Social media is a platform where people from across the globe interact, share information, and communicate with each other; it consists of synergetic Web 2.0 applications based on the Internet. Examples of these sites include Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, and Snapchat (Bilgin 128). It has brought the world together and made it easier for people to socialize and conduct business practices. It comes with an array of benefits as well as impacts considered harmful. Some researchers are of the idea that social media should be banned due to its adverse effects, while others are against this idea. The paper provides arguments in favor of social media by presenting viewpoints from two peer-reviewed articles that support social media’s efficacy in contemporary society, particularly concerning its significance in education and business practices.
Social media plays a crucial role in enhancing education and has been associated with positive impacts on teaching faculty’s output. A study conducted by Tulu which aimed at ascertaining the effects of online social media use among Ambo University’s academic staff revealed its efficacy in enhancing productivity in the teaching and learning process (1100). Research findings further indicated that social media provided educators with a platform to share knowledge and connect with other teachers from different institutions countrywide and globally (1098). The survey further recommended training academicians on the proper use of social media to derive substantial benefits in their operations. Furthermore, social media offers students a medium for obtaining meaningful information and linking with study groups and other education systems, thereby enhancing learning efficiency. Social networking tools also provide academic institutions and learners with the opportunity to enhance the training methods used in class. They allow the integration of social media plugins, which foster interaction and sharing of information. Students may also benefit from online resources and tutorials disseminated through LMS and social networks.
Social media also plays a crucial role in fostering business practices through online marketing. This approach has been adopted by various companies, for instance, Apple Inc. and Nike, to increase their brand awareness. Businesses typically use platforms such as Facebook and Instagram to establish brand recognition, generate conversations regarding their specific products and services, connect with clients through social listening, and collect data from consumers to improve their operations or product quality (Bilgin 129). Bilgin also highlights the importance of this technology in enhancing brand loyalty and better consumer experiences through developing a two-way communication system: instant interaction and consumer feedback (130). Furthermore, according to Bilgin, social media presents a cost-effective platform for a firm’s advertising strategy (132). Almost all social media networking platforms allow consumers to create accounts and sign up for free. Social media presence also enhances an organization’s SEO rankings, increased traffic, marketplace awareness, and brand authority.
In summary, social media plays a vital role in our everyday lives through enhancing social interactions and promoting business practices, and, therefore, it should not be banned. It shapes how we connect to acquire and share information among peers. Social media is instrumental in enhancing educational activities and fostering teachers’ productivity by improving their knowledge base by connecting with colleagues. Furthermore, social media is quickly becoming one of the most crucial digital marketing aspects, which offers incredible benefits and promotes business capacity to reach multiple clients globally. It encourages improved brand loyalty and awareness, engagement with consumers, customer satisfaction, increased traffic, and market knowledge.
Works Cited
Bilgin, Yusuf. “The Effect of Social Media Marketing Activities on Brand Awareness, Brand Image, and Brand Loyalty.” Business and Management Studies: An International Journal, vol. 6, no. 1, 2018, pp. 128–148.
Tulu, Daniel, Tadesse. “Should Online Social Medias (OSMs) be Banned at Work? The Impact of Social Medias on Employee Productivity in Ambo University, a Case Study.” Research in International Business and Finance, vol. 42, 2017, pp. 1096–1102.