Interesting points from a programme last night about how social media affects the younger generation and their mental wellbeing.
For most of us, we have learned to incorporate Social Media into our lives, but only as a tool to establish communication with friends' and old connections, keeping up to date with friends activities and sharing photographs, it’s not taken over our lives. It hasn’t distracted us from what is really important.
For the younger generation who doesn’t know what life is like without social media is another matter, they’re born into the world where it has become a big part of their daily routine, spending hours on it each day. I’m trying not to make myself sound old here, but there is a difference of what is seen to be a fair or reasonable usage of these applications in each of our lives, before it starts to take over and affect us mentally, especially for the young.
The documentary I saw last night reported the concern that young people strive to be liked and feel popular, they use it as a platform to boost their popularity, but it can also cause the opposite to happen, bullying has been an issue on this type of media for some time. The way they look is important to them, the poses they use in their selfies, the competitiveness of being unique and standing out above everybody else, this can have a negative effect and not help their self-esteem, it’s important that they learn to like themselves and not let others influence them or change them into somebody they’re not. The other topic is when individuals post personal information to their followers/connections not realising the impact it might have, some things should stay private, but that’s a whole different topic affecting all ages.
Technology is great, but just like many media devices and applications, a fair usage policy should apply to all. However much it can be addictive with the new developments and gimmicks on the web, it shouldn’t take over our lives. We should remember what is really important in our daily and weekly activities. Although we’re leading into a world of virtual reality which will create a host of other challenges (now that’s a whole different story), we do have the opportunity to control and discipline ourselves now.
I still like social media, it’s a great way for individuals and companies to reach out to friends, connections and customers, but let’s just keep an eye on our usage. Let’s just avoid it ruling our lives.
For most of us, we have learned to incorporate Social Media into our lives, but only as a tool to establish communication with friends' and old connections, keeping up to date with friends activities and sharing photographs, it’s not taken over our lives. It hasn’t distracted us from what is really important.
For the younger generation who doesn’t know what life is like without social media is another matter, they’re born into the world where it has become a big part of their daily routine, spending hours on it each day. I’m trying not to make myself sound old here, but there is a difference of what is seen to be a fair or reasonable usage of these applications in each of our lives, before it starts to take over and affect us mentally, especially for the young.
The documentary I saw last night reported the concern that young people strive to be liked and feel popular, they use it as a platform to boost their popularity, but it can also cause the opposite to happen, bullying has been an issue on this type of media for some time. The way they look is important to them, the poses they use in their selfies, the competitiveness of being unique and standing out above everybody else, this can have a negative effect and not help their self-esteem, it’s important that they learn to like themselves and not let others influence them or change them into somebody they’re not. The other topic is when individuals post personal information to their followers/connections not realising the impact it might have, some things should stay private, but that’s a whole different topic affecting all ages.
Technology is great, but just like many media devices and applications, a fair usage policy should apply to all. However much it can be addictive with the new developments and gimmicks on the web, it shouldn’t take over our lives. We should remember what is really important in our daily and weekly activities. Although we’re leading into a world of virtual reality which will create a host of other challenges (now that’s a whole different story), we do have the opportunity to control and discipline ourselves now.
I still like social media, it’s a great way for individuals and companies to reach out to friends, connections and customers, but let’s just keep an eye on our usage. Let’s just avoid it ruling our lives.
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