Times have changed and ways to satisfy our need for social interaction have evolved along with the advancement of technology. The Internet has allowed people from all over the world to interact in different ways and that is why social networking sites have also dominated the scene and continue to thrive towards solutions to stay connected. Facebook, Youtube, Blogger, Instagram, LinkedIn and Myspace are just a few of the hundreds of platforms provided to best enhance the power of sharing. These virtual environments have taken on the role of passing time, staying connected with friends and family, meeting people, playing games, having fun, keeping up to date with news and information, and self-improvement. Yet despite great progress, the World Wide Web has significantly undermined our emotional capacity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Social networking technology has negatively altered our communication with each other because it has encouraged bad behavior, lowered self-esteem, and created a barrier within relationships. While the Internet age has significantly changed the way people interact, it has driven discouraging behaviors. While many use social media as a source of entertainment, the pressure received from what the public sees online has hindered individuality and development. Most of that percentage are teenagers who are easily influenced into what they see as good and bad by things they hear and see from secondary sources. The psychological state of what is considered acceptable is strongly persuaded by the opinions present in their feeds as GOOD. Posting photos of people doing drugs or drinking alcohol because a popular classmate commented last week that everyone should try it at least once or dropping class because a friend texted to sign up are incidents that shouldn't be done , but which happen continuously every day. Not only has it subconsciously pushed people to judge and perceive things in a specific way, but it has brought and made cyberbullying a major issue within the Internet spectrum. According to Enough is Enough – an organization that seeks safer use of the Internet – 43% have experienced cyberbullying and 95% of teenagers who use social media have witnessed it (Enough is Enough). There has been a sharp increase in harmful behavior since joining social platforms became a popular trend. Smoking, drinking, sexual activity, crime-related activities are just some of the acts into which people are pressured by their peers. The access and speed of communication through social media has ultimately placed users in the vulnerable position of being forced to perform harmful acts and instill a destructive point of view. Along with the harmful influence of social networking sites, problems of low esteem among the public are also on the rise. A substantial portion has been repeatedly linked to the constant need to attract attention through status updates, photos, videos, etc. Social media relationships have fostered growing narcissism in all individuals. Unfortunately, the need to have the best selfies and derive maximum positive reinforcement from them has exacerbated the human tendency to be well regarded or appreciated in the physical world. Frequent comparisons between an individual's life and that of others have gradually become based on insecurity, mistrust and other negative emotions. Although social platforms arean accessible way to learn more about interests, this does not stop people from posting and uploading things that are harmful to their psychological state. Much of the positive reinforcement and feeling of acceptance depends on the results people show online. Except this also allows SOMEONE to post things. “Researchers at Humboldt University in Berlin found that a third of Facebook users in their study felt worse after visiting the site, which sparked frustration, jealousy and decreased life satisfaction, particularly when looking at holidays and other people's holiday photos. Those most vulnerable to these negative feelings were people who did not post or personally engage in any interpersonal interactions on Facebook, but who used it as a source of information by browsing other people's newsfeeds and profiles” (Peek). There is also a high probability that the information mentioned on the site is inaccurate and misleading. Many people on social networks are known to present idealized versions, leading others to pity their lives if they think they will never get to that rewarding stage. It has been proven that women are more prone to depression resulting from the media. In a recent study from the University of Connecticut, “women with high levels of body image self-discrepancy were more likely to engage in social comparisons through exposure to less-than-ideal advertising messages, as well as more likely to engage in such comparison processes induced self-directions". negative consequences." While on the surface social networks appear to bring people together, some are eventually diagnosed with depression, envy, low self-esteem and social isolation. The impacts of social media usage and many of the outcomes have hindered our sense of connection by taking away the initial goal of many platforms – to stay informed of people, but has only paved the way towards poor mental health. Social networking has certainly given people something to do in the midst of boredom, but it has also created an emotional disconnection and, in due course, a physical separation. It is responsible for contributing to the lack of social interaction when meeting face to face. Out of habit, people automatically resume scrolling through feeds on their phones, laptops and tablets when they're in company. People feel neglected and ignored, thinking that they are probably not worth the other person's time. This causes growing tension between the two sides. The internet has become a haven to retreat to, which has posed social media addiction as a barrier to people's skill development. The lack of social interaction affects a person's work and professional environment, but it also pushes people out of their personal lives. In one study, the results confirmed the discomfort of young people when they are offline and showed “how damaged or conflicting family relationships lead people aged 15 and over to spend more time connected to the Internet in an attempt to integrate or protest against their interactions family members." People are becoming addicted to checking these sites because they feel it is their only source of social life at some point. Failure to understand the consequences of social media addiction has made it disruptive to reality and contradicts the goal of getting to know someone when given the opportunity to do so. An emotional and physical barrier has become a price to pay when using social networking sites when people rely on them too much. Some suggest that communicating via forums or online chat apps is more efficient than the phone or mail.Social scientists have found that their digital use is beneficial because it allows people to stay in touch with distant people and sometimes know more about someone than if they spoke in person. Most people agree that calling or preparing a letter is time-consuming and usually requires immediate responses, which often leads to awkward silences. While the Internet has given us the joy of staying in touch with friends and family, colleagues and acquaintances, as well as people we've never met in person, all over the world, there is no overall quality control over what you read or you see. Only judgments can be made, and since media posts are usually intended to be viewed by more than one person, the closeness and privacy of face-to-face discussions is lost. Social media relationships take on the role of visualization, and ultimately, many disputes, misunderstandings, and disagreements have intensified due to superficial contact via monitors and handheld devices. Text is often interpreted and interpreted differently simply based on the tone in which the person reads it and becomes problematic when the person is attacked with comments about something the person did not mean to do. In the case, in U.S. V. Drew, a thirteen-year-old girl named Megan Meier killed herself after receiving harassing messages on Myspace from someone she thought was her online boyfriend, "Josh Evans." This case attracted people from all sides because state officials were unable to take any action as they could not provide any criminal evidence to prosecute. “This case did more than increase accountability; now exposes anyone who misrepresents themselves, apparently in any way, on the Internet in violation of the Terms of Service to federal criminal prosecution.” Precisely for this reason, and already mentioned previously, not everything found on the Internet is truthful. It becomes unreliable, especially from a business perspective, and digital communication is only temporary compared to the goal if you eventually have to talk to him in person later. Whether or not this platform benefits the community of individuals remains uncertain, as everyone identifies differently with what they see or hear on the Internet. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay The World Wide Web immediately became the primary method of knowledge and communication thanks to the accessibility and efficiency of information that increasingly became just a click away. However, this has also led to passive-aggressive behavior, where a select few choose to send things they would never say to the people on the other side. However, along with the joy of efficient knowledge and easy access to communication, there are consequences to the use of social networks that can alter an individual's behavior, mindset, and relationships with others. Virtual relationships are only conditional and, in retrospect, are based on a number of factors that can easily interfere with this form of communication. Try having a relationship when your Internet connection/Wi-Fi service doesn't work or works very slowly, or when your battery dies in the middle of explaining something very important. Social networking should not be encouraged as a substitute for face-to-face communication or learning how to negotiate public and private issues, but as a temporary alternative with the understanding that there are pitfalls in participating in online networking. Works Cited Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., & Lampe, C. (2011). Connection strategies: Implications for social capital,, 63(1), 78-97.