The use of social media is increasing worldwide. Some believe it only wastes time, while others see it more positively. I think the perspective one takes depends on several factors.
Social media causes distraction. The content on Instagram is short, and people can scroll through thousands of posts in one day, which shortens their attention span and makes it difficult to focus on longer content, like reading a book. Using social media platforms can also lead to mental health issues. Users often watch happy pictures and stories of other people who seem to be living much better lives without any signs of depression, financial problems, or other challenges, which can trigger our feelings of inferiority.
However, this modern type of media can foster creativity. On platforms like Facebook, artists and creative users share their ideas in many formats, such as pictures, videos, or captions, which other users can observe, learn from, and replicate in various ways, supporting creativity on a societal and global scale. Another advantage is promoting activism. This is because on such platforms, people voice their concerns and highlight social injustices, which spreads to millions of users and inspires social movements to address these issues. For example, feminism used social media to challenge patriarchy worldwide through movements like MeToo, which has benefited female employees globally.
These discussions suggest that if we take a fully pessimistic view of social media because of its impact on our attention and mental health, we may overlook its advantages, such as fostering creativity and promoting collectivism. Therefore, social media should not be seen as wholly good or wholly evil. Everything depends on how we use it: either excessively or appropriately.
