I would be lying if I said I hated social media. I’m constantly on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, checking to see whats new in my friends and families lives. Recently, due to a class that I’m in, I’ve been spending more time on Twitter as well. To me, social media has become a constant in my life and I don’t think that I would be able to survive without it.

With that being said, I do think that social media does have a dark side to it. People can get consumed with trying to have the best Instagram post and gaining followers so it will result in more likes. Sometimes people will even go to certain lengths and pay for followers. Social Media has become a popularity contest based on the amount of likes, comments, and retweets you get on something. Because people are spending most of their time on their phone, I believe that it could hinder ones ability to recognize social cues, or even to be able to successfully communicate with someone face to face.

However, even though I can see the bad side of Social Media, I can also see the good. Social Media provides us with real time coverage of events happening all around the world. Messages are able to be spread and voices are able to be heard no matter where you reside. The power of social media is growing vast and I feel as though everyone should get on board.

@EthanZ says we need a wider view to succeed in a connected world and embrace inspiration. Thanks to social media we can do that. #NHsmc

— Amanda Brandell (@AmandaBrandell) February 1, 2016

#QOTD from @EthanZ's book #Rewire. Thinking about how to best utilize the media and technologies we create.. #NHsmc pic.twitter.com/EYqljyqnr7

— Sara Gatcomb (@SaraGatcomb) January 28, 2016

I love social media and all the information and resources it brings to me, but I do agree that sometimes it makes communication a little bit too easy. While we can message and inbox people and hide behind our computer screen, we shouldn’t forget our basic communication skills.