As an aspiring media professional, I spend a lot of time engaging in the online community. I am constantly chided, as are many others, for “wasting my time” on the Internet. Yes, I spend quite a bit of time composing the perfect Instagram captions and live tweeting the latest episode of "Pretty Little Liars," but when you look past the trivial matters, you’ll see that social media is about so much more than how many likes you got on your latest selfie.
Social media has changed so much about our world and how we receive news. Years ago, when a news story broke, people on the other side of the world may have had to wait a few hours or even days. Now, with the help of social media, we can stay constantly updated about things happening all over. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook have made it possible for journalists and media outlets to get their stories up faster and have them reach millions of people in a matter of minutes.
When huge news stories break, like those about the attacks in Paris this past November, everyone hears about them relatively quickly thanks to local and international television news coverage. However, if something just as disastrous happens somewhere less high profile, like bombings or natural disasters in small middle-eastern countries, social media makes us aware of those events even though our local news might neglect to mention them.
Social media also helps to educate young people on matters of social and political importance. Young adults and teens are becoming more educated on topics like race, sexuality, gender and many others thanks to their social media involvement. People are focusing more on accepting diversity and being respectful of different opinions, which are both key components of successful communication in a high functioning society.
Adolescents are taking the time to educate themselves on political matters so that they can form their own views and opinions and not just adopt the same views as their parents, which is so essential especially right now in this very important election year.
Social media is a place to connect with people from all over the globe. Sites like Twitter make it possible for the voices of many to be heard on any given matter instead of just the voices of the “most important.” An average teen making a point to speak out against racial discrimination or another socially important matter can now receive national attention for their efforts, whereas before they may have just gotten some local newspaper coverage or nothing at all.
Social media has the power to start movements and bring attention to issues that need to be dealt with. Some of the latest include the “Black Lives Matter” movement, which has raised a lot of awareness on racism that still exists today, and the newest wave of feminism, which is teaching young women about empowerment and self-respect, as well as helping other people see the objectification of women in today’s society and what the true definition of feminism really looks like.
Social media has also created a whole new type of relationship between celebrities and their fans. Before, you only saw your favorite celebrities in films, shows and magazines. Now, you can follow the lives of stars, and even talk with them online. For example, Taylor Swift spends a lot of time connecting with her fans on Tumblr, learning about their lives and even speaking with them so often that she can recognize them and call them by name at her concerts. Fans are able to establish actual relationships with their favorite stars and create entire online communities with other fans, connecting them with people from around the globe.
Just like anything else, social media definitely has its downsides, but the huge impact it has made on today’s society is undeniable. Social media is not about the filters you put on your selfie; it’s about being more connected, aware, and conscious of the world around you, and communicating effectively with all of the people in it. If that is considered a waste of time, then I will gladly continue to waste mine.
