Social media are interactive computer – assisted technologies that facilitate the
generation and exchange of information, and interests via virtual means and networks. Social
media can also be defined by using seven fundamental and functional building blocks namely
identity, conversations sharing, presence relationships, reputation and groups. Some of these
social media platforms include social networking(Facebook, LinkedIn and google),
microblogging ( twitter ,Tumblr), photo sharing ( Instagram, Snapchat, Pinterest and video
sharing (YouTube, Facebook live, Periscope).This platforms have enabled human beings
whom by a great extent are social beings to communicate ,share memories, reconnect with
friends and families and organize for events (McKenna et al. 2000). However, these social
media platforms have positive as well as negative impacts on real life communication. Social
networks have become the central facilitator for daily communication of man hence limiting
the interactions of human beings.
Findings.
Social media has some damaging effects on real life communication as it affects
majorly the communication skills when used in excess or in a manner that seems obsessively.
Secondly, it often elicits this normalized lessen social activity face to face interactions, as
individuals will associate social media communication as effective communication and then
in hand lessen the likelihood to have face to face interactions. Social media is also sabotaging
real life communication by limiting the frequency in which individuals interact and visit each
other (Junco et al. 2010). This is because some of these social media platforms have video
chatting and snap chatting options which creates in individuals a sense of seeing each other
faces and although not physical but they partially get to see each other.
With the increased love for these platforms that have nowadays become the source
of joy for all groups of people with teenagers and old couples not being left behind, it is
nowadays normal for individuals living under the same roof to spend hours without uttering a
word to each other. Reason being these social media networks. Many are times that even
parents forget that the aspect of talking to their kids after work is something that shouldn’t be
overlooked. Instead of advising their children or having constructive discussions with them,
they would rather stay engrossed to their phones, tablets or desktops, either watching videos,
sending voice notes, texts or snaps to their friends and colleagues at work (McKenna et al.
2000)
The education system in various countries has also played a great role in the
bringing down of the aspect of real-life communication. This is because of advancements in
technology and the need to support long distance learning which has led to the use of social
media platforms by lecturers to deliver content to their students .This in the long run denies
this student the opportunity to have real communications with their lectures and even fellow
students (Junco et al. 2010).
Some people also spend several hours per day browsing through social media.
attitude of spending too long on social networking sites results in affecting their moods.
NEGATIVE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON REAL LIFE
Research shows that chronic users of social media are more likely to report poor mental
health, including symptoms of anxiety and depression; this occurs when these individuals
start comparing themselves to other people hence becoming depressed. In the long run they
spend hours locked up in their rooms and avoid even their friends and relatives and hence
real-life communication is crippled.
Before social media, bullying was something that was only possible to commit
face- to- face. Today, everyone is aware of cyberbullying and most of us has seen how it can
damage an individual’s life. It is very unfortunate that while social media makes it easier to
meet new people, it also enables cruel people to reap into other people’s little effort. Frontiers
of bullying can use the anonymity that comes with these social media platforms to gain
peoples trust and when they happen to know meet face to face blackmail them even and even
terrorize them in front of their peers. For instance, they might create a fake profile online and
act friendly to a peer online then when they happen to meet later on in person betray and
embarrass them offline. These kinds of attacks always leave deep mental scars and even drive
people to avoid real life discussions and talks in the fear of being intimidated or seen as a
jerk.
Most social sites have a severe lack of online authenticity as people use snapchats to
share their sweet memories and exciting moments, post about how they love their significant
other on Facebook and yet this is not a true reflection of themselves, but at the end of the cay
when the chips are down the true reflections of who they are finally hit them and they are left
to keep quiet to themselves.
Lastly, self-esteem and self-confidence are negatively affected often through social
media, through unrealistic expectations that are viewed .This is often seen in social media
platforms such as Instagram, where individuals tend to pose pimp and high class lives that
they actually don’t live making some individuals who are afraid of stigma keeping off from
them (Junco et al. 2010). This in hand affects communication skills leaving individuals with
negative feelings about themselves and hindering their communication with others, as
internally are struggling and not feeling adequate. That impact on self-esteem and isolation is
part of the reason that increased social media usage has been associated with depressive
symptoms. If you're constantly comparing your life to a picture-perfect image that others put
forth on social media, you might not feel good about yourself, and you may be more likely to
develop depression.
Conclusion
Although social media can help to improve an individual’s sense of connectedness
with real and online communities, the fact that it has crippled real life communication is a
fact that cannot be disputed .The negative interactions it has triggered can be seen in the way
it has starved the family and society of learning and modelling with each other social cues
,interpersonal relationship skills ,communication skills and bounding.
NEGATIVE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON REAL LIFE
REFERENCES.
Junco, Reynol, and Arthur W. Chickering. "Civil discourse in the age of social media." About
Campus 15.4 (2010): 12-18.
McKenna, Katelyn YA, and John A. Bargh. "Plan 9 from cyberspace: The implications of the
Internet for personality and social psychology." Personality and social psychology review 4.1
(2000): 57-75.
NEGATIVE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON REAL LIFE