With all the social websites out there, would we be better off with or without them? Everyone has their own opinion on this topic. Many of the adults in your life view social networks as annoying and harmful, while most students view it as helpful, entertaining and a relief from real life. Along with new inventions and updates, this generation has many social websites that they are testing. There are definitely a wide variety of points for both the pros and cons of social media.  

One large pro is connecting with faraway friends. This is mainly important for adults, who can find friends from college or childhood, but it is also useful for kids who have moved. A major con is the wound that this can reopen. If you were best friends with someone, moved away and then found them on Instagram, the painful reminder that you are not together may be bad.

One of the largest cons is cyberbullying. Before you say “that hasn’t happened to anyone I know” and “it doesn’t happen with the social medias today”, it does. I have seen and reported, but the mere fact that I saw it is bad enough because that means that others saw it, too. It was a profile dedicated to tearing down an individual. That is just not right. A positive out of this was strangers banding together to take this down and to stop the person responsible.

One pro is getting your image out there. This is helpful if you are trying to advertise your business. You can get people to support you and to spread the word.

A con, you have to be careful who you allow to follow your account and what you post. All of your actions on these can and will be looked at by colleges and peers.

After a long day, social media can be a great way to relax and is a good source of entertainment. However, if you are caught in class looking at the Pins on Pinterest or friend requests on Facebook, your special phone or electronic will be taken away. On top of that, if you are on them consistently, you most likely won’t have enough time to fully study and do your homework. This will impact your grade and you might not get into the college and job you want.

Social media can have both a positive and negative affect on society. The important thing is to be aware of what is on them and to put other things first. Social media is good at times and with the proper settings.