I would describe myself as an introvert who has learnt to adapt over time and I am conflicted about social media. While I engage with, and am subscribed to several social media platforms, I do feel, on a whole, that social media igenerally does more harm than good. There are several aspects of the whole social media experience I find troubling.
Firstly, it does seem like there are more and more people pathologically obsessed with gaining attention and who seem to require validation by complte strangers. I think social media has made this kind of behavior seem normal
I also notice that discussions often become polarized and people often do not take any time to consider alternate viewpoints. I can use basketball as an example, as I am a huge fan. Most people will be familiar with the GOAT debate and I find supporters of one player or the other tend to needlessly bash and devalue other players to elevate their GOAT, so the discussion become very negative in my view. The same thing happens with politics and social issues to an even more disturbing extent.
What is probably most concerning me is the manipulation of facts, the presentation of information with no actual data to support them and the common claim of expertise without substance. I think this is one of the reasons so many people cling to conspiracy theories (atlthough I'm sure some of them are not jsut theeories) and seem to lack discernment as to what is fact and what is opnion.
The constant barrage of information on these platforms is overwhelming. I have even started to wonder if my own perspectives are valid. Maybe we should all try to moderate our levels of engagement in social media.
Comments
Thank you MEB for your post and I do respect your viewpoint. However, I think that with all things, there is good and bad. Look at the some of the good things that we could not have accomplished without social media.Social media has allowed us to be able to be better connected with friends and family, to have free access to information, to be able to advertise products, and the list goes on and on. So, yes, some persons do use it for ill, but think about all the good it has been and can be used for..