EP: 6 Social Media Effects on Communication

The impact of social media on communication is explored in this podcast. While there are positive aspects like increased adaptability and networking opportunities for businesses, there are also negative effects. Social media can contribute to mental health issues, especially among younger users, due to comparisons, anxiety, and exposure to distressing content. Communication on social media can spread harmful information and lead to aggressive behavior. However, there is hope for change through stricter regulations and better education. Welcome everyone, my name is Emily Davidson and today I'm doing a solo podcast for you guys. We are going on a deep dive into the impact of social media on our communication. I don't think there is a single listener who wouldn't be able to list at least one negative impact of social media they have either experienced themselves or seen others experience. Social media is everywhere and even if you don't post as much as the next person, we all interact on a social media platform to some degree. Whatever app you're using to tune in today is considered a social media application, so that includes you. Now before we jump head first into this topic, a quick word from today's sponsor. Hey guys, Francisco here. Before we dive into the excitement of this podcast, I want to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation to our sponsor Bald Hair Shine. Yes, you heard me right, Bald Hair Shine, because who says bald can't shine brighter than a supernova? But let me tell you folks, Bald Hair Shine isn't just a falsely changed, oh no, it's for anyone who wants to embrace their inner glow, whether they're sporting a full head of hair or channeling their inner Van Diesel. I mean seriously, have you seen the shine on those domes? It's like looking at a polished marble floor, except it's on someone's head. So if you want to use or buy some of this, make sure you use Skin Wizard's Podcast 15 to get your 15% off your next order. Now let's get back to the show. All right guys, let's jump right in. Social media platforms can have many different effects on our communication. Social media opens up a higher speed of adaptability in human language and speech patterns. This is an amazing benefit to our adaptability to evolve quickly and change with the times. There is a massive network of interconnected experiences with people from all over the world and sharing of new ideas and cultures has never been easier. Social media also opens the door for entrepreneurs and can drastically excel the growth of a small business. It can also be used to raise awareness to a large demographic and at a quick pace, quicker than you could in your local community alone. While all these have relatively positive impacts, there is one major impact of social media currently plaguing its users. Social media can have both a positive and negative effect against the battle against things like mental illness. The idea that we are not alone in our suffering and the validation that comes along with that, the negative side of that coin is the increased anxiety we can have around thinking we might have every ailment we read about. I know I've fallen victim to this myself and gotten to a bad habit of using what people refer to as the Google doctor. I can say there is no quicker way to fuel your anxiety than reading about illnesses or conditions that fit whatever random symptoms you have that day. This is especially true among the newer generation of social media users. The exponential rise in social media use among minors since 2008 is responsible for an increase in youth mental health injuries and suicide. The amount of drama, unbridled opinions, comparisons, and fear-mongering all have an effect on the user. There is a deceptive nature to social media and an unavoidable risk to comparing yourself, your life, and your achievements to the unreal reality of others. It is a self-esteem trap. We only see about the top 5% of someone's life and it is often filled and blocked by filters, which is a lack of realism. The fear-mongering that is present all over social media has caused mass panic and often leaves users in a constant state of internal fight or flight. The other side of this coin is the numbness that can form a constant exposure to horrific events that we often see on social media. These are all issues that will affect our quality of life long-term. When it comes to communication specifically, the spreading of hateful and harmful information has become far too easy. This form of communication affects us negatively because of the large social media holding they have been able to acquire. When it comes to influencers specifically, if you have a decent following, you can spread whatever message you want and others will be subject to it. This is an unhealthy amount of power for any one human to have. Social media has also shortened the time frame someone has to think about their actions and how they might affect others. This has caused a drastic swing in the ability to listen and comprehend. Users are more willing to disagree and become what we call keyboard warriors. Now keyboard warriors are those who make aggressive or abusive posts and hide behind the layer of the digital world where they don't have to deal with the repercussions in person. But where there is bad, there is also good and this huge interconnected digital world also allows for whistleblowers and fact-checkers that attempt to correct these negativities. Communication is quicker, harsher, longer lasting, and up for interpretation when it comes to as opposed to face-to-face. You cannot hear tone, you can't see body language, or interpret behaviors from behind a screen. We have to find a better way to stop the spread of harmful communication over social media platforms. Today, application of strict products liability principles to social media platforms will incentivize companies to design safer online platforms by internalizing the cost of safety within the cost of production and help reverse the mental illness crisis raging American youth. My hope is that we can start making these necessary changes to create a healthier world for our current generations and generations to come. One beautiful way to start this attempt to heal is by better educating those around us in a positive way. Thank you guys so much for tuning in to the Working With Us podcast and I wish you all a wonderful rest of your day. Until next time.