Social media apps are interactive digital channels that allow people to share information, ideas, and other kinds of expression through virtual communities and networks. While virtual interaction on social media does not have the same psychological benefits as face-to-face contact, it can help you stay connected and improve your well-being in various ways. However, many people debate whether social media has a positive or negative impact on society; there are many proven ways that social media has its strengths and flaws. In January 2022, Facebook alone had an average of 3 million users, making it one of the most popular social networking networks. Facebook is just one of many social media platforms; other platforms such as Youtube, Instagram, Snapchat, and much more. 

Although social media is commonly recognized as an inadequate tool for children and society, some examples have proven that social media can be advantageous to society. It has the potential to help people connect and strengthen their connections. Individuals, communities, and organizations can share, co-create, discuss, participate in, and edit user-generated or self-curated content online due to their interactions with various electronic services. Furthermore, social media is used to chronicle memories, learn about and discover new things, advertise oneself, create friendships, and develop ideas through the creation of blogs, podcasts, films, and gaming sites. 

Supporters also claim that social media is a powerful marketing tool, with offers that have incredible benefits for businesses of all kinds. It is a great way to market your items, establish an engaged following, and convert leads into paying consumers. Social media helps marketers be more informed of their targeted consumers or audiences, likes, dislikes, and interests to create better marketing strategies to produce the product that satisfies and attracts buyers. 

The expanded area of technological self-studies focuses on the developing relationship between humans and technology. Students are also encouraged to study and grow through social media. Social media is a way to increase your knowledge and is a great way to deepen your knowledge. It is also straightforward to use, which is a significant benefit for people while also being able to provide factual information. Social media is an excellent way for people to expand their knowledge and a way to connect with others. 

Along with the good comes the bad. With all of its benefits, the nature of social media presents a range of potential issues. Social Media has been shown and proven to have a negative impact on things like our moods and stress levels. "Social media itself is not the problem. It is the way people use it in place of actual communication and in-person socializing. "Friends" on social media may not be friends and may even be strangers. (add in-text citation)" For example, feeling insecure about yourself can lead to depression and stress, such as anxiety. For instance, the images you see on social media are mostly edited; they can still make you feel insecure about your appearance or what is going on in your life. People only talk about the good times in their lives, rarely about the bad times that everyone goes through. 

Although social media can boost your confidence, it can also harm your mental health. Humans must have face-to-face contact in order to be mentally healthy. The more time you spend on social media rather than in in-person relationships, the more likely you will develop mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. 

Another way that social media could be disadvantageous to society is because it could potentially distract you from work or school or make you angry, envious, or depressed. The first graph, Social Media Platforms Used by US Kids in 2020, shows a three-year increase in percentages. In 2017, YouTube had a 70% rate, and three years later, the rate increased by 16%. This demonstrates that more people are starting to use social media platforms over the years. ‌More time spent on social media can lead to cyberbullying, social anxiety, depression, and exposure to content that is not age-appropriate. 

Furthermore, social media can be very addicting; When you play a game or complete a task, you seek to complete it as well as possible. When you succeed, your brain releases dopamine and other happiness hormones, making you happy. The same is done when you upload a photo on Instagram or Facebook; the exact mechanism is at work. You will subconsciously consider it a reward once you see all the notifications for likes and positive comments appear on your screen. However, that is not all; social media is full of mood-modifying experiences. Addiction can potentially decrease your vision because of the majority of the time you spend in front of your electronics. "Digital eye strain frequently causes dry eyes and places an additional strain on the muscles that help the eye focus. Henderson" Furthermore, when looking at digital devices, the eyes do not blink as frequently, resulting in faster disruption and evaporation of the tear film that protects the eye's surface. This is why your eyes resist being kept open whenever you stop looking at your digital devices. 

Social media is a strong revolution that has altered our lives in many ways, including how we socialize, conduct business, participate in politics, etc. “Social media itself is not the problem. It is the way people use it in place of actual communication and in-person socializing. ‘Friends’ on social media may not actually be friends, and may even be strangers.” I completely agree with this. Social media is just a way to connect with better people and talk to others whenever they are not around. Nevertheless, as the saying goes, "with great power comes great responsibility." People however abuse this. People start taking advantage of socializing online, without even going out. They utilize socializing online instead of proper communication and face-to-face interactions, which leads to consequences such as the cons I mentioned earlier. Coming back to the essential question, "Does Social Media Have a Positive Impact on the World?" Yes, social media has a positive impact on the world. "Social media originated to interact with friends and family," said Maya Dollarhide. Later on, due to how people utilize social media, humans still continue to use it irresponsibly, which was not the intention of the creation of social media.  

Works Cited

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Rubio, Alex. "3 Reasons Social Media Is a Powerful Tool in Your Marketing Strategy." Medium, 18 Mar. 2019, medium.com/@spsdgtl/3-reasons-social-media-is-a-powerful-tool-in-  your-marketing-strategy-3c76cb44e946. Accessed 19 May 2022.

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Mayo, Clinic. "Teens and Social Media Use: What's the Impact?" Mayo Clinic, Teens and social media use: What's the impact?

Alan, Summer. "Social Media's Growing Impact on Our Lives." American Psychological Association, 20 Sept. 2019, www.apa.org/members/content/social-media-research. Accessed 16 May 2022.

Henderson, Gary. "The Importance of Social Media Marketing." Digital Marketing, 2 July 2020, digitalmarketing.org/blog/the-importance-of-social-media-marketing#:~:text=Social%20media%20networks%20are%20open,strategy%20to%20attract%20such%20customers. Accessed 19 May 2022.

Robinson, Lawrence, and Melinda Smith. "Social Media and Mental Health." HelpGuide, 1 Oct. 2021, www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health. htm#:~:text=The%20positive%20aspects%20of%20social%20media&text=Social%20media%20enables%20you%20to,raise%20awareness%20on%20important%20issues. Accessed 13 May 2022.