Whether Social Media Is Good for the Society Essay

Today, social media has become an integral part of the social life and people can hardly imagine their life without social media anymore. The use of social media in human life keeps growing and people use social media over and over again, while the time they spend in social networks grows steadily (Sanchez, 2013). In such a situation, the question that begs is whether social media is good or bad for the society. On the one hand, social media contributes to the transparency, better information sharing and new education opportunities. On the other hand, social media can distract individuals from learning, real life issues and absorb individuals into virtual rather than real world communities. Nevertheless, social media is rather good for the society because its positive effects outweigh its negative effects in a long run as people learn how to use social media effectively and do use it effectively for their learning, political participation, and civil activities.

Social media is a powerful tool of the information sharing and communication that may wreak havoc in society because of fast spreading of information concerning potential threats, which have not come direct and real threats so far, as is the case of Ebola, for example, when social media has triggered panic among the population of well-developed nations, while they still remain protected against the spread of the disease (BBC News, 2014). Therefore, social media can trigger the panic in society, which may be dangerous because it makes difficult to keep the management of epidemics, for example, under control. The panic concerning the threat of epidemics like Ebola can cause the uncontrollable use of drugs to prevent the disease, which may be and is ineffective. The panic can shape biases, which policy makers will have to ruin to conduct policies effectively and prevent epidemics and conduct other policies that are useful and essential for the society. Once shaped, the public opinion is difficult to change, especially if the public opinion is based on fear.

Social media also interferes in the learning process and may have a negative impact on the learning. Social media distracts students form learning and, therefore, deteriorate the quality of their learning (Sanchez, 2013). For example, students often focus on their social media communication and activities rather than on their homework that naturally deteriorates their academic performance (Sanchez, 2013). As a result, students spend less time on learning because they spend more time on the online communication and their social activities within social networks. The effectiveness of learning decreases under the impact of social media, as students cannot or do not dedicate as much time to learning as they have to.

On the other hand, if used for learning purposes, social media can become an effective tool used by both educators and students for distance learning as well as for the conventional learning (Bumgardner & Knestis, 2011). For example, many students use social networks to discuss their schoolwork (Bumgardner & Knestis, 2011). The potential of social media as the learning tool is enormous. At the moment, students discuss their schoolwork and develop team work by assisting each other to do their homework, to work on projects and to perform other tasks related to their learning and school life. In such a way, social media improves the interaction students, but also opens the opportunity for better teacher-student communication, as students can contact their educators, when they need a piece of advice, for example. Social media also contributes to the fast progress of distance learning because it eliminates physical distance between students and educators.

At the same time, social media may be an effective communication tool between law enforcement agencies and local communities (Fieldsted, 2013). Law enforcement agencies can use social media to communicate key messages to the public. For example, law enforcement agencies can issue warnings about upcoming threats, such as a threat of a terror attack. The public becomes more aware of the threat that increases changes for its prevention. Alternatively, the public can also enhance the public order through information sharing that helps to prevent or investigate crimes. In such a way, social media may be used as a public policing tool.

Social media also contributes to the better communication between the authorities and the population allowing them sharing information and debating on important issues (Fieldsted, 2013). As the authorities elaborate a new policy, they can refer to the public to get people involved into the decision making process and elaboration of that policy. Moreover, with the help of social media, people get involved into the elaboration of such policies because they start discussing those policies in social media and shape the public opinion on those policies, which the authorities cannot ignore.

Furthermore, social media contributes to the transparency of the politics and actions of the authorities and policy makers that enhances the public control over their performance. Users can share information via social media fast and any pitfalls of policy makers become available to the public fast that helps to shape the public opinion in regard to the particular issue fast. As a result, policy makers and the authorities always remain under the public control because every step they make mirrors in social networks, where people share information, including the information, which they have about policy makers and officials. In such a situation, the important information may be shared between millions of users in the matter of seconds.

Social media also serves to manifest the public attitude to key issues and policies conducted by the state or private entities. For example, the environment pollution caused by business activities of a company can become available to the public via social media and the public can enhance its pressure on the authorities to enhance environmental regulations to put the end to dangerous environmental practices. In such a way, social media can serve as a tool of the public control and pressure on policy makers. The enhancement of the public control over state and public entities increases the role of the public as the agent of policy making.

Thus, social media rather has a positive effect on the society than negative one. In spite of some pitfalls, like the distraction of students from their homework or the tool of spreading panic among the population, social media is a useful tool. The problem is that social media needs the effective management to help people to learn it effectively and avoid panic or spread of false or, at least, inaccurate information.

 

References:

#BBCtrending: How panic about Ebola is spreading faster than the virus. (2014) BBC News.

Bumgardner, S. and K. Knestis. (2011). Social Networking as a Tool for Student and Teacher Learning. District Administration.

Fieldsted, M. (2013). Social Media Helps Police, Cities Spread Information. Herald.

Sanchez, N. (2013). Social Media Distracts Students. The Legacy Press.

The terms offer and acceptance. (2016, May 17). Retrieved from

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016.

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

freeessays.club (2016) The terms offer and acceptance [Online].
Available at:

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]

"The terms offer and acceptance." freeessays.club, 17 May 2016

[Accessed: March 28, 2024]
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