By: Usman Kolapo
Social media is an online platform that enables people to establish social networks or connections with others who share similar personal or professional interests, activities, backgrounds, or real-life connections such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Let’s Chat, etc
Apart from communication and networking, social media can also serve as a means for individuals to generate income and acquire skills and essential knowledge such as web plans, showcasing, activities, and other online businesses.
Social Media is an innovative idea with a very brilliant opportunity with additional scope for advancements. With the advancement of social media, many organizations are making use of this medium to better their practices. With the use of social networking, we can advertise or communicate more efficiently. Likewise, people don’t have to rely on the media or TV to get their daily dose of news; it can all be obtained from a social networking site. People can track or get information from all over the world
Despite the myriad benefits of social media, some individuals tend to abuse its usage. As this saying goes, “Everything has a positive side, there must always be a negative side to it”.
Recently, the erroneous effects of social media have been more than positive, numerous youths have gone off track, while some have created fair characters since their engagement in social spaces.
There are been several cases where many relationships have scattered due to partners being addicted which has rendered them wedlock resulting in single moms and marital crises.
Furthermore, the Adoption of social media sites with slight carelessness can have mental and also physical effects on one’s health. Students do not take their meals on time, do not take proper rest, and continuously being on a phone or laptop can also have adverse effects on their eyes.
Such actions make students slow and unambitious to study or even go out and meet people. It is advisable for parents and also schools to keep an eye on what their children are doing when using the internet. Too much use of social media can have adverse effects on students’ minds, and they may also be exposed to bad posture, eye strain, and physical and mental stress.
In conclusion, With the extensive use of social media, students these days are varying more on such platforms to gain information and knowledge instead of looking out for the same in books, journals, or notes. Because it is straightforward to obtain data online, students’ reading habits and their learning and research skills are diminishing.