Last
Thursday, the class went to visit the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo. The center
is a showcase for the Nobel Peace Prize and the ideals it represents, as well
as being an arena for political and cultural reflection. When we arrived, a
guide took us on a tour around the building. The main theme was democracy and
social media, and through both multimedia, interactive technology and regular
exhibitions, we discussed different aspects of this subject. Some of the
questions we talked about were; Will social media lead to more democracy? Is
Snowden a traitor or a hero? Could social media challenge authorities, and what
happens when or if social media replaces traditional mass media? We were also
encouraged to participate in the debate about how social media changes society,
by answering questions on social media. I found the visit very interesting, and
I learnt a lot from it. One of the things that maybe made the strongest
impression on me was realizing how all our online activity is stored and
analyzed somewhere, and also exactly how much power social media has.
Communication has always been an important part of the human life, as well as being essential for developing our society. As long as we can remember, we have used communication of different forms: body language, sign language and verbal language. Today, we have come even further in developing new ways to communicate; by introducing social media and networking. But how exactly do we use social media, and are there only good sides to it?
Social media can be defined as “forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos).” (definition from www.merriam-webster.com This phenomenon has become a natural part of most people’s everyday life. Everywhere you look, people are chatting, blogging, commenting on forums, instagramming, tweeting and snapchatting. We can access it at all times by simply logging on to our smartphones, iPads, computers or other electronic devices.
There are several advantages of using social media. Some of the most commonly used sites are Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and tumblr, and through these platforms, we can connect with other people and be part of an online community. In addition to this, it allows us to share our thought and ideas, and to keep up with what is happening in the world. According to socialnetworking.procon.org, over 50% of people learn about breaking news on social media.
However, the widespread use of social networking sites can also have negative consequences. When you make an account on a social networking site, all the personal information you add, the things you post, share or like, is stored somewhere. On some platforms, like for example Facebook, your activity on the site is used to build up a picture of you and target you with advertisement. Moreover, if the information falls into the wrong hands, it could have much worse outcomes.
Even though we like to think that social media brings people together, it could be a source of isolation. Many people rather spend time on social networks than going out and having face-to-face interaction. Amongst others, this could lead to both physical, mental and emotional problems. The fact that people can stay in their rooms, and simultaneously spend time on social network (often anonymously), could also cause cyber bullying. Many organizations, such as "End to Cyber Bullying Organization" (ETCB), are constantly working to raise awareness in this particular area.
In conclusion, there are both good and bad sides to social media. However, one thing is for sure: it has come to stay. The best thing we can do is to make sure we are aware of the consequences that social media usage can have, and to use the sites responsibly.
My name is Astrid, and I am a student at Sandvika upper secondary school. You have now entered my International English blog, through which I will be posting posts related to the International English subject. This could be everything from the English language to interesting novels, social media, environmental issues and global challenges. I hope you enjoy!
