What comes to your mind when you hear the word – Social Media? Do you think of it as a boon or a bane? Well, let us discuss the pros and cons of it before rolling out a conclusion.
Social Media: A Boon
The benefits that we can achieve from social media are uncountable. Remember the time when you made your first Facebook account? The first post you created? The friends you made? I remember making an account to stay connected with my friends for the long term. Well, it has been 12 years now, and I am still in touch with them. I am afraid that if had it not been for Facebook, I don’t know how I would have still been in contact with them. Facebook did prove the purpose for which it was made. Social Media helps us to be up to date about our friends, news and technology around the globe.
The world just met with an unprecedented pandemic last year. The Government imposed a lockdown to break the chain of the contagious disease. Let us face reality – would you have survived without social media like WhatsApp, Instagram or Facebook? I doubt so. It was apps like these that helped us converse with our dear ones. Be it video calling your far relatives, attending the office meetings, or even attending online classes. Irrespective of what app we like or dislike, one cannot deny the versatile range of benefits it possesses.
Many social media platforms like LinkedIn provide students with considerable opportunities to showcase their talent. For Engineers like me, LinkedIn is the Bible of all social media. Be it uploading details regarding any of my latest projects or any innovative idea; it is the ultimate one-stop platform. You will find several Venture Capitalists and other renowned personalities looking out for fresh talents to support. So, yes, this is one sole social media that I would highly recommend all my fellow students to use.
Social Media: A Bane
We know that there are two sides to every coin. In the same way, social media brings in a list of cons along with its benefits. Consuming protein for daily needs is a must. But, when consumed in bulk, exceeding the body’s threshold limit, the very same protein becomes harmful for your body. Similar is the case with Social Media; when used excessively, it possesses more harm than gains. For a student, there can be no bigger distraction than the world of social media. Assume getting a notification on your phone while attending your online class. Do you realize how irresistible it is to not click on it? And once you open it, there is no going back. It leads you into a vicious cycle.
Moreover, do you realize the threat that your privacy is facing with it? Not every app we use is reliable. There is nothing on the Internet that is not hackable. We have witnessed how hazardous a data leak can be. Remember the US 2016 Elections? If not, google about Facebook – Cambridge Analytical data scandal, and you will know it all. The app harvested data of millions and used it to manipulate them accordingly. With the help of all your data, such companies can architect your psychological way of thinking and then re-design them in any way they like.
Verdict
One never curbs the intake of protein irrespective of the threat that its overconsumption processes. The same goes with Social Media. We must use it healthily to increase our productivity, keeping in mind the potential risks it poses. Social Media is neither an absolute boon nor a complete bane for the students. One should know how to utilize it optimally to obtain the maximum benefits out of it.
Some important takeaways from this article:
• Keep your phone on DND mode when you study.
• Never get addicted to any social media.
• Keep your LinkedIn account up to date.
• Do not keep critical data online.
• Stay away from fake news.
Rest assured, see you on LinkedIn 😉
