of focus on important tasks. Additionally, these platforms encourage individuals to spend more time online instead of interacting face-to-face. According to the National School Boards Association, teenagers spend an average of nine hours per day using social networking sites.
There is debate surrounding the effects of social networking sites on young children and teenagers. While some believe these platforms have negative consequences, such as promoting procrastination, others argue that they enhance communication between friends and family and foster important computer skills development. This is due to their ability to facilitate extensive conversations beyond in-person interactions. Moreover, many individuals acquire valuable computer skills essential for work and education by utilizing these sites, making them a valuable asset.
If the person that they are talking to online lives far away, social networking sites allow them to communicate more frequently than if they only see each other occasionally. This is a significant aspect for advocates of social networking sites. In summary, the use of these sites can impact the lives of most individuals due to procrastination and bullying. Particularly concerning for young people is their vulnerability to online predators, which makes social networking sites potentially harmful. Additionally, cyber bullying poses another detrimental effect. Moreover, excessive engagement in social networking can lead individuals to have shorter attention spans and lose sight of priorities.
Work Cited
Nathan Olivarez-Giles reported in the Los Angeles Times on Feb. 4, 2009 that more sex offenders joined MySpace than previously acknowledged. The National Crime Prevention Council defines cyberbullying on its website www.ncpc.org, accessed on Oct. 5, 2009. The National School Boards Association provides research and guidelines on online social and educational networking on its website NSBA.org, from July 2007. Sameer Hinduja and Justin W. Patchin published a book titled “Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying” in 2009. According to Steve Almasy’s article on www.cnn.com, social media is an inviting target for cybercriminals, dated Sep. 30, 2009.
