“Don’t use social media to impress people, use it to impact people”

Social media represents websites and applications that allow users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. Since the emergence of these social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Instagram etc. people got a platform to express their self.

Social media has created a new idea of social. In this new era, social media it has been the important part of one’s life, and has changed the way people live, think and react. A common man now feels empowered as they have a voice to express their opinions. Whether it is a thought, an opinion, a picture, a video, a quote you read somewhere you can easily share what’s on your mind with your network. The use of social media is increasing day by day with high rate in all over the world. It is agreed that the social media affects people’s life especially youth. Social sites impact the lives of our youth and their life style, trends, behavior, social life, education, learning and so on.

Social media has both positive and negative impact on youths today. The positive effect of social media on youth is Social Networking sites provide a platform for discussion on burning issues, keep them up to date on the events happening around the world and also enables them network and stay connected with their friends, family and fellow youths without physical interaction. It works as a great communication tools to connect with loved ones or old friends who stay in different locations, and helps to build strong relationship. Since a person who stays in Nepal can easily interact with his/her friend in the United Kingdom.  As saying “Social media gives a voice to the voiceless.” With little or no capital, youths can use the social media in communicating their ideas, feelings and even mobilize for mass action. Social media have become the power of the masses. They are the instruments of the masses and the only media where youths can freely air their minds. Social networking provides environment of grouping to the youths. These grouping can be made online and it is just like the small communities, where they share their firsthand information, experience and knowledge to each other.  Additionally, social media provide a great platform to the youths who want to promote their businesses online at little or no cost among a larger and wider audience. This can even lead to more employment opportunities. Youths nowadays say that social media has made their lives enjoyable, efficient and easier.

Whereas we are aware that the social media can have positive effects on the youths, we cannot neglect the negative effects it has on the youths. Spending most of their time on online social platform reduces the face to face social interaction in the society and take them far away from the reality. Also they develop the insecurities and always wonder why they cannot be excellent, talented or beautiful like others. Therefore, they feel under pressure, stressed, depressed and these kind of mental problems are very dangerous to the young people. Chatting long hours in social sites decrease their productivity, creativity, and interest on outdoor activities.  As well as they lose interest and focus in their studies. Misuse of social sites can be very harmful, such as spreading of false news, rumors and unreliable information can cause fights and enmity between the concerned parties, youths can become victim of cyber bully and cyber crime.

As the technology and the use of Smartphone is growing social media has become the routine for every youth, youngsters are seen in contact with these media daily. Social media has various merits like our youths now learning in innovative ways, creating a new language and practicing multicultural values. But it also has some demerits which affect youths negatively. Social media can abuse the youths by invading on their privacy, and some useless blogs can influence youth that can become violent and can take some inappropriate actions.

At last, social media has an impact on the youth in various ways. Today, youth are having great contact with different kinds of social media. They are easily acquiring digital literacy and live in a digital world. Where digital has a different idea of time, speed, relationship, and the self, yet it relates to the idea of social in a different way.

How much time you spend on Social Media? Which is your favorite social site?

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