Did you know that a person spends an average of 147 minutes of their day on social media? This is according to the BroadbandSearch page with the latest updates. That is 2 minutes more compared to an average of 145 minutes in 2021.
Who can say in all honesty, that they can go a whole 24 hours without using their phones – for anything? Certainly not me!
“Just no!” This was Ashley Botha’s (25) response when asked if she would be able to forgo checking her social media on a daily basis. Johanco (24) uses his social media platforms even less compared to in 2020 and only to stay up to date on the news. “I can go without social media for weeks, but I still use Whatsapp daily.”
Everyone knows what social media is. You must be living under a rock if you do not know. According to Oxford languages, social media are the websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking.
How does social media influence our lives? I do not think we realise how much of an impact social media has on us. It determines the way we dress, the way we talk to our friends – even the way we interpret things.
“I think our society is dictated by social media. If we want any information on something or someone, we head over to social media in order to gain more information about it or them.” This is according to Maria (24 yr), who also makes use of social media on a daily basis.
Like most things, social media has its flaws. Let’s look at the following benefits of using social media 1) It enables users to communicate and staying up to date with friends and family around the world has never been easier. 2) Social media helps you find new friends and communities. 3) It makes the world seem smaller. 4) Social media helps news travel faster. 5) It makes it possible to network with people who have similar interests and opinions.
In contrast, 1) multiple studies have found a link between heavy social media use and increased risk for depression and anxiety. 2) Greater chances of cyberbullying (E.g. Ashley mentioned that the NGL link on Instagram make it easier for bullies to stay anonymous.) 3) Students with bad posture, eye strain, physical and mental stress. 4) Risk of identity theft and lastly 5) the invasion of privacy.
“I find it difficult to go a day without wanting to check social media. Being an introvert combined with the fact that I bore easily – one can understand that I move from one platform to the next like a bee moves from one pollinated flower to the next.” Maria Meyer (24 yrs)
The generation of today, having interviewed a few people – as well as my own knowledge and experiences – is dependent on social media. It gives us a sense of belonging as well as interacting with friends and family, including strangers and staying abreast of news and developments of the world at large to the detriment of face-to-face interaction among people.
