Social Media: Is It Good or Bad?

Social Media: Is it Good or Bad? It is incredible that only fifteen years ago, people were still using the postal services as their primary source for communication. Although the United Postal Service has not gone out of business, people are switching over from the old fashion stamp and letter to e-mails, social media sites, and instant messaging as a more convenient way of exchanging information. In just a few years, the usage of social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, has been increasing exponentially, and is becoming more and more active (Zuckerberg). However, despite the conveniences, the popularity of social media has also gained averse viewpoints from a more traditionally conservative audience. Nevertheless, social media has beneficially changed society because of its educational benefits, public relation tools, and communicational conveniences. As the popularity of social media increases, so do the amount of educational benefits. Education is an important aspect in any sort of society because it mentally prepares a generation to lead future businesses, industries, and governments in the future. In some areas of the world, the availability of schools and teachers are scarce. Even in the United States, certain students are deprived of higher leveled learning because educators are not found in those specific areas. But with the resources we have through the internet, we can provide education to people all around the world, as long as they can access it. "84 percent of teenagers today" are currently using methods, such as instant messaging, as a means of educational communication (Blake 5). There are benefits that can be derived from learning in a virtual classroom, such as confidentiality; with the idea of being anonymous behind a computer screen, students are also less intimidated to engage in class discussions and ask questions (Blake 5). These new innovative techniques of learning can stimulate more advance levels of thinking. As technology and social media continue to grow, so will the availability of these online education programs. While the education receives benefits through social media, another area of society takes full advantage of the tools provided by online networking as well. In recent years, social media has become a very valued method of spreading information to a mass audience. Since many people use social media sites, groups like industries, businesses, and organizations utilize Facebook pages and twitter to post updates and information. Social media provides "communities of interest" for marketers to target specific audiences (Martin 220). It is much easier to track groups of people who are interested in a specific product by searching their 'likes ' on Facebook or their comments on Youtube. This technique becomes much more efficient than sending advertisements in the mail to every house in a neighborhood after doing surveys. Even Barrack Obama was able to gain publicity through the power of social media; his "name [gained national] recognition in 2004" which eventually led to the title of the United States president (Martin 220). As long as his public relations officers were able to locate communities of interest, they were able to win over support through networks on social media sites. Even if you already have a stable access to education, and you do not seek any tools for public relations, social media can still serve as a valuable resource. Communication is the obvious reason for why we all use social media; beside using to advertising and education, we use social media to chat with our friends and communicate with our family. When families live very far away, people are able to reconnect with them through a network of social media. Even in jobs, people often use Facebook groups to create an online virtual community to build stronger bonds among the workers (Melwood). This is the same for people who use instant messaging to communicate with friends at school. Social media provides many benefits because it is just one of the many things that has been invented to make our lives easier. Social media has not always been this convenient but it has definitely come a long way; even up to this day, it is evolving and becoming even more convenient for the usage of others. The more people get involved in the virtual world of social media, the more benefits become available.

Works Cited
Blake, Robert J. Brave New Digital Classroom: Technology and Foreign Language Learning. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown UP, 2008. Print. Page 5
Martin, Dick. Secrets of the Marketing Masters: What the Best Marketers Do--and Why It Works. New York: American Management Association, 2009. Print.
Melwood, Ronnelle. "3 Benefits of Creating a Facebook Group." Benefits of a Facebook Group. SetUFreeVA, 13 June 2011. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.setufreeva.com/social-media-2/3-benefits-creating-facebook-group/>.
Zuckerberg, Mark. "One Billion People on Facebook." One Billion People on Facebook. Facebook, 4 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. <http://newsroom.fb.com/News/One-Billion-People-on-Facebook-1c9.aspx>.

Cited: Blake, Robert J. Brave New Digital Classroom: Technology and Foreign Language Learning. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown UP, 2008. Print. Page 5 Martin, Dick. Secrets of the Marketing Masters: What the Best Marketers Do--and Why It Works. New York: American Management Association, 2009. Print. Melwood, Ronnelle. "3 Benefits of Creating a Facebook Group." Benefits of a Facebook Group. SetUFreeVA, 13 June 2011. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. &lt;http://www.setufreeva.com/social-media-2/3-benefits-creating-facebook-group/&gt;. Zuckerberg, Mark. "One Billion People on Facebook." One Billion People on Facebook. Facebook, 4 Oct. 2012. Web. 11 Oct. 2012. &lt;http://newsroom.fb.com/News/One-Billion-People-on-Facebook-1c9.aspx&gt;.