In recent years, social media has become an effective tool for people to stay connected and informed, replacing traditional means of communication. While there are evident advantages to this shift, I believe those over overshadowed by the disadvantages as they may affect the ability of face-to-face communication.
On the one hand, advocates for the trend of using social media are attributed to two main reasons. Firstly, social networking sites facilitate communication and interaction among family members and friends. For example, there are a plethora of apps such as Zalo, Messenger where users can engage video and audio conversations without any costs or geographical constraints. Secondly, social media may contribute to the development of soft skills. Many educational platforms such as Duolingo offer a range of services that allow users to practice and learn new lessons on a daily basis, thereby enriching their vocabulary. As a result, people will gain confidence to communicate face-to-face and speak in public.
On the other hand, I believe that people may be addicted to online entertainment due to excessive exposure to online content. Be spending too much time on virtual platforms, people might avoid engaging in real-life communication and choose to lead a sedentary life at home. Furthermore, with the prevalence of online apps, most people choose to communicate by sending emails or texts as this types of communication allow them to delete and alter the sentences while speaking requires them to express their ideas instantly and react to situations quickly.
In conclusion, although the accessibility of social media platforms fosters communication and engagement, I still hold the view that this acts as a factor that deters people’s ability to effectively engage in face-to-face communication.