With social media usage growing by leaps and bounds, its benefits have become the subject of a significant debate. While many people believe that these platforms contribute to vibrancy of life and strengthening interpersonal relationships, I do consider that the drawbacks such as losing your bearings regarding self-worth and escaping into virtual reality, significantly outweigh the benefits.
Those who advocate social media argue that it enables people to develop by obtaining a plethora of new fields such as content creation, online marketing, freelancing. All generations now have access to remote work and more liberty to discover various corners of the world and broaden their horizons as well as outlook. Furthermore, the distance no longer poses a threat to any kind of relationships. Spouses, your dearest and nearest and friends are only one video call away, which facilitates maintaining sustainable connections.
Nevertheless, society fails to address the root causes of image distortion, low self-esteem and the mental health problems such as eating disorder, depression, attention deficit and dysmorphia, that social media has given rise to. Were it not for myriads of content creators occurring, both males and females would not suffer from drawing comparisons and meeting beauty standards propagandised by aesthetics clinics and celebrities. Moreover, the luxurious lifestyle demonstrated by influencers contributes to the youth taking up numerous jobs, struggling with burn out and acquiring a rather difficult medical condition such as depression.
In conclusion, undoubtedly, social media platforms bring various opportunities to our daily life. They have revolutionised communication and information sharing. However, it happens at an expense of our well-being. That is why, establishing regulations and restrictions, added to systematic psychological check-ups would maximise its benefits while minimising the harmful effects.