Social Media may not be as “social” as we think

“Social” media might actually make us more lonely

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screenshot via Twitter

Social media may be good at times but causes isolation

Everywhere one looks, someone’s on their phone posting selfies on Instagram, ranting on Twitter, or updating a story on their Snapchat. Teens connect with peers, classmates and sometimes new people that they find online. They can directly message on any social media or Tweet with friends, but that’s not really socializing.

In a news recent article on KVRR.com, social media was pinned to affecting people’s emotional health. “A recent study done by the University of Michigan found that people who use Facebook have a tendency to be lonelier and isolated.” It becomes more comfortable to communicate in indirect ways instead of face-to-face conversation, leaving people to feel isolated often.

According to an article on Forbes.com, “Recent studies have found that despite being more connected than ever, more people feel more alone than ever.”

Remember the last time you went out with a friend and they were not on their phone while you were out? Most people might not.

According to ProCon.org, a study at USC Annenberg School found that the percentage of people reporting less face-to-face time with family in their homes rose from 8 percent in 2000 to 34 percent in 2011.

People should not be attached to their social media and should try having more face-to-face conversations in person. A person becomes someone who only comments “behind the screen” instead of being someone who discusses things in public. As a result, that person is too afraid to speak their mind and they become too afraid to say something to someone’s face. The commenter from social media becomes someone with an unhealthy solution of always resorting to their social media to solve an issue with someone.

Social media causes an isolation from the real world. As an alternative, people should try to get out of the mind set of “sub tweeting” to solve an issue. Instead, they can speak to people in person. Speaking to people may be frightening at times but through conversations with the right group of people someone might avoid isolation. Everyone goes on their social media from time to time; however, it is important to get out there and make new experiences with different people.