Starting in 1997, with the creation of SixDegrees by Andrew Weinreich, people have had the opportunity to interact and form communities through digital platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others. We know them as social networks, and since then they have served us to share texts, photographs, graphics, and videos, depending on the objective of each network and the preferences of the users.
According to a study by "We are social" and "Hootsuite" in 2018, more than three billion people already used a social network, so its impact on our lives, for better or worse, is inevitable. What determines whether that impact is negative or brings us countless advantages is the use we make of them.
First of all, let's talk about the most important disadvantages for people. Social networks can be addictive and become serious distractions that lead us to waste time and energy that would be more useful to dedicate to carrying out important tasks or activities, such as our personal growth, exercising, resting, and others.
Social networks can also lead us to make comparisons that distort the image we have of ourselves or to conclude that our lifestyles are not as good as those of other people, affecting our self-esteem and emotional well-being. Additionally, the use of social networks could expose us, and make us victims of criticism, attacks, threats, or dangers such as scams or identity theft, among others. For this reason, it is very important to be careful with the type of information that we share with them and to supervise the use made of the networks by minors in our care. Finally, prolonged exposure to screens could cause vision problems, fatigue, photophobia, insomnia, and headaches.
On the other hand, the proper use of social networks brings many benefits:
We can communicate and reach many people immediately, no matter where they are in the world.
They allow you to share and have access to up-to-date information on what is happening anywhere in the world and on practically any topic or matter.
Networks are extraordinary for learning and personal growth.
Similarly, networks are a source of entertainment. In them, you can see photos, videos, games, etc.
The networks also allow serious situations that are not transmitted by the traditional media to be reported.
They increase your visibility and can be a source of job and business opportunities.
In accordance with the above, social networks could be very positive if we dedicate a reasonable amount of time to them and use them appropriately. Otherwise, it could affect our health, expose us to serious risks, make us less effective, and even damage our self-esteem and emotional well-being.
I invite you to become aware of this topic, not only thinking about what you see but also making yourself aware of what you share, publish and comment on. Let's learn to use the networks appropriately, and if we feel negatively affected by them, consider pausing or deciding to cancel them. Our health, safety, and emotional well-being are priorities.
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