Social Media in Reflection
As my time with the LIS 790 course comes to a close, I can not help but consider the evolution of social media and its subsequent effects it has had on us as a society. Social media is a power apparatus, in both a positive and negative format. It can bring people together and it can tear them apart. It can build people up and take people down. It is not a concept to take lightly, yet it can not be something we are afraid of either. Considering these points, there are a couple articles I would like to pay mind to.
The Evolution of Social Media Influence in the Workplace
Written by Grover, Kumar Kar, and Dwivedi for the International Journal of Information Management Data Insights in 2022, The Evolution of Social Media Influence--A Literature Review & Research Agenda speaks about the influence of human activities and decision-making that social media has had over the last few decades.
"Social media influences an individual's performance, knowledge, innovation capabilities, which subsequently impacts the individual performance" of the worked organization or company (Grover, P., Kar, A. K., & Dwivedi, Y. 2022). Social media has evolved to be a professional development tool where co-workers and networks can "improve their word of mouth and...build stronger relationships" with others and potential customers, clients, and coworkers (Grover, P. 2022). It can be used to improve business communication through social presence and relay performance and recruitment of a workplace and/or individual's needs in the workforce.
For all its good, social media does come with drawbacks. Social media mismanagement can lead to negative implications for an individual and/or organization. This is where the idea of personal versus professional individual profiles comes into play. As much as we believe our profession does not have to be tied to our personal lives and choices, it will be in the world of social media. Organizations want individuals who relay their mission on a daily, which means bringing positive associations even when off the clock enjoying their personal lives. This is the downfall of social media. Online transparency does not escape view. The workforce will judge you by your digital footprint. What you put out there is who you are, even if you have changed, even if you have evolved and grown. The elements online dictate how the workplace will see you.
Social media has become an amazing input and output of data and a new information repository. The issue with this, though, stems from how we are using that information and what information WE choose to put there or internalize into ourselves. Below we will discuss this point further as we discuss social media and its impacts on teenagers.
Social Media & Teenagers
The second article I would like to highlight is by Rachel Ehmke for the Child Mind Institute Family Resource Center titled How Using Social Media Affects Teenagers. I have previously touched upon the issues being faced by teenagers as they navigate the growing digital world--see CIPA & COPPA and Digitial Tattoos & Data Analysis--but what has not been discussed is the psychological implications that social media can have on young adolescents. Social media is an amazing tool in education, professional development, and personal social abundance. Like anything, though, it needs to be used in moderation and with careful consideration.
"Social media and text messages that have become so integral to teenage life are promoting anxiety and lowering self-esteem" (Ehmke, R. 2023). Social media is an amazing tool, I have no doubt about that. Like any tool, however, it must be fine-tuned and thoroughly learned or it will be destructive in an individual's hands. Teenagers are at a critical point in life where biology is often fighting against them and the world is throwing more information at them than they might have ever experienced before. As discussed above, social media is an amazing tool, especially for those building their professional network. However, mismanagement of social media can be dangerous for a reputation and/or personal sentiment. We have all heard of the dangers of cyberbullying and its implications on one's mental health, but there is also the element of imposter syndrome. Teenager or adult, imposter syndrome is a condition that affects anyone alike. It makes a person feel like a fraud, despite what external accomplishments might say otherwise. Social media, especially amongst teenagers exacerbates this. We are always seeing people put their best foot forward on social media; highlighting their accomplishments and their key moments of excitement. This is fine until we forget to reflect that these are the positives people want to share. No one wants to share the negatives, their insecurities, and their failures with others online. Teenagers see this and believe themselves to be alone in their insecurities and their mundane approaches, but this isn't true. Social media is a great tool until we forget how to interact on a physical social level. Physical social interaction allows for fewer misunderstands and kindness some don't exhibit behind the protection of a screen. Teenagers, and really anyone, need to have moderation. Social media cannot and should not be their only source of social endeavors.
Citations
Ehmke, R. (2023, August 10). How using social media affects teenagers. Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/how-using-social-media-affects-teenagers/
Grover, P., Kar, A. K., & Dwivedi, Y. (2022, September 11). The evolution of social media influence - A literature review and research agenda. International Journal of Information Management Data Insights. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667096822000593
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