By Milan Polk ’16

Social media generally gets a bad wrap. Teachers, parents and anyone else with an aversion to technology often roll their eyes when social networking is mentioned. However, most opponents fail to recognize the benefits of these online communities and would rather focus on the negative.

Popular social media sites such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook are generally used by teens to connect with their friends and share little details about their lives when they are apart. Opponents criticize the practice, saying social media is cutting into “face to face” interactions. However, there are more positives than negatives when social media is used correctly. This sharing of information is not wrong or dangerous if it is done wisely. Users tend to get shamed because of the few, less conscientious peers who tend to overshare or are heavily obsessed with social media for all of the wrong reasons. Social media is inherently good; teens are able to stay close with their friends and family even when they are far away, and reach out to people with mutual interests on the other side of the world if it happens they are alone in their physical settings.

Without social media, students would not be able to connect with their friends from other schools and would find it hard to keep in touch with those they cannot regularly visit. After a spring break in another country with relatives or in an exchange program, it is tough for students, with little money or resources, to send packages or letters. Social media means an easy international connection to anyone. People can send pictures and video to one another on apps like Snapchat and immediately share short personal messages to one another. That daily correspondence is usually only allotted to those closest to someone. With social media, distant friends and family can feel close.

These apps also increase education of current events. Teens and other avid users constantly scroll through articles and pictures that quickly summarize news and world events. Celebrities and famous personalities also tend to voice their opinions on these subjects, and users will want to keep up with news and scandal to be able to evaluate if they agree with their favorite celebrities.

The misuse of these applications are done by only some, but not many. Social media, just like any other form of entertainment, can become an obsession if not used correctly. One should not discourage the use of an item simply because certain people cannot discipline themselves into using social media responsibly. The man should never be punished for the actions of the few. Social media is a great addition to one’s life. It connects those who may be lonely and educates audiences that may otherwise be uninterested in the news. It is the responsibility of the user to be respectful and open-minded individuals when using such technology. The heart of social media is the indivuals who create and modify the content that is displayed on these sites.