The advent of social media has taken the world by storm. There is now a completely different method of communication that has affected all aspects of society. Gone are the days of having to call somebody on the phone to talk to them. Now Smartphones are equipped with texting capabilities and provide access to the multiple social media platforms that are available. Social media provides a way for a vast amount of people to know what individuals are doing, how they are feeling and what their likes and dislikes are. It is a new world of communication and, for some, it is not all good. There are drawbacks to mass communication that range from identity theft to unethical and threatening behavior. There are also many positive aspects of social media. For advertisers, it is a way to reach a large audience with the lease cost. For families, it is a way they can correspond with each other quickly and keep in touch. It is important to understand how social media has influenced the way in which we socialize with people on the internet as well as in person. Social media has changed people’s way of life.
People use social media for different reasons. It saves time and eliminates the uncomfortable sense that exists sometimes when people talk on the phone. For anyone who has ever been in the middle of a telephone conversation and at a loss for words, you will understand. Then there is the saying goodbye. Sometimes people never know the right time to say goodbye on the phone and a conversation can end abruptly. Social media takes care of all these concerns by giving people more time to think about what they want to say and how they want to end the conversation. The drawback is that shy or introverted people can use this as a way to avoid any real human connection. People can just stay home and be on social media all day and too much of anything is not healthy. This has basically made the landline telephone obsolete. Phone companies are scrambling for ways to promote their landline phones, but nothing seems to be working. Cell phones, texting and social media are the new ways people keep in constant communication with the rest of the world.