Is social media reinforcing the worse aspects of people?

[strangerhypno]

This might be an unpopular opinion but in my experience, it seems to only reinforce narcissism, short attention span and bandwagons and all sorts of other not so great traits. People posting things for likes and attention, celebrities getting worshiped, people mindlessly scrolling through things for cheap entertainment, people replacing news with social media, opinions being regurgitated all over. I asked a guy I knew a few years back why he used social media and he said because everyone else is doing it.

I'm also talking about the general population so I guess it's to be expected that nothing really thoughtful comes out of social media. I'm not saying it makes you a bad or dumb person, so sorry if it does offend anyone on here that uses it.

Feel free to counter argue my points or agree or discuss.

 

[peter McLightning]

Your topic is confusing. BTW, my answer is no.

 

[LDSman]

The internet is a mixed bag. People can use it to do great things like fundraising and finding missing persons or it can be tear people down. Part of the issue is the anonymity of the net. Some people do or say things that they wouldn?t dare in real life. Social media can allow people to find like minded individuals and not feel so alone or it allows assholes to reinforce negative/destructive behaviors that harm others.

 

[Vragon2.0]

The internet is a mixed bag. People can use it to do great things like fundraising and finding missing persons or it can be tear people down. Part of the issue is the anonymity of the net. Some people do or say things that they wouldn?t dare in real life. Social media can allow people to find like minded individuals and not feel so alone or it allows assholes to reinforce negative/destructive behaviors that harm others.

There's also the aspect of how it makes things accessible now, and how that's been engrained in our society. Now this isn't a bad thing, hell it's great to get things now and being able to know what's going on right when/as it's going on. The issue that comes with it though is either, jumping the gun or wanting a solution to come or whatnot. Now this also has benefits, but it kinda has affected a lot of patience and all. You see some news put on youtube or a vid "calling out" someone and many people jumping in saying "Yeah, it's true and all" and not too many of them dig more for it. It's like judge, jury and executioner all in a few moments.

Like many other things, social media is a tool. I think it as a concept and itself isn't a contribution to it as much as it is people (and not all mind you) letting it affect their lives to a point of that. Does it have some affects in society like time stamps and all, perhaps, but at the same time if we're going to say it brings out the worst in us, then we'd need to show that it does. And while it does make it more visual or noticeable, it doesn't really mean people weren't like that to begin with just not as known or well...as quickly done.

 

[gimmepie]

I'll do a longer post when I have my laptop again but the bottom line is that social media is an amazing communication tool. I would say more than being inherently bad it's a double-edged sword that maximizes all aspects of communication. The issue is that as a society we only started realising just how powerful a tool it was once it was already ingrained in our lives.

 

[LDSman]

I'll do a longer post when I have my laptop again but the bottom line is that social media is an amazing communication tool. I would say more than being inherently bad it's a double-edged sword that maximizes all aspects of communication. The issue is that as a society we only started realising just how powerful a tool it was once it was already ingrained in our lives.

The technology is increasing faster than society and the laws can keep up with.

 

[Corrin]

Positive:
? You can meet like minded people and make friends
? With more people around, it's easier to find good people to spend time with

Negative:
? If one spends all their time online and none in the real world, their views become distorted
? The amount of people who see you as just a screen name and not a person
? The ability to form really nasty communities

 

[Trev]

The issue isn't social media, it's the people using it. Social media as a concept and as it is works fine when used responsibly. The issue is that some people don't use it responsibly and are horrible to others.

Now, in that same vein, it does raise the question of how we prevent people like this from using social media. And honestly? I couldn't even answer that question because that requires an incredibly complex solution. (Though I wouldn't mind a ban on certain slurs...)

 

[Kai]

Social media supports good and bad behavior.

 

[gimmepie]

Social media supports good and bad behavior.

I don't think this is entirely correct. I think it'd be more accurate to say that social media is a neutral technology that magnifies all communication and it does that job very well. It doesn't support any specific kind of behavior at all imo.

Similar outcome but I feel like it's an important distinction that helps stop us shifting the blame from shitty people's actions onto a third party.

 

[curiousnathan]

I don't think this is entirely correct. I think it'd be more accurate to say that social media is a neutral technology that magnifies all communication and it does that job very well. It doesn't support any specific kind of behavior at all imo.

Similar outcome but I feel like it's an important distinction that helps stop us shifting the blame from shitty people's actions onto a third party.

This is a good point. Social media gives back what we put into it (even if not at the same scale). It gives us the capacity to construct positive and negative environments and propagate them ten, hundred, thousand etc. fold. but I wouldn't say it itself reinforces negative aspects of people.

