Social media has been a blessing and a curse. If you step back and look at much of the world's problems, the issues are being blown way out of proportion through social media. It is true that nothing can happen in this world without somebody — whether on the news, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram — putting in their two cents. I mean, even Snapchat has stories you can watch that try to pound liberal views into the youth; it is actually quite annoying.

Everyone uses social media, and I am not going to claim that I hate and never use it because I actually do and enjoy it; but, to be completely honest, I mostly enjoy it for sports. It's amazing that I can get up to the minute breaking news in sports at my fingertips.

Nevertheless, my main point of this article is to express my thoughts on how social media ruins a lot of aspects of life and how if there is not a major change onto how we utilize the many great social media platforms than we are in big trouble. There is an issue when you can’t get someone off their phone while trying to have a conversation because they are too busy on their Twitter timeline or shuffling through their Instagram feeds.

There are problems when people are liking someone’s photo or tweeting something, but forget to answer their friends' text messages. These are serious issues among the youth right now, and it’s actually scary. There have been many friendships lost because someone has tweeted, Snapchatted or posted a picture on Instagram but forgot to text their friend back. I have seen relationships end or people having fights because the guy or girl liked a picture of a person they should not like. It's a picture, it’s a tweet; come on! It is not a big deal.

However, I have seen the case to which people use social media as a platform to manipulate people; these people will purposely not answer you and be all over social media to prove to you that they don't want to answer you, but hey, look, I'm all over twitter so obviously I am mad at you. Seriously, re-read that last sentence and tell me that is not one of the most outrageous reasons to indicate to someone you are mad or upset with them. With social media, there is no face to face interaction, so if you do confront someone with the truth and try and talk it out with them, they won't like it and they'll either turn away or pick a fight.

Another issue with social media that has been more active over the last couple of months is brainwashing. I mean, seriously, it is so easy to brainwash the youth right now, they will believe almost anything on Twitter nowadays. I saw a tweet about how a girl was offended at an Atlanta Braves games because there was a sign that said “KKK.” She posted a huge post about how she was offended and how this was wrong of the organization to entertain such a group. Little did she know, it was the strikeout board and all those three Ks meant that 3 batters have been struck out. Ultimately, there was a huge Twitter debate over this.

Take a look; this is where this country is at. People are so easily brainwashed by the media that it is unbelievable! Some people truly do struggle with thinking for themselves and only use social media to back up their arguments. It is sad and will unfortunately affect the future negatively.

I say it is time that we use social media for what is created for: having fun with friends, laughing at hilarious posts, and catching up with friends who moved 3,000 miles away. It shouldn't be a platform for fights, political opinions, relationship advice, or manipulative actions.