Social media is on a high rise for the past few years since the boom in the technology sector. And the uprising is such that every aspect of our lives, be it professional or personal, is affected by it in a big way. It has seeped its way into politics, news, advertising, influencer marketing, but its biggest impacts are the ones it has on our personal lives. We use social media on a daily basis. Apps like Facebook and Instagram are where our lives reside. So it is obvious that, on social media, little changes create big consequences. Social media affects our relationships too, both in a positive and in a negative way.

 

NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA:

Self-centered

Social media has made us all a little self-centered, which is not entirely a bad thing. But it does affect our relations with our close ones in an adverse way since we think of ourselves before we think of anyone else.

 

Impulsiveness

Social media is a fast-paced medium and to keep up with it, we have become fast and, thus, impulsive with our thoughts and decisions. We have become people ruled by emotions instead of our faculties, and this usually makes us say or do something which we might later regret.

 

Lack of Trust

The level of interaction that we face on a daily basis makes us question what’s real and what’s not. And it doesn’t stop in the virtual world but also seeps in the real world. There is mistrust among friends and loved ones which eats away at the relationship from the inside. There is no healthy relationship without trust.

 

Lack of Self Awareness

People get so engrossed in their virtual lives that they forget to take a step back and look at their real life in the real world. They are oblivious of what is going on with their loved ones around them which makes them detached from them.

 

Lack of Bonding

Real relationships take time and effort to build. It is essential to nurture them in order to further strengthen your bonding. Relationships on social media end as fast as they begin. There are no real emotions involved and no real bond is made with the other person.

 

POSITIVE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA:

 

Opportunity to meet old friends

Social media has given us a platform to stay connected with old friends who we never thought we’d ever meet again. This helps us from letting old friendships and relationships die out.

 

Stay Connected

Social media helps you stay connected with family and friends who are far away. If your parents go on a trip, you can video call them or check out what they are doing on their social media handle. Or if your friend is out of town for work, you can recommend good restaurants and activities near him.

 

Conflict Resolution

Sometimes there are problems and fights among friends and loved ones which they have difficulty resolving in person. That’s where social media comes in handy. The fights and problems people cannot resolve face-to-face can be resolved through a text or two.

 

Holistic Character Sketch

Social media dims the line between our professional life and our private life which helps better understand the kind of person we are. This is useful for both recruiters who want to know their talent before hiring them as well as applicants who want to know more about the company they are applying for. This really helps build strong professional relationships.