Advantages of social media – One of the newest trend effects of the development of internet technology is social media. Social media is very popular in various circles, from children to those who are elderly. Some people use social media as a media campaign, or as a medium to increase personal popularity. Others use it as a medium for sales and other business uses. This is only one of the benefits of social media, but there are still many negative effects resulting from the use of social media.
In this article, we will look at the advantages of the development of internet technology, namely social networking. However, we will also accompany the drawbacks or bad effects of social networks. May be useful.
Advantages of Social Media
1. Facilitate Communication
With social networks, it’s now easier for everyone to communicate openly with anyone, anywhere. This means that it increases the chances of getting instant information from different parts of the world. So, social networking functions as a fast information medium.
2. Provide opportunities
One of the advantages of using social networking is that it makes it easier for someone to get lots of opportunities and ideas from friends in various places.
In the world of business, social networking is very useful, when everyone is always connected to each other, the opportunity to do business is very good.
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3. Broad audience
Social networks can reach many communities and can widely inform the world. Various announcements can be made very precisely through social networks. With social media, we can save a lot of time and energy and even money.
Through social media, advertisements can also be displayed either through personal pages or on a paid basis. In general, social media can help with rapid business development.
4. Playing social networks is great fun
Using social media or social networks provides its own fun. In America, the average person spends about 35 to 45 minutes a day. You might call this an addiction, but if you use it for useful things like getting information or building your business, it’s not a waste of time.
So, spending a few minutes on social media is normal, even humans are social creatures. So it’s only natural for them to connect and interact with each other on social media, especially with friends who are far away or with distant family.
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5. Social networks can develop a business brand
Social media is not only a means of pleasant commentary but also a medium for building and developing a company’s marketing. Many large companies use social networks for this.
Social networks can also be used to sell products directly or by directing buyers to company pages.
Now not only big companies are taking advantage of the existence of social networks, but also small companies are starting to move from here. Home businesses are also very profitable by utilizing social media or social networks, they can even survive and thrive from here. Not a few home companies have managed to become large companies thanks to social networks.
6. Helping students in learning
One of the advantages of social networking is that it helps students perform better at school. There were 3 out of 5 students who said they discussed educational topics on social networks when there was access to the internet.
Most of them can also consult their friends about school education, making it easier to get a lot of information and knowledge.
8. Social networks connect shy people to interact with others
Another advantage of using social media is that they can reduce embarrassment with someone when face to face, this is because he or she interacts on social media. Of course on social media, we are not shy to communicate, unlike the real world. Now, when interactions often occur on social media, he will no longer be embarrassed when face to face.
That is, using social media can make him more friendly and comfortable in interacting.
Many children, parents, and teens are not as good at socializing as some people, they can be helped with social networking. So, interacting on social networks provides comfort, makes someone more confident and dare to come up with ideas.
9. Older people can connect more with people thanks to social networks.
The elderly feel that the presence of social networks is very helpful for them in communicating with the outside world. They can interact with their families, children far away or just to entertain themselves by seeing funny pictures, videos and various latest news in various places.
In 2008, only 2% of the elderly used social networks. Now, however, it has grown to 35% in 2015. This development occurs thanks to the many benefits of social networking.
Disadvantages of Social Media
Not only does it benefit, but social media also carries many dangers and disadvantages, including:
1. Hacking
Internet hackers or criminals are always everywhere, including on social networks. It is possible for them to send spam or malicious links through their inbox, many social network users accidentally fall victim to them.
Virus attacks are also very likely to occur through social networks, computers that are not protected by anti-virus are potentially affected by this attack.
2. Data theft
Data theft such as e-mail, identity, account numbers, etc. often occurs in the online world. So, anyone who plays in this world without limits must be careful about using his identity and matters related to his financial account.
3. Time wastage
Apart from using social networks as a medium for business and hospitality, many also only use social networks as a vehicle for relaxing or playing games. It would be a waste of time with no value.
In fact, social networks are used to build profiles or develop creativity in order not to ignore something that is not important for one’s own advancement.
2. Privacy security issues
There are billions of data present on social networks, this causes one’s privacy to decrease every day. Groups that will agree when registering on social networks sometimes include permission to use your data without attribution, such as using your image or other data.
If you share your location on social networks, you may become a target for crime. In fact, if you share something your boss disapproves of, you could be fired from your job.
4. Some of them turn online crime to offline
When you meet someone online, it is possible that your relationship will continue offline. When you meet for real, there are a lot of things that can happen if you don’t know your friend in detail. You can be raped, robbed, or kidnapped by those with a vested interest. So, not being careful in using social networks can have fatal consequences.
5. Acting as a nuisance for some people
Did you know, if someone is distracted by social media used, it takes 25 minutes to refocus on the original task. How often do you look at social networks, check Facebook, check What App or other social networks, how many hours did you spend there and how many hours it took to refocus on your original task. You can lose 70 hours or even more in a month.
There are several ways to avoid checking your social networks too often. Try turning off social network notifications on your phone.
6. Disrupt your sleep cycle
One of the downsides of social networking is that it disrupts your sleep. When you sleep, do you fall asleep right away ?, No. You will definitely check your social networks again on your mobile. Now, when the brain is exposed to social networks, it will be very difficult for you to sleep, your brain presses you to continue to open social networks instead of having to sleep.
So, your brain will stimulate you to keep waiting for what your friends comment on social networks, even though you have to sleep, but your brain forces you not to sleep. It is very detrimental to your life in terms of the health of your body.
That is an explanation of the advantages of social networks and the losses that can occur due to negligence or carelessness in using social media.