Social Media

Social media is a term for websites and applications that allow users to share information and communicate with other users in a "social" setting. They typically offer both a public forum for speech, where users can publish their thoughts, ideas, concerns, etc. as well as a private messaging mechanism enabling private conversations between two or more individuals. Most support media sharing as well, in the form of images and videos.

Characteristics of Users[edit]

Unfortunately, many users become addicted to such sites. 2010 statistics for Facebook show users spend more than 928 million hours per month playing online games.^[1] This addictive behavior results in:

• depression^[2]
• lower academic and job-related achievement by those who spend time there^{[Citation Needed]}
• interference with the development of good, lasting relationships
• displacement of healthy social gatherings^[3]
• increased likelihood of divorce^[4]
• higher exposure to cyberbullying and other online threats.^[5]

Social media experts and psychologists have noted that many users find the need to constantly update their status, check on the status of others or play games suffer from what is known as "Facebook Addiction Disorder." The "disorder" was shown to be prevalent in young people, as a study showed that college students who were asked to abstain from using Facebook for 24 hours experienced helplessness, loneliness, and anxiety.^[6]

Some school districts—most notably New York City's -- have limited contact by public school teachers with students on Facebook and Twitter, except on pages set up for classroom use.^[7]

Criticism of Social Media[edit]

See also: Social media censorship

Liberal censorship became rampant on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, causing many to look for alternatives.

Despite several social media websites boasting large numbers of users, active user percentages have slowed or declined in recent times. For example, Facebook reported only a 1.7% month to month increase in active users.^[8] Social media critics have noted that these sites often promote "hive-mind" behavior, where many users band together behind one ideology, usually liberalism. In June 2011, users of the website Reddit crashed White House phone lines during a campaign calling for the legalisation of drugs.^[9]

Benefits of Social Media[edit]

Republicans and conservatives have been able to utilize the social media site Twitter more than their Democratic counterparts. Success of Tea Party rallies are a result of organizers utilizing social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to engage volunteers and spread the word.^[10]

Employers have also used social media sites to vet potential employees, particularly to see if potential hires have engaged in sexist or racist commentary or displayed photos of illegal activities.^[11]

Politicians who embrace Facebook seem to enjoy a short-term boost in popularity followed by a long-term decline in credibility.^[12]

Various Social Media Sites[edit]

• Facebook
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
• Discord
• MySpace
• YouTube
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Reddit
• Blogger (formerly BlogSpot)
• World eSquare^[13]
• Gab
• Parlor
• Google Plus (defunct)

See also[edit]

• Google
• Yahoo and My Yahoo
• Edward J. Snowden
• Unalienable rights of the Bill of Rights: First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, Fifth Amendment
• Right to Privacy and Common law privacy rights
• Social media and social ostracism of atheists
• Donald Trump and social media

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Social Media partly responsible in the rise of narcissism among college freshman.
• Priest cautions flock against allowing children on Facebook
• Ask Matt Labash: The social media scourge, embracing the new dumbness, and keeping America mediocre