Effects of Social Media on Americans

The social media is interactive computer-mediated platforms that enable people to share information through virtual communities and networks. According to the latest data produced by Pew Research Center, approximate 69% of Americans use social media while transacting their daily activities (Treem et al. 773). To be specific, the above individuals utilize Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Google+ and YouTube to interact with each other (Pernisco 11). Indeed, social media is affecting Americans both in various ways. 

Starting with the positive impacts, social media is used as a tool for enhancing interaction and communication between different individuals. To illustrate, the online sites such as Facebook, Google Hangouts, and Twitters connects people from different localities, a thing that promotes learning and businesses practices as well as boosting their social lives (Amedie 15). Presently, Americans do not depend on answering machines or landlines to speak to each other. Instead, these people use their smartphones and laptops to communicate with their family members, friends, fellow workers, and clients (Shahjahan and Kutub 2010). In consideration with the above information, it occurs that social media have promoted oneness in America. 

Still, social media have enhanced business opportunities as well as serving a recreational role. In consideration of business matters, the American community utilizes online platforms to transact economic activities such as buying and selling (Treem et al. 779). Conversely, the above technology has contributed to the establishment of many businesses and it has supported entrepreneurship (Pernisco 16). On the other hand, social media serves as a tool of enjoyment and fun for the community members since many individuals use it while relaxing at their homes and during the breaks in the workplace. By considering the above information, it is clear that Americans benefits greatly from this scientific innovation. 

On the other, social media is negatively affecting the American community. To be specific, this innovation is accompanied by several problems including peer pressure, cyberbullying and privacy challenges (Shahjahan and Kutub 2012). In particular, social media is threatening privacy since individuals have adopted a trend of sharing other individuals’ geographical location on the internet. Nevertheless, social media has led to increased cyberbullying and peer pressure incidences where some people victimize their fellows through hate speech and rumor (Treem et al. 778). Also, some individuals have a tendency insulting others on social media with the aim of tarnishing their reputation.

Besides, social media acts as the foundation of incarnation, unreliable and false information. To illustrate, some persons post fake stories in their platforms with an aim of benefiting or depleting their fellows’ reputation (Pernisco 15). Undeniably, the unrealistic information spreads to million individuals very quickly, a thing that causes affect the victimized people in a negative manner. The social media is also associated with the increased cases of theft among various criminal acts (Amedie 13). At this point, people are downloads or copy some information from the internet and use it to transact illegal deals. 

To conclude, social media is widely used in the United States, hence, affecting the community in different ways. To be specific, this technology involves various platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ among others. However, social media is approved to be affecting Americans in negatives ways including identity theft, unreliable and false information, and causing privacy issues. Irrespective of this technology being associated with negative effects, it also leads to several advantages such as promoting communication and enhancing interaction between business individuals as well as serving recreational purposes. Indeed, people should use social media in a manner to benefit themselves rather than victimizing other individuals.

Works Cited

Amedie, Jacob. “The Impact of Social Media on Society, “2015, pp.1-20.

Shahjahan, A. T. M., and Kutub Uddin Chisty. “Social Media Research and Its Effect on Our Society.” International Journal of Social, Behavioral, Educational, Economic, Business and Industrial Engineering, vol. 8, no.6, 2014, pp. 2009-2013.

Pernisco, Nick. “Social Media Impact and Implications on Society.” Student Journal for Media Literacy Education, vol.1, no.1, 2010, pp. 1-17.

Treem, Jeffrey W., et al. “What We Are Talking About When We Talk About Social Media: A Framework for Study.” Sociology Compass, vol. 10, no.9, 2016, pp. 768-784.