“Teenagers only care about their phones.”
“People don’t know how to talk anymore, just tweet.”
“Kids are growing up with too much technology,”
There are all kinds of social media critics out there with mile-long reasons why social media is the worst. The truth is, social media is here, it’s big and it’s not going anywhere any time soon. People who jump to conclusions about how terrible social media is for society often overlook what social media is really doing for us.
Social media gives us a platform on which to share our ideas. Whether you are an experienced writer giving today’s most relevant news, or a high schooler fed up with how you are being treated, social media gives us a global audience and allows our ideas to reach a large variety of people. Carey Burgess, a senior at Beaufort High School, posted on Facebook about her dress code violation--a skirt that fell only an inch or so above her knee and a long-sleeved, collared shirt. The post went viral as upset parents and students alike shared in her outrage. Without social media, the frustration Burgess felt would be confined to her immediate surroundings. Social media acts as a microphone to amplify our ideas and make them heard.
Because we are constantly being bombarded with new ideas, our generation is that much more likely to have a well-rounded view of the world. Despite the common idea that Millennials are only exposed to a narrow range of views on social media, the American Press Institute has found that 70 percent of Millennials say their social media feeds are filled with a variety of viewpoints that are both similar to and different from their own. Among those who claim they are exposed to diverse viewpoints, 73 percent say they seek out more information on the differing ideas they see at least some of the time. The large range of views we are exposed to and the process of seeking out research to back those views up, makes us a very progressive and informed generation, which will only expand as we continue into adulthood.
The large audience we can reach using Twitter, Facebook, etc. makes it easier to make a difference in our society. Researchers claim social media is making us more narcissistic, but the research fails to recognize all the good we have done for others via social media campaigns and other websites made. Last week, an online platform for NGOs launched that provides real-time information with the goal to help end human trafficking. According to Forbes, The Freedom Collaborative allows registered organizations and people to connect with each other through a news feed, searchable database and private messaging service- a similar set-up to popular social media sites- for the betterment of society on a global scale.
With so many people retrieving their news from social media now, access to news like this is easier than ever. Just about half, 45 percent, of Twitter users ages 18-29 use Twitter as a way to consume news, and half of our population has used social media as a way to share news stories, images or videos. Social media is truly reshaping the way we consume news, and information is becoming available through all sorts of mediums.
This generation has the power to make themselves heard and really make a difference in the world. Utilizing the power of social media only amplifies the passion to do good inside all of us. Social Media Week founder Toby Daniels said, “Be purposeful in what you do. Think about the why of every action you take, every piece of communication you share and every interaction or new relationship you forge.” This is a vital piece of information for Millennials to remember as they continue to change the world with every share, tweet and post. Do everything with purpose because social media is as powerful. It will enable us to continue to do big things if we utilize it to do all the good we know it is capable of. So no, social media is not ruining our generation. It is empowering us.
