Impacts of
Social Networks
on My Life
Nowadays, social networks have a huge influence on our daily lives. I usually use social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and so on to connect with others. There is no denying that social media brings many benefits to me. For example, it provides me with a variety of approaches to express opinions or share something interesting that happened in my life with others. Nonetheless, after using social media for a long term, I find that it leads to some harmful effects. For me, there are three problems I have encountered from social networks recently: Internet Addiction, echo chamber, and less confidence in face-to-face communication.
Internet Addiction
One of the most serious problems is Internet Addiction. Dr. Block (2008) divided internet addiction into three types: excessive gaming, sexual preoccupations, and email or text messaging. I am addicted to text messaging. Initially, I reckoned that text messaging brings me pleasure through chatting with my net friends who have common hobbies. However, my time management becomes disorganized due to wasting too much time on text messaging. Because every schedule was delayed, I tended to stay up late to complete it. Furthermore, I am often distracted in class since sometimes my friends texted me during that time. Therefore, I realize that although I earn extra happiness from social networks, it also lets my health become worse and influences my academic performance due to addiction.
Echo Chamber
Besides, being restricted in echo chamber more easily is another problem I need to consider. Social networks can broaden our horizons, but; actually, they limit our mind. The reason is that people tend to gather with those who have similar concepts or common hobbies through social media, and it will create the echo chamber gradually. On the surface, echo chamber strengthens the relationship with people and makes us easier to engage in others’ conversation. However, I find that my judgment has come to be assimilated by each other when staying in echo chamber for a long term. When my friends discuss certain issues, especially controversial issues, I am often influenced by them. If they both put certain statements to pieces, I tend to put it on the negative side even though I keep neutral initially. Although sometimes I have different opinions or oppose their perspectives, I decided to keep silent to avoid unnecessary conflict. Consequently, I am under potential stress when I want to express my opinions which may be distinct from others.
Less confidence
in face-to-face communication
Last, social networks let me become less confident when talking to others face to face. Initially, I reckoned that social media gives those who have social phobia in real lives a space to make friends at ease. However, after a period of time, I find that I unconsciously feel insecure when speaking to others face to face. We can decorate or modify the words before sending the message to others on the Internet, while what we have spoken actually
cannot go back in real life.
Due to the long use of social media, I am afraid that I am not able to express my thoughts fluently without text messaging so that I always feel nervous when talking to others face to face. Thus, I come to know that social media doesn’t improve my social skills. What’s worse, due to over-reliance of text messaging, my confidence has been undermined gradually when talking to others face to face.
In conclusion, there are three negative effects I faced in social networks: becoming addicted to the Internet which worsens my health and academic performance, being restricted to echo chamber which confuses my judge to the truth, and having less confidence in face-to-face communication due to relying on text messaging. Everything has its pros and cons we need to weigh, including social networks. Although social networks can be an assistance tool that helps us build bridges with others from different places and exchange knowledge with each other, we need to take care of the side effects they bring and never let them control our lives.
Reference:
Block, J. (2008). Issues for DSM-V: Internet Addiction, Retrieved from: https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/10.1176/appi.ajp.2007.07101556