Connecting and Educating the World: The Benefits of Social Media

Abstract

This paper argues that social media is a benefit to society. The paper begins with an introduction that states that while social media does pose some questionable issues, it is overall too beneficial to be considered negative. The first point that helps show how beneficial social media is, is a discussion of political uprisings like the Arab Spring. This section argues that without social media, these uprisings would not be possible. The second point explains how social media helps homebound individuals connect with the outside world and why this is important. The final point addresses the issue of education and how social media is beginning to find ways to provide people with good, free education. The paper ends with a summary of these points and how it is important to remember that the negatives of social media are far outweighed by the positives.

Connecting and Educating the World: The Benefits of Social Media

Many people argue that social media allows for a more anonymous world. The Craigslist Killer would not have had the opportunity to target so many victims if not for social media. It is difficult for parents to monitor children’s activities with so platforms. However, social media is too important to ignore because of a few risks. Globally, social media is important because it allows individuals in less informed nations to speak out against unfair treatment by the government. It also lets people who have limited access to the outside world live their lives meaningfully. Lastly, social media can provide free access to education for those who cannot afford it otherwise. While there are many reasons for people to be concerned about the growing trends of social media, the benefits of a more connected world far outweigh the negative issues that arise.

With recent political uprisings gaining massive amounts of attention through platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, it is becoming clear how important social media is. The Arab Spring uprising was the first example of a movement gaining attention and momentum through social media. Jeffrey Ghannam’s article, “Social Media in the Arab World: Leading up to the Uprisings of 2011” argues that giving Arab individuals access to social media gave them the ability to “inform, mobilize, entertain, create communities, increase transparency and seek to hold governments accountable” (2011, p. 4). This is important because until very recently, government-run news outlets in Arab countries were citizens’ only access to information. Social media gives access to information and communication to individuals, who until now, did not even realize the inequalities of their lives. The Arab Spring was only the first instance of citizens using social media to speak out. Egypt and Tunisia followed quickly, and the Ukraine is using these platforms to share information now. Social media is important because it allows the people of these nations to finally have a voice they have been denied.

While not everyone can relate to political unrest, most people can think of a person in their life who is unable to take a real part. Whether this is a disabled grandparent or someone who suffers from a mental condition that makes leaving their home difficult, there are many people who benefit from access to social media. Homebound people can use platforms like Facebook and Twitter to stay connected to friends and family, but they can also use social media to gain access to communities they would otherwise be unable to. A homebound person could not, for example, join a book discussion at their library, but with websites like Goodreads, they can now have that interaction from their own home. Social media allows for homebound people to have a larger community than they ever could before.

Lastly, education is more expensive than ever, and we are learning that having a degree does not always guarantee a career. This does not mean that education is any less important. For individuals who want it, there is knowledge to be learned in any subject. Youtube channels such as Crash Course and SciShow use experts in various fields to deliver information to people who would not otherwise have access to it. Reddit has started the University of Reddit, where experts offer courses in requested topics. These are only several of many examples of free, quality education that can be found through social media. An educated society is more important than ever, and this use of social media is vital.

While it is true that social media has caused many serious problems, it has also provided many more important solutions to common issues of our time. Social media has been an impactful force in many political uprisings. Social media allows for people with limited access to the world to live more engaged and fulfilled lives than they otherwise could without it. Lastly, social media gives individuals access to education when it is not always easy to get it. Overall, our world is a smarter, better world because of social media.

Reference

Ghannam, J. (2011). Social Media in the Arab World: Leading up to the Uprisings of2011. Center for International Media Assistance, 1(1), 1-38.