So far people have done well hyping up the issues of social media without mentioning the benefits. Nowadays, people are digitally entangled in one way or another. Social media sites are now a gateway to the lives of those who choose to use it. For this article, we gathered some answers from a study that looked into the top ten reasons why we use social networks and compared it to some of our own. Therefore, let us look at people’s social media habits and experiences and see what they have to say on the matter.
Habits and Experiences
Amna Al Hammadi enjoys surfing Instagram and Snapchat. “I like to post about my daily life and enjoy seeing what others are up to as well,” she said. Amna’s favorite social media habits are viewing, liking, and commenting on other people’s posts.
Hessa Al-Attiya, on the other hand, likes to be more specific when sharing about her day. “I like to let people in on what I’m doing at times. Like if I’m drinking tea or at the mall hanging out,” she said. However, when Hessa is not enlightening her followers on the benefits of tea, she is bouncing from one social media platform to the next to pass the time. “It allows me to escape boredom,” she said. Similarly, 39 percent said they use social media to fill up spare time, which is the third reason on the list, according to the study. Out of all the popular social sites, Twitter is the one Hessa is drawn to the most. “I have a “secret” account where I can speak freely and complain about stuff without family members knowing,” she revealed. 30 percent said they use social media to share their opinion, which ranks at number eight on the list, as stated by the study.
Advantages
Amna mainly uses social media to stay connected with friends and family. “It keeps me updated with what is going on in the world and in people’s lives,” she said. Like Amna, Hessa is also hoping it will bring her closer to those who are not around her. “It helps me connect with my friends and family, not to mention celebrities, to see what they are up to,” she remarked. According to the study, it is the number one reason on the list with 42 percent saying they use it to stay in touch with what friends are doing.
Amna finds less visual media-oriented apps like WhatsApp advantageous as it speeds up communication, which is why she added the app to her social media repertoire. “Not that you can’t do that on Instagram and snapchat,” she said. “I just appreciate the convenience of not having to get distracted by content people post.”
Sharing something about yourself and your journey on social media can be a fulfilling experience, Amna said, which corresponds with reason number seven, with 32 percent respondents saying they use it to share photos or videos with others. According to Amna, “giving out nice comments to people encourages them be confident about themselves, especially if they decide to post selfies.”
Disadvantages
Of course, we cannot conclude without touching upon the negative aspect of social media. Although for many people online, staying in cyberspace makes for a better reality, Amna admits social media can have its drawbacks. “It is addictive and there are a lot of people out there who can be rude,” she said. Like with all good things, social media can be misused. For example, Amna believes that cyberbullying is an issue on social networks that might seriously affect someone’s life. “Posting negative comments about a person’s appearance could lower their self-schema, self-love, and self-confidence,” she said. “Which ultimately could lead to depression or even suicide.”
A person could connect with others on social media platforms with just a click of a button, but they would end up disconnecting with the ones who are right beside them. Hessa dislikes the fact that social media is pulling her away from her family. “The worst part about it would have to be getting distracted when I’m sitting with family or even “trying” to do homework,” she admitted. “I feel the need to check my social media.”
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