Pros and Cons of Social media

 Social Media

Social Media is a tool that is becoming quite popular these days because of its user-friendly features. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and more are giving people a chance to connect with each other across distances. In other words, the whole world is at our fingertips all thanks to social media. The youth is especially one of the most dominant users of social media. All this makes you wonder that something so powerful and with such a massive reach cannot be all good. Like how there are always two sides to a coin, the same goes for social media. Subsequently, different people have different opinions on this debatable topic. So, in this essay on Social Media, we will see the advantages and disadvantages of social media.

Pros of social media

• When we look at the positive aspect of social media, we find numerous advantages. The most important being a great device for education. All the information one requires is just a click away. Students can educate themselves on various topics using social media.
• Moreover, live lectures are now possible because of social media. You can attend a lecture happening in America while sitting in India.
• Furthermore, as more and more people are distancing themselves from newspapers, they are depending on social media for news. You are always updated on the latest happenings of the world through it. A person becomes more socially aware of the issues of the world.
• In addition, it strengthens bonds with your loved ones. Distance is not a barrier anymore because of social media. For instance, you can easily communicate with your friends and relatives overseas.
• Most importantly, it also provides a great platform for young budding artists to showcase their talent for free. You can get great opportunities for employment through social media too.

Another advantage definitely benefits companies who wish to promote their brands. Social media has become a hub for advertising and offers you great opportunities for connecting with the customer.   

     Cons of social media

• Despite having such unique advantages, social media is considered to be one of the most harmful elements of society. If the use of social media is not monitored, it can lead to grave consequences.
• It is harmful because it invades your privacy like never before. The oversharing happening on social media makes children a target for predators and hackers. It also leads to cyberbullying which affects any person significantly.
• Thus, the sharing on social media especially by children must be monitored at all times. Next up is the addition of social media which is quite common amongst the youth.
• This addiction hampers with the academic performance of a student as they waste their time on social media instead of studying. Social media also creates communal rifts. Fake news is spread with the use of it, which poisons the mind of peace-loving citizens.

In short, surely social media has both advantages and disadvantages. But, it all depends on the user at the end. The youth must particularly create a balance between their academic performances, physical activities, and social media. Excess use of anything is harmful and the same thing applies to social media. Therefore, we must strive to live a satisfying life with the right balance.

Types of social media

1.Social networks

Social networking sites help people connect with each other and offer a multitude of ways for different brands to attract individuals. Users can share their thoughts, form groups based on their interests, curate content, upload photos and videos and participate in group discussions. You can reach wide and diverse audiences with advertisements and persuade influential people with the right targeting metrics. You can also build connections between your brand and those individuals, research user preferences and monitor online conversations about your business.

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• TikTok
  
  
  

2.Discussion forums

Discussion forums encourage people to answer each other's questions and share ideas and news. Many of these social media sites focus on posing questions to solicit the best answer. Answering them correctly and honestly can increase your credibility on the forum. That credibility and respect could lead to an increase in visits to your business or product website. You can also use discussion forums to do market research by asking people what they think of your products and brand. This can help you create more focused marketing campaigns. Examples of discussion forums:

• Reddit
• Digg
• Quora
  
  
  

3.Image sharing network

These social media sites let people share photos and related content. They offer a platform to start conversations, inspire creativity, make products seem more appealing and encourage customers to talk about your brand. For example, a clothing company could give everyone who posts a picture of their gear on the image-sharing network a chance to win a gift certificate. Examples of image-sharing networks:

• Instagram
• Flickr
  
  
  

4.Bookmarking network

Bookmarking networks are platforms where users save different ideas, articles, posts and other content for later use. Many people also share links to lists of online resources. The purpose of these websites is to discover new content based on shared interests and to discuss trends. You can use these networks to direct people to your website and engage with and influence their opinion by sharing your own content to bookmark. Examples of bookmarking networks:

• Feedly
• Flipboard
• Pocket
• StumbleUpon

5.Social shopping network

  

These networks help people spot trends, share great finds, make purchases and follow their favorite brands. They focus on e-commerce, and the social element makes it engaging and entertaining. These social shopping sites are ideal for building awareness about your brand and selling to a wider audience. Many of them let hobbyists and small business owners sell their art, jewelry, crafts and other items. Sellers are able to reach customers who are looking for unique, handmade products. Other social shopping networks offer home-related products along with content about home improvement, making them interest-based networks as well. Many social networks now also include social shopping elements. People can sell items to their friends, followers and other buyers near them, making it much easier to get rid of old appliances and furniture. Examples of social shopping networks:

• Instagram
• Poshmark
• Etsy
• Facebook