Social media are interactive technologies that simplify the creation and sharing of content, ideas, interests, and other forms of expression through online communities and networks.

 Social media platforms are often classified into six categories: social networking, social bookmarking, social news, media sharing, microblogging, and online forums. 
        

​​​​​IMPACTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA:

​​​​Social media can affect us both positively and negatively by the way we use it.

POSITIVE IMPACTS :

ON THE CHILDREN/TEENAGERS:
​​​​​​Using social media and the internet help children with their learning. The Internet has given us access to huge amounts of quality information, and social media is a great tool for finding and sharing quality information. Children can find different types of information about the topics they are learning at school and the topics they are interested in. Children can also connect with experts and get help from them through social media.

• They can learn through social media by:
Reading articles,asking questions,replying to posts, watching video tutorials.

• A majority of teenagers who spent time in online groups said that those groups helped them meet new people, feel more accepted, work through their feelings on important issues and get through tough times in their life.

• In general, social media groups can provide:
A sense of belonging and community,access to support from like-minded individuals,an appreciation of different perspectives.

 IN THE WORK/BUSINESS FIELD:
Social media has had a significant impact on recruitment and hiring. Professional social networks such as LinkedIn are important platforms for the people trying to stand out in their profession. They allow people to design and market one's own brand.

• It's the best place to showcase our talents and get acknowledged by people with like minds.

• For businesses, social media has become a major marketing tool. Companies use it to find their desired customers, drive sales through advertising and promotion, and identify fast-moving consumer trends.

​​​​​NEGATIVE IMPACTS:

• Cyberbullying
People, particularly children, have been victims of cybercrimes where threats, fraud, and other negative activities easily entrap them. Fake news and rumors spread easily, leading to depression and suicide.

•Hacking
The susceptibility of social media has also demonstrated how easy it is to gather a person's data. Privacy settings must be constantly renovated and profile locked to abstain from such circumstances.

•Addiction
A serious issue among youth social media addiction has led to devastating consequences. While checking social media and using the smartphone in self restraint is not bad, productive time and energy are dissipated due to overuse.

USES OF SOCIAL MEDIA: 

• Awareness: It is a source of information and it covers global events making people more aware of their surroundings.

• Connectivity: Connectivity is among the most remarkable benefits of social media. It can link various users at any time, everywhere. Information could be spread worldwide through social media. This makes it simple for people to interact with one another.

• Advertising platforms for brands to find their suitable consumers.

• It's Easier to build relationships and connect with like-minded people

• Easy access to information, products and services.

CONCLUSION:
It's been said that "information is power". Without the means of distributing information, people cannot make use of its power. One positive impact of social media is in the sharing of information in the present world. Platforms such as Instagram, LinkedIn,Facebook, Twitter, and many others have made it possible to access information effortlessly.

AUTHOR BIO:
T. Vaishnavi Rupa
12th class
Ascent junior college

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