Introduction
In this paper, I would like to describe the positive aspects of social media for communication and relationships. Media is a tool and an opportunity to build and maintain relationships and connections, including friends, family, and even professional contacts. Subsequently, communication through social media allows people to stay in touch with someone far away without having the chance to meet in person. This feature reveals additional opportunities for professional and personal life. Being in various parts of the planet, people can communicate with each other, support relationships and business contacts, and maintain freedom of movement.
Benefits of Social Media
It is also worth noting that users face various options for communication on social media. For example, voice and video calls did not have such a negative effect on social connectedness as messages and, therefore, could be considered more effective methods for supporting relationships (Nguyen et al., 2063). Media provides opportunities to create communities that unite people with shared interests and build new relationships. Moreover, as the COVID-19 crisis has shown, social media can be a crucial tool for supporting communication in some situations. Shensa et al. conclude that while social media is less effective than face-to-face meetings, it can still be a source of social support (43). Therefore, the positive aspects of social media for relationships are also significant.
Considering many positive and negative aspects of the influence of social media on relationships between people, it should be possible to find a balanced approach to this complex issue. Digitalization and media have become influential trends that help people be aware of societal changes, movements, and new opportunities. For this reason, refusal to use them will not bring the expected benefit. However, one should not rely only on social media since personal communication has specific features and advantages that the digital world will not be able to convey, especially in close and trusting relationships. For these reasons, it is necessary to compromise between views representing opposite sides of the debate.
Conclusion
Thus, social media significantly affects people’s relationships, changing the context and prospects for their establishment and development. It is essential to use the opportunities technology provides for communication but to avoid abuse to prevent negative implications. This approach represents a compromise between radical views – it allows people to maintain contacts and establish new ones to transfer them to personal communication. Settlement is possible, although understanding the influence of social media is a rather complex issue.
Assumptions about negative and positive effects have reliable evidence that can be observed in research and personal experience. Support for compromise is possible with the parties’ wish and discipline, which will help balance the use of media and the need for face-to-face meetings, opposing the ease of using technology. Given that a balanced approach is the most advantageous option for using social media, considering different aspects of the issue has become a helpful experience.
Works Cited
Nguyen, Minh Hao, et al. “Staying Connected While Physically Apart: Digital Communication When Face-To-Face Interactions Are Limited.” New Media & Society, vol. 24, no. 9, 2022, pp. 2046-2067. Web.
Shensa, Ariel et al. “Emotional Support from Social Media and Face-To-Face Relationships: Associations with Depression Risk Among Young Adults.” Journal of affective disorders, vol. 260, 2020, pp. 38-44. Web.