We have hugely appreciated the advent of social media because it is considered a revolutionary tool for global connectivity and an instant communication medium. Owing to the wide acceptability and large-scale usage of social media platforms, almost all the big wigs of the media consider having their official social media handles to optimize their news and other content. However, over a while, it has undeniably taken a darker turn. Cyber Ghost’s blog has rightly pointed out that Social media has, in the recent past, turned into a toxic place, where cyberbullying, spreading misinformation, and misinformation have become a norm of the day.
Social Media: A Hub of Negativity
According to a survey, none social media platforms are immune to trolls. Twitter tops the list of most Toxic social media platforms, with 38.1% of people voting for it as the most toxic platform, followed by Facebook with 26.9% votes. Reddit ranks 3rd, with 14.8% of people voting for it as the most harmful social media platform.
Social media aims to share ideas, connect to more and more people, stay informed by sharing information, and promote accessibility. But it is tearing us apart it is tearing us apart instead of bridging the social gaps and promoting connectivity.
What is Toxic About Social Media?
There is no one-word and direct answer to this question. Social media has been responsible for promoting so many negative things. It allows you to publish the content instantly without fact-checking the news. Falsehoods, half-truths, and outright lies can quickly gain traction and become accepted as truth. This phenomenon is primarily prominent in politics, public health, and current. Many political parties worldwide have constituted special media teams to advance their agenda because it can potentially polarize society from different and various angles.
Another toxic aspect of social media is the cyberbullying. The fact that the user enjoys anonymity in addition to distance as provided by the social media platform gives them leverage to engage in unparliamentary and hurtful behavior that otherwise is not possible while being in person. Cyberbullying or trolling can take place in different forms: harassment, threat, spreading rumors, and public shaming.
Another thing that has adversely affected society as a whole and users, in particular, is giving rise to an element of insecurity. It has given rise to the culture of perfectionism and comparison. It has adversely impacted the mental health of the users. In pursuit of pleasing others and living up to the expectations of the social media audience, you lose your infinity and individuality and pretend to present a version of yourself that you don’t own otherwise.
Wrapping Up
There are always two sides to the story; the same is true about Social Media. When social media made its foray, it was considered the next great thing to happen to air your opinion without any need to plead to inform the mainstream media to tell your story. It allowed an ordinary person to tell his story. However, this openness without necessary checks and balances adversely affected the element of fairness and paved the way for toxicity, bullying, and many other pervasive elements.
