In less than the past four decades, the world has been characterized by transformative technological advancements. Technology has come along with an array of new ways of doing things, including communication. In 1983 the world was officially introduced to a new way of communicating titled “The Internet” (Furedi). Social media then came to light in 1997 through an uploading service developed by Six Degrees. Soon after, Furedi indicates that many social media platforms started to emerge, including LinkedIn, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. The devices have taken over people’s lives and affected the perception of modern phenomena. Even though social media are diversifying the world around them, they still have an ambiguous impact on culture and lifestyle.
In the beginning, social media commenced as a way of connecting with friends and family. However, the smartphone’s epoch started with the launch of the iPhone in 2007 by Apple, which paved the way for more use and easy access to social media. The different social media platforms were reduced into applications that people can easily log into and share their experiences with the world in a flash. Technology has opened more extraordinary ways of interaction and supported a lot of businesses around the globe.
Nevertheless, social media has also been blamed for causing laziness due to overdependence, especially among youth. It has been a significant source of bullying and abuse of human rights (Samur). The perception of culture has drastically changed – people have become obsessed with online life. They visit galleries, listen to music, watch plays, and communicate online for the most part. Therefore, even though networks have increased the well-being of society, they have also boosted anxiety and depression among people wishing to live fake lives from what they see posted on social media.
Works Cited
Furedi, Frank. “How Internet and Social Media Are Changing Culture.” Aspen Institute Central Europe. Web.
Samur, Alexandra. “The History of Social Media: 29+ Key Moments.” Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard. 2018. Web.