This is the next blog of KCO’s ongoing Blog Series. This blog is written by Mr. Sohail Arif, Senior Associate, Audit and Assurance Services.
It is difficult to quantify the impact and power of Social Media, however, in simpler words, it is enormously influential. There have been few recent incidents, which easily prove its true depth of impact.
This first took a massive toll in the beginning of 2011 with the political turmoil of Egypt. The Internet’s far-reaching speed pooled with social media websites to create something impressive. The voices of Egypt stood together to take over the regime of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, and they spread all throughout the world.
This phenomenon has served as a revolution. For the very first time, people’s voices and opinions were coming together to form something larger than themselves. But we have to wonder, is that power too much? History has repeated itself in telling us that it becomes a problem when one voice has too much power.
Another way social media can act as a curse is through its mutable behavior of our society. Some say social media sites can offer to shorter attentions and less efficient work. Not only that, but my cohort, that is, youngsters, tends to abuse social media and use it for fame. Regardless of social media being a term with the connotation of connecting us, that seems to be one thing it is doing least. Such relationships are so scattered and insignificant that many people don’t even know some of their ‘friends.’ These thin relationships have real value, and are illusions. In this abuse of social media, values of building relationships and making new connections, as were the intentions of social media, are taken away and transformed wrongfully. Nevertheless, many people do use social media for positive purposes, which lead me to the side of social media that is a complete blessing to this modern world.
When used properly, the benefits of social media can far outweigh some of its downfalls. Social media changes the world every day, in ways both small and large. For everyone who uses it, social media at least promotes and encourages communication and lends to more modern ways of learning and communicating. Not only do they lend to more efficiency in our rapidly evolving technologically advanced society, but social media sites are also some of the best ways to positively influence people by sharing your opinions. They act as platforms for your voice. If you have great ideas or want to be heard or found, websites like Google+, Twitter, and LinkedIn can promote those good intentions. Through these sites, you can find millions of people who share the same interests as you, and start making a difference, step by step.
Social media websites can operate as both curses and blessings in our modern society. The difference between it as a curse and a blessing all dangles on the shoulders of its users. You may choose to misuse the potential of Facebook, or to change the world with Twitter. The difference in your actions may be small, but the end result varies greatly, and it is up to you to decide social media’s role in your life.
Sohail Arif
