MISUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA
“On flip side of the coin of Social Media: The Hidden Truth”
Throughout the history, human inventions have changed the world drastically and transformed our world into a global village through social media. But unfortunately, some illegal communities are using this platform as a tool that benefits them only.
Megan Meier was a random, American teenager who committed suicide in 2006. Reason? Cyberbullying. It means to bully someone with the aid of internet. This isn’t only the story of Megan but thousands of teenagers who suffer every day and every minute of their life. According to a survey, 10.5% of middle school students in US were cyberbullied! Nowadays, cyberbullies are especially active on social media. . They are really creepy fellows who in the beginning act as our sympathizers, or friends but as soon as they lay hands on our data they desires, they start to blackmail or impersonate us on internet. Usually, they do it for money or revenge if they know us individually. Teenagers are most likely to be victimized often, blackmailed via email, impersonated or harassed. Suicidal rates and social anxiety issues are increasing rapidly in teenagers and adolescents. The future of our generation is in our hands and we must protect it by supervising our children’s social activities.
“Privacy is the highest virtue”, is a classical saying that unfortunately doesn’t apply in the digital world of technology. There, invading private space and stealing data of an individual is many people’s routine. Therefore, in such cases hacking is a useful tool. Hacking usually refers to the illegal break-in in any technological device .e.g. a mobile, computer or laptop. A typical hacker who hacks for financial gain is known as black hat hacker. A grey hat hacker hacks either for fun or bulling other people especially if he/she is a high school student. Nevertheless, hackers are targeting an increasing amount of victims on social media. They usually hack our social media accounts and steal all our information from it .e.g. our pictures, email and even home address. Later, their second step may include contacting via unknown number and blackmailing us to give them a huge sum of money. Some hackers may directly start to impersonate us on internet or use our account for terrorist purposes.
Social media plays a crucial role in forming our perspective but when fake news enters the monopoly maybe it’s not the best option. Fake news is intentional dispersal of spam or misleading information usually aimed to ruin a public figure’s reputation. During the past few years, dissemination of fake news is increasing rapidly especially on platforms like social media because of two foremost reasons: low cost and easy access by everyone. It attracts people by methods like false click baits or manipulated content. In which either the cover of video is not matching the content or the original content is manipulated for example the doctored images. Thus, impact of fake news is atrocious on the audience; it bewilders them to differentiate between the fake news and the truth. Moreover, many times it veils the truth which usually outcomes in disfiguring a public figure and sometimes even in political fights! Recently, in 2015, BBC reported fake news regarding Muslims in Myanmar (Burma). Doctored images, flashy headlines and misleading photos were used, shared online in the support of the Rohingya. This led a huge uprising against the Muslims in the country. In 2015, BBC reported fake news regarding Muslims in Myanmar (Burma). The reasons for spreading fake news are numerous but few might include: political gain, monetization of products that may otherwise not attract much attention or simply to entice viewers.. According to a study in March 2020; 47% adults of USA, said they encountered at least some sort of fake news regarding Covid-19 on social media which seemed completely fake. So, we conclude, fake news on social media is immensely serious issue that needs to be addressed by the government.
Time is the most precious asset we possess which if used wisely can make us successful and prosperous as much as we want to be but, in today’s advanced era where social media is the main attraction for the new generation, it seems quite difficult to manage it thoughtfully. Nowadays, teenagers are the most vulnerable victims to excessive and thus; time wasting use of social media. They are attracted by flashy videos, a new “story” posted by their friend or only to fit-in the cool group of their school. Thus, it often results in low grades and even diseases or disorders like obesity and depression. It can also lead to an aggressive attitude and bodily insecurities like beauty. The time that should have been allocated to their studies and future counseling is being wasted on Facebook and Twitter Moreover, excessive use of social media frequently outcomes in distant relationship with actual people and eventually to depression. Maybe social media isn’t that “social” after all and what does the word “social” means to you?
Despite all the great inventions of humankind internet is the only one that impacted our daily lives beyond the wildest imagination but we must remember that it is a double-edged sword. So, we must take precautionary measures like revelation of only mandatory information and not trusting everything that our eyes may witness.
