Over the recent decades, social media has become an integral part of many people’s lives. Various media resources are currently used by all segments of the population in the US on a daily basis. The number of opportunities for people to connect and communicate via the Internet has increased, but there are also serious drawbacks to this rapidly developing trend. Some of the main reasons why social media can be considered destructive are its ability to develop addiction and expose users to inappropriate content. Despite these disadvantages, it can be argued that it is almost impossible for an average American to become fully dependent on social media due to work, studying, communication, or strong addiction.
First, it can be challenging for a person to stop using social media or even reduce their screen time because their job or studies may require them to use media platforms. For example, office workers and team members often have to communicate via platforms such as Slack. This has become particularly useful during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, as many people were working from home (Tsao, et al.). This has also been common in the education systems of many countries, as educational institutions have started using distance learning. Therefore, even if some individuals wanted to become fully distant on social media, it would be extremely challenging for them, as many resources they use for studying or work require communicating via social media.
The second reason why it can be challenging for many individuals in the US to stop using social media is because they often communicate with other people via different media platforms. For example, instead of calling each other, people often write messages on WhatsApp, Viber, or Facebook. While calls and SMS are still an option, some individuals are less willing to use them and more used to sending messages via social media platforms (Coyne, et al.). Moreover, these sources provide additional services, such as marketing, content creation, and advertising.
Finally, it can be extremely difficult for many people to change their behaviors and become fully distant on social media because of the addictive tendencies these platforms can develop. Studies have shown that checking and scrolling social media has become a highly popular activity in recent years. It is estimated that “as many as 5 to 10% of Americans meet the criteria for social media addiction today” (Hilliard). Some examples of this addiction can be manifested in emotions of anger and irritation any time the addicted person is not able to reach their phone or other device and check their social media. In addition, individuals suffering from this addiction may not be able to focus for a long period of time, as constant scrolling and the formation of content on social media can reduce their attention span. As a result, it can become increasingly difficult for them to become independent of social media without professional help.
It can be concluded that for the majority of individuals in the US, it is almost impossible to become fully distant on social media. First, many people use media platforms as resources necessary for work or study. Second, the majority of people all over the world communicate via social media and are not willing to change their habits. Finally, it can be extremely challenging for people to stop using social media because they have developed an addiction to media platforms and may not be able to change their habits by themselves.
Works Cited
Coyne, Sarah M., et al. “Does time spent using social media impact mental health?: An eight year longitudinal study.” Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 104, 2020, p. 106160.
Hilliard, J. “Social media addiction.” Addiction Center. Web.
Tsao, Shu-Feng, et al. “What social media told us in the time of COVID-19: a scoping review.” The Lancet Digital Health, vol. 3, no. 3, 2021, pp. e175-e194.