 

[CrimsonMajestic]

I don't think this is entirely correct. I think it'd be more accurate to say that social media is a neutral technology that magnifies all communication and it does that job very well.

Ideally, I agree with that social media merely as a communication tool that has an amplifying effect. However, when developers of these large social media corporations (such as Facebook & Twitter) are skewing their algorithms to prevent so-called fake news from appearing on your news feed, and/or anything that they would consider propaganda not serving their political interests (e.g. Russian propaganda, Trump supporters, conspiracy theory etc.) funny things tend to happen on these platforms which have trickle effects on the large-scale of the society we are living in.

Heck, the fact that Mark Zuckerberg had to testify in front of Congress regarding the alledged Cambridge Analytica, and not 'Jack' from Twitter is having to testify regarding the alleged targeting of the political right via shadowbanning should speak volumes to this.

 

[LadyJirachu]

I don't really know how to answer this, due to my hang ups about stereo types, BUT I'LL SAY ONE THING.

I've met amour shippers on social medias (forums)......who only want to be bullies to me and my friends :/

So, if social media is effecting anyone badly, at least, amour shipping seems like a culprit for their actions in the process.

I'd like to think not all amour shippers are awful people though. I don't really understand how liking something like a love pair could even BRING out the worst in people O_o; but the awful behavier does not make me very fond of the pair at all.

 

[Greninja use Water Shuriken!]

I don't really know how to answer this, due to my hang ups about stereo types, BUT I'LL SAY ONE THING.

I've met amour shippers on social medias (forums)......who only want to be bullies to me and my friends :/

So, if social media is effecting anyone badly, at least, amour shipping seems like a culprit for their actions in the process.

I'd like to think not all amour shippers are awful people though. I don't really understand how liking something like a love pair could even BRING out the worst in people O_o; but the awful behavier does not make me very fond of the pair at all.

I agree, AmourShippers are so sensitive to the point of being so toxic.
A Pokemon XY writer from the dance episode in XYZ, received death threats from Amourshippers, just because Ash and Serena didn't dance.

Not all Amourshippers are bad and annoying tho, some are quite nice, I am friends with some.

 

[Vragon2.0]

I don't really know how to answer this, due to my hang ups about stereo types, BUT I'LL SAY ONE THING.

I've met amour shippers on social medias (forums)......who only want to be bullies to me and my friends :/

So, if social media is effecting anyone badly, at least, amour shipping seems like a culprit for their actions in the process.

I'd like to think not all amour shippers are awful people though. I don't really understand how liking something like a love pair could even BRING out the worst in people O_o; but the awful behavier does not make me very fond of the pair at all.

I agree, AmourShippers are so sensitive to the point of being so toxic.
A Pokemon XY writer from the dance episode in XYZ, received death threats from Amourshippers, just because Ash and Serena didn't dance.

Not all Amourshippers are bad and annoying tho, some are quite nice, I am friends with some

Okay, but how does that relate to social media being the 'cause for this? I can say that there are people like this, but does that mean social media is reinforcing this nature or just being a tool that's can be used by anyone to talk to others they'll never meet in real life?

Social media is more the question, so let me ask you this. Regarding amourshipping, do you think that is aids in them having this immaturish behavior in allowing it to grow in them?

 

[Yue Han]

I like how the thread title is worded rather than just "Is social media bad?".

It definitely enables us to be able to display certain behaviours many people wouldn't otherwise.

Social media is amazing. It has made the world more connected than ever before and that, to me, is a good thing. But of course from being so connected at the click of a button some people argue that being so connected online makes real life encounters happen less often and is destroying what it means to be social. It's definitely a valid argument to be sure. Of course you can always make a counter argument and say it has enabled people that are not very good at socialising, or are bound to their abode for long times, for whatever reason to become more social than they ever would have had the chance to before.

It allows us to fish for attention from others easier than in the past. No one is going to stand on a podium in the middle of town and make a statement as general as "I had the worst day ever..." and wait for someone to come up to them and ask about it. That kind of behaviour in real life situations would be seen as highly abnormal. Whereas on Facebook or whatever other platform that happens often with certain personality types and isn't a social taboo.

It allows us to portray ourselves exactly how we like to the world, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. But you do get people that like to exaggerate to a point in which the scale may tip from exaggerated reality to complete fantasy. That's more harmful for them in the long term than anything else.

Social media right now is still very young in the grand scheme of things so I'd say it's still too early to be able to make a concrete argument for or against its existence. But with a world constantly becoming more and more connected, the creation of social media, in my opinion, was always going to be an inevitable thing.

