Social networking sites, for instance, Facebook, are believed to have a negative impact on individuals and society by many. Personally, I am in support of this statement, viewing social networking sites as a threat to personal image and views on society.
As utilization of social media increases, new users join these platforms every day. People share updates about their lives by posting them on social media platforms, then other individuals view them and may feel envy, growing insecure about their status by comparing themselves to others who may be more successful. This damages their personal image, essentially leading to their becoming insecure about their bodies, social status, and other aspects of their lives. Another thing to note is that the sharers also feel pressure to gain a huge following and to get more likes on their posts, comparing their social media achievements with others. Ultimately, this leads them to focus on their social networking accounts, neglecting other important tasks.
As for the negative impacts on society, social media can ruin others’ images with false accusations and faulty information spreading around. Whether it is a celebrity known by many or a typical person, it damages their reputation among others, making them a taboo in society. What is more, with people spending more time on social media, physical human interaction has become rare. Due to people isolating themselves, mental health issues have become ubiquitous in society. Lastly, these platforms sometimes provide graphic and inappropriate information, and children may be subjected to it. Therefore, acceptance of inappropriate information grows widely, affecting society generationally, as information can be hereditary.
In conclusion, social networking sites have affected both individuals and society negatively to some extent, and without further action being taken against them, they may continue to spread harm.