Social media has had an astounding effect on human interaction in both a positive and negative light. This effect has grown exponentially with the rapid development of new technologies and communication platforms. It's clear to see that the way people communicate in these modern times is changing on a daily basis.
The development of these technologies has given birth to concerns that time spent on social media platforms is taking away from face-to-face communication, this is known as social displacement.
A recent study found that, compared to the 5% of adults who used social media in 2005, over 70% of adults employ its use today.
Jeffery Hall, PHD, is the director of the Relationship and Technology Lab at the University of Kansas. According to Hall, "the issues of social displacement has gone on for more than 100 years". He believes there is little evidence to show that social media directly displaces meaningful time spent with close relations, because people often interact with loved ones through different platforms.
In a recent study conducted at the university, participants kept a log of time spent doing 19 activities during weeks when they were and were not asked to abstain from social media.
In the weeks when people abstained from social media, they spent more time browsing the internet, working and doing household chores. Interestingly, there was no difference in the time spent socializing with their strongest relations during these periods.
The Effect on Adolescents
With regards to its effect on young adults, Jean Twenge, PHD, a professor of psychology at Diego State University, has a different view. A recent study conducted at the university found that high school seniors on their way to college in 2016 spent "an hour less a day engaging in in-person social interaction", compared with high school seniors in the late 1980s. The study also presents the notion that adolescents who spend more time on social media and less time on physical interaction are reportedly lonelier.
According to Twenge, face-to-face interaction may be down due to increased use of digital media, but Hall disputes this, stating that the relationship may go either way.
A 2018 report done by Common Sense Media found that 81% of teens use social media, and a third of them use it multiple times an hour. These statistics have risen dramatically in the last five years because of an increased access to social media devices. This has surged interest in the impact on the cognitive development and psychological well-being of teenagers.
Kaveri Subrahmanyam, PHD, a developmental psychologist, believes that "social media presents both opportunities and risks for adolescents".
It can present teens with a creative outlet, but there are also risks. Young adults report often coming across inappropriate content like violent images, p*rnography, racism, sexism or religious-based hate content.
Some social media sites seem to focus on self-identification issues amongst adolescents. This can be defined as a gray area, as we cannot yet tell if it's constructive or damaging for young adults.
Another area where young people are affected is with education. It has become a vital part of a student's social life and is regarded as a learning platform that amplifies student engagement in many schools.
Some educators have noticed improvements in creativity and academic performance that can be attributed to the introduction of digital media into their curriculums. On the other hand, some negatives noticed include increased distraction, reduction in research capabilities and an impact on health.
The Effect on Politics
The impact of social media on politics is somewhat new. This can be accredited to the fact that politics is often dominated by men and women much older than the primary users of social media. Though this elderly group have been reluctant to assimilate it into their work, its power and influence has required they become proficient in its use.
The implementation of social media in politics has made it possible to deploy ideas out to a large amount of people in a very short period. Donald Trump's use of twitter is a good example of this. He used it to spread his ideas out to several people, often bypassing official and censored means of communication.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it's fair to say that the effect of social media on the society can be viewed as positive or negative, depending on the individual's perspective. However, there are far more gray areas, than black and white.
From a behavioral sciences point of view, there would be more negatives than positives. Nevertheless, if you look at it from a technological standpoint, the positives far outweigh the negatives. The most important thing in this situation is to understand that social media is a tool and should be used as such. It's not something that should take over the individuals entire life.
With regards to children, a structure needs to be put into place. There should be time limits on how long they can spend online daily and possibly other restrictions.
We should make a conscious effort not to be so consumed with social media that we neglect in-person human interaction.
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