What, to you, are the advantages and disadvantages of social media?

1. 85

   midget38posted 9 years ago

   What, to you, are the advantages and disadvantages of social media?

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2. 61

   favoredposted 9 years ago

   This is mixed for me because it can be both positive and negative depending on how people interact.  For me I've been blessed with meeting new people from all over the world due to social media. Without it this wouldn't have happened.
   
   Plus, I have written almost all my life, but not internet type writing. Social media has allowed me to ask questions and give answers when I can (like here) so that I can learn.  I'm always amazed at what people know.
   
   On the other hand, people can get "clickish" and that can be painful.  I don't care for some of the things that some people post because they are unkind, but that may be due to various reasons of their disappointment.
   
   Whatever it is I hope you have had some good feedback from social media.

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   Sri Tposted 9 years ago

   The advantage is, it's entertainment. The disadvantage is, it is an illusion, a distraction and a total waste of time. Every statement or topic appears and disappears. Why consume the mind energy with trivia that vanishes almost immediately?

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4. 90

   Ilonagardenposted 9 years ago

   Social media provides quick, easy communication, spreading lightning fast from apps built into websites, and phones. It is open to anyone. Good for creating conversations and connections with people one would otherwise have no interaction with.
   
   That is also some of the drawback. It takes quite a lot of time to keep up with the huge inflow of communication; takes effort to sort out the valuable from the opportunistic and useless.
   
   The focus of this kind of media has switched from "social" in the true sense to commercial, and that makes it less valuable to consumers and those who used it to communicate ideas.
   
   Keeping up with change, and finding information are still the strong points of learning how to use and navigate the many forms of social media.

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5. 0

   sheilamyersposted 9 years ago

   The advantage is being able to keep in touch with family and friends spread all over the country. The disadvantage, at least in my mind, is the fact that so many people use social media as their prime form of communication and have lost the ability to speak to people face to face.

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6. 83

   liesl5858posted 9 years ago

   For me the advantage of social media is that I am able to chat with my family and friends who are on the other side of the world and if there is an emergency I would be able to contact my relations quickly. The only disadvantage that I experience is that I don't talk to them face to face in person but I must not be greedy. I am quite satisfied with talking to them in words.

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7. 60

   lolontkaposted 8 years ago

   Social media is to my mind a wonderful thing. Like everything else it can be used for bad as well as good. You can't stop all wicked people unfortunately but it's up to parents to know who their children are talking to on say, Facebook. People who spread hatred and advocate terrorism will find a way to do it with or without social media. That's the bad but to me it is outweighed by the enormous potential for good. I believe that every person upon retiring should be presented with a free tablet and lessons on how to use it.(In a few years time all the people retiring will most likely have one already).
   Elderly, lonely people could benefit so much in keeping up with their friends via social media. Even if they don't participate every day a nice post from a friend can make such a difference to a lonely person. Sometimes people just don't feel like using the phone and letter writing is sadly no longer popular. At least with social media you and your contacts are a virtual group. Of course people should be encouraged to go out and socialise but with increasing age comes infirmity and a disinclination to leave the house that much. I think social media in that context could be a life saver if for example a frequent poster suddenly goes quiet without any explanation.
   Personally I am not too many years from retirement age and although I have family and friends around me I feel grateful every day for the internet and social media. There is a whole world put there waiting to be discovered with a few taps on a key board or screen.  It's amazing  and something that none of us should ever take for granted.

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