Before any work was done to supply the world’s earlier cities with electricity, people were already finding ways to communicate. This eventually led to the usage of letters and history’s first post offices. Although it often took days to months for these written messages to be received by the other end, it undoubtedly did its job of connecting people who were far apart.
Thanks to the many breakthroughs made in the world of technology, almost everything we need is now within our grasp. Of course, this also means that many of the inventions made throughout history have received significant improvements, and that includes our means of communicating. Besides e-mails, many of us now have access to various social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Along with interacting with other people from different corners of the world, social media also lets us express our thoughts and opinions. Like many things, however, using it also has its share of pros and cons, and that’s what we’ll be talking about today. Now, without further ado, let’s take a look at how social media affects its millions of users.
May Make Users Feel Envious
With social media becoming accessible to almost everyone, it’s no surprise that whatever is posted by others can cause varying degrees of influence on whoever sees it on their feeds. One such possible emotion some of these posts cause is envy. According to a study on 600 adults, around a third of them felt down after browsing through social media. After a closer inspection, a portion of this negative emotion was caused by users comparing their lives based on what others post on their accounts.
Among the many things shared online, it’s travel photos that often trigger this emotion. Despite this downside, however, there’s also a bright side to seeing other people’s posts. According to another study revolving around 380 students, researchers found a different type of envy, one that provides a more positive response to the user. After seeing posts of people going on a trip or buying something expensive, these students, though jealous at first, felt a surge of inspiration, resulting in them working harder and striving higher.
Can Affect Relationships
Of course, we have to give credit to social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for giving us the chance to connect with people from other corners of the world. However, this very thing that’s known for connecting is also more than capable of severing. Based on recent studies, researchers found that social media can hinder relationships, triggering emotions such as insecurity and the previously-mentioned envy.
Besides these, having the sudden urge to check social media can also affect the conversations we have with other people, especially in a face-to-face setting. To further support this, a study was made which involved 34 pairs of strangers tasked with striking up a conversation with each other. The results showed that pairs with no phone in sight had a better time conversing than those who did. By the looks of it, it’s safe to say that almost anything that has access to social media can also keep us from appreciating what’s in front of us, though that ultimately depends on how we use it.
May Affect Our Overall Well-being
More often than not, the things we do can have a significant impact on our well-being. Of course, perusing through social media sites is no exception to this. Like the previous topics tackled, some investments were made in confirming this notion. According to one research conducted in 2013 on 79 volunteers, the study found that people who spent more time on social media felt worse afterward. With that said, it was also discovered that social media could severely hinder the well-being of a socially isolated person. Despite these studies bearing negative results, that doesn’t mean social media is not without its positives.
If there’s one thing social media shows, it’s that we’re not alone. Nearby and from afar, there will always be someone willing to help us not only feel better but also become better. In fact, based on another study, users who often vent their emotions on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter tend to feel happier afterward. This wholesome effect is amplified even further whenever another user responds to their post with supportive and uplifting remarks, which, in turn, helps them regain their footing faster.
Although things such as cyber-bullying still occur on various platforms, that doesn’t mean we should overlook the many benefits social media provides its users. To its credit, not only does it strengthen our bonds with friends and family, but it also lets us create new ones with other people, and that’s what ultimately matters at the end of the day. After all, no man is an island, and we should do all that we can to help each other out.
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