Social media isn't inherently good or bad; however, how it is used can
make it harmful. There are many good things about social media, it
promotes connection with family that may live far away, and it can be
a good forum for discussion. Social media can negatively impact some
people through group polarization and a distorted sense of self-worth.
Social Media favor the emergence of polarizing echo-chambers that
reduce users' exposure to diverse information (Iandoli et al., 2021).
This quote explains how, when using social media, people tend to
friend those that share their values and viewpoints. No alternate
information is offered when a person starts a discussion with those of
similar views. Their ideas are just repeated or echoed back. This can
facilitate spreading false information, fake news, or conspiracies
without basis. For example, if an anti-vaxxer mom joins a Facebook
group with other people that don't believe in vaccines, they are
unlikely to discuss that vaccines do not cause autism.
Social media can distort a person's sense of self-worth or self-image.
People viewing their thin and attractive friends may suffer from
eating disorders by trying to make themselves look like their friends.
When people see posts of their friends doing well, they may wonder
what they are doing wrong with their lives to not be as well off as
their friends. According to Strubel (2018), these comparisons are
even more dangerous than comparing oneself to a celebrity as they
are more relevant and ubiquitous.
Group polarization can significantly impact programmatic themes
such as social justice and ethics. Ideas are not always ethical or just
because a group of people believes them to be so. A damaged sense
of self-image can cause a person to neglect their self-care as if they
believe they are not worthy of caring for themselves. With a high
level of emotional intelligence, a person can avoid these pitfalls in
social media; knowing their bias and having an open mind and a good
sense of self should protect them from the negative impacts of social
media.
Iandoli, L., Primario, S., & Zollo, G. (2021). The impact of group
polarization on the quality of online debate in social media: A
systematic literature review.
Technological Forecasting & Social
Change
,
170
. https://doi-
org.ezproxy.snhu.edu/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120924