 

[Miss Wendighost]

I believe that there are both pros and cons to social media. For some pros, you can connect with friends and family, share your love for a fandom (as evidenced by this site) and meet new people. For some cons, there is the possibility of hacking (as we have seen in recent years), harassment and trolls.

 

[CrimsonMajestic]

I like how the thread title is worded rather than just "Is social media bad?".

Indeed; social media does not possess sentience (and morals as a result), despite what some may argue.

It definitely enables us to be able to display certain behaviours many people wouldn't otherwise.

I would account this due to not having to physically connect with others when interacting on social media; thus not having to feel each other's vibe, which could serve useful for keeping each other socially account without having to utilize a coercive force such as The State.

Social media is amazing. It has made the world more connected than ever before and that, to me, is a good thing. But of course from being so connected at the click of a button some people argue that being so connected online makes real life encounters happen less often and is destroying what it means to be social. It's definitely a valid argument to be sure. Of course you can always make a counter argument and say it has enabled people that are not very good at socialising, or are bound to their abode for long times, for whatever reason to become more social than they ever would have had the chance to before.

I suppose one way put would be that social media can also as a social simulation (like this forum) where those who could be considered inadequate in physical social encounters can practice interacting with others without having to suffer too many consequences (in a more safe environment, if you will). Mind you, this exercise is not limited toward those who would be considered socially retarded. Though, if you use social media to overcompensate lack of real social skills you will most likely atrophy over time, and probably even lash out as if you fall under the autism spectrum disorder gradient.

It allows us to fish for attention from others easier than in the past.

In doing so allows us to extend our social boundaries beyond our biological limitations. That is not to say this should "replace our humanity" but rather to supplement it as a tool.

No one is going to stand on a podium in the middle of town and make a statement as general as "I had the worst day ever..." and wait for someone to come up to them and ask about it. That kind of behaviour in real life situations would be seen as highly abnormal. Whereas on Facebook or whatever other platform that happens often with certain personality types and isn't a social taboo.

Over time, this could very well be a possibility in reality---hopefully without excessive noise that would imply from ALL CAPPED comments & colored font.

But with a world constantly becoming more and more connected, the creation of social media, in my opinion, was always going to be an inevitable thing.

With that, it will prove difficult for central-planners to legislate the idea of increasing (decentralized) connections.

 

[pastelspectre]

well i think it can or it can't depending on how you use it. for me, i try to use it to promote positivity and happiness and all that stuff. i know many people though who use it for the wrong reasons, like getting back at people or to be rude and mean and bully people. i think it all depends on how the person decides to use social media.

 

[Silver_Dreamer]

My experience with social media is minimal, so take all of this with a grain of salt.

I never really got into social media. I made a facebook account because my friends were on it and college was right around the corner, so I wanted to keep in touch with those going away. The thing is, PMs and group chats were very rare and there were few meaningful posts/updates/whatever. There were so many random quizzes, pics, and game/app advertisements invites that it felt meaningless. I also felt awkward declining friend requests from people I know, but was not friends with nor was interested in becoming friends with. So I just stopped using it. Finally bothered to delete my account earlier this year.

I believe the users of social media can reinforce both positive and negative behavior. There are so many good things that happened, and will continue to happen, because the average person can reach a wide audience. There are also so many people getting harassed on these platforms it really makes me wonder about humanity.

I also believe the social media platform itself can reinforce unhealthy behavior. By trying to give the user an experience they want, social media tends to create echo chambers. The user would need to seek out conflicting information on their own, which not everyone does. This not only allows other people to negatively influence the user, but also encourages the user to be a passive consumer of information. Not really knowing where it comes from, just expecting it to show up and framed in an agreeable way. If the user hasn't learned/isn't learning how to compromise, debate, and/or disagree in a healthy way, it can harm their development as a person.

Social media is also designed to be addictive. Some games are also designed this way, for transparency's sake. All those likes, follows, etc release dopamine and can train the brain to keep seeking those feelings and continue using the platform. This could also increase stress because, ultimately, the desired response (likes, positive reception, sympathy, backlash, etc) and the quantity isn't guaranteed. Repeatedly receiving undesirable outcomes could cause or reinforce things like low self esteem, depression, or aggressive behavior. This is more of a "worst case scenario" line of thinking and I doubt that most social media users experience this.

Basically, I don't believe it's just the users of social media that make it positive or negative, how the platform is designed can influence it's users.

Also, I agree with LDSman, the law has yet to catch up to technology.