Dark side of Social Medias

By: Andrea Wright

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Andrea Wright
 Dark side of social media

Everyone thinks social media is a great resource on staying connected. You can stay in contact

with family members that live near or far, old and new friends, and coworkers, but how safe are

you using social medias?

According to, https://www.statista.com/topics/1164/social-networks (1) As of 2016, 78 percent

of the United States population had a social networking profile. Thats extremely alarming how

many people are connected to social media platforms. Chart 1 (2) below, shows how social

media platform users have grown from 2008 to 2017. While in Chart 2 (3) shows Pew Research

Center survey showing people from all age ranges are accessing social media sites. People are

consumed with their phones and social media that in a sense it has turned into an addiction.

Society is starting to become more concerned with how many likes or tweets we have than truly

appreciating a good heart felt conversation at face value with one another. Going out to dinner

and most people are on their phones instead of interacting with the people they are sitting

amongst. Being able to express ones feelings are coming harder and harder to come by. People

are putting their whole life story on the internet and not thinking of the consequences of how its

on the internet forever or how people cant unseen what you have written. They are also

critiquing or critizing others whether they are their friends, acquaintances, or celebrities.

Individuals on social media are starting to believe that they must voice their opinions about

everything and anything regardless of who they might hurt. Its creating this dark web of how

everyone is either trying to portray their life is perfect or making individuals feel they arent

enough with this competition amongst everyone. Its becoming a challenge in schools, and the

workforce to control the use of social media while also trying to find ways to incorporate it to

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make it beneficial. Businesses can advertise their businesses and are able to have customers post

why they like their businesses, but also face risking bad reviews. In the table (3) shown below, a

survey from advisory firm grant thorton, there was an even split between the executives that

were very concerned about the potential risks of social media (13%) and those who claimed their

company did not believe social media posed any appreciable risks to the organization (13%).

At 71 % , the majority of survey participants said their company was concerned about potential

risk, but believed the risks could be mitigated or avoided. Schools are able to inform parents

and students of events or issues the school is having but also could face back lash of students or

parents speaking ill of faculty members or another student. No matter the age, people are getting

bullied. Bullied so bad, individuals are committing suicide or causing serious harm to

themselves. According to, http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/cyber-bullying-

statistics.html (4) More than 1 in 3 young people have experienced cyberthreats online

Its also temptation at its finest, being able to connect with strangers you find attractive, or

past relationships. According to, https://www.statisticbrain.com/online-dating-statistics/ (5)

Total number of people in the U.S. who have tried online dating is 49,650,000 But taking this

chance of online dating you are also risking being lied to about the others identity because cat

fishing is being increasing popular.

Predators are luring young users into meeting them or having risky photos sent to them. In fact,

according to: http://puresight.com/Pedophiles/Online-Predators/online-predators-statistics.html

(6) One in five U.S. teenagers who regularly log on to the Internet says they have received an

unwanted sexual solicitation via the Web. Solicitations were defined as requests to engage in

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sexual activities or sexual talk, or to give out personal sexual information. (only 25% of those

told a parent)

While it seems like social media is a genius idea, it is such a powerful tool that people dont

know how to use it or protect themselves from the dangers of it. Should definitely come with a

warning label use at your own risk and all children, and teenagers should always have an

responsible adult monitoring their actions on social medias.

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CHART 1: Percentage of U.S. population with a social media profile from 2008 to 2017

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 CHART 2: Pew Research Center Survey

TABLE ONE: Concern about potential risks

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 References

1. Gordon, Kyle. Topic: Social Media Statistics. Www.statista.com,

www.statista.com/topics/1164/social-networks/.
2. * All products require an annual contract. Prices do not include sales tax (New York
residents only). U.S. Population with a Social Media Profile 2017. Statista,
www.statista.com/statistics/273476/percentage-of-us-population-with-a-social-network-
profile/.
3. Shara, Aaron and. Facts And Stats About Social Media Usage. Aaron And Shara, 23
Sept. 2016, aaronshara.com/social-media-usage.html.
4. Survey: 71% Of Companies Concerned Over Social Media Risks, But Only 36%
Provide Employee Training. Marketing Land, 27 Sept. 2013,
marketingland.com/survey-71-of-companies-concerned-about-social-media-risks-only-
36-do-social-media-training-60212.
5. Cyber Bullying Statistics. Bullying Statistics, 7 July 2015,
www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/cyber-bullying-statistics.html.
6. www.statisticbrain.com/online-dating-statistics/.
7. Online Predators - Statistics. Online Predators - Statistics | PureSight |
Pedophiles/Online Predators, puresight.com/Pedophiles/Online-Predators/online-
predators-statistics.html.

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