Becoming a Friendly Neighborhood Social Media User

Nowadays, it's difficult to imagine a world without social media. Encountering someone who does not have at least one social media account is extremely rare. Smartphone applications like Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc. all offer people around the world the chance to make their presence online known. All of this content is very easily accessed at a person's fingertips. For many who participate in social media, the temptation to check in on these social media platforms during a work or school day is too hard to resist. Social media can easily drive someone into a dark hole of procrastination and lack of production. Why start your homework when you can aimlessly through your twitter feed for the next half hour? So what if you have an exam tomorrow morning? There are pictures on Instagram that need to be liked. The professor may be giving an important lecture, but I can't just let my Snapchat streaks die. It seems like social media has climbed a little too high up on the priorities ladder. The ever-increasing value of these social media platforms can bring on consequences that are a little more drastic than homework procrastination. Social media gives anyone the opportunity to put out any kind of false information at any time. A now infamous example of this comes out of the Presidential Election of 2016. It is now known that fake stories were being put out by Russia on social media sites, specifically Facebook, at the time of the election. Many were quick to share these fabricated articles with their Facebook friends, making these false stories spread like wildfire. In the age of social media, people want their news fast. There's no time to double check news sources or do your own research. It would be hard to believe that this online interference did not greatly affect voting outcomes of the 2016 election. The Election of 2016 should serve as a wake-up call to not just the United States, but the world. As Spiderman's Uncle once famously said, "With great power, comes great responsibility." We may not be slinging webs, but there are disciplines and precautions to keep in mind when dealing with the vast realm that is social media. It takes a decent amount of self-control to stop yourself from picking up that phone and getting updated on the world. With the right amount of will, you can work as hard as you refresh your timeline. It is extremely important to not take everything you see on social media at face value, especially when it comes news. Picking out the true from the false may not seem too difficult with a background check here and there. Social media has no intention of slowing down its growth. New apps and sites of different variety are frequently being produced. It may be fair to say these platforms have taken control over the lives of many. However, with all the temptation, it is still possible to put the virtual ball back in your court.  

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