EOTO 1: Instagram & Its Impact

Social Media & Instagram

Image above found here

History

Social media can be defined as using online communication and must consist of user-generated content. Social media in those terms did not begin until the creation of Six Degrees and Friendster which were started between the years 1997 and 2002 (Jones). MySpace launched in 2003, followed by Facebook in 2004, and Twitter in 2006. Since they were founded in 2010 and 2011, Instagram and Snapchat are two of the newest, most popular and prevalent forms of social media, and they haven’t even been around for ten years. Social media is new to society and is having clear impacts on the generations that are now having to grow up with it. Although social media is new, in 2015, 2.62 billion people used social media, and it was projected that 3 billion users will be on social media by 2021 (Jones). Social media’s ever-changing, adaptations to what society and viewers demand at one specific period in time is what makes the concept of social media so long-lasting and influential. Social media platforms including Instagram adjust to the demands of users quickly. Within the past five years, Instagram has added many new features including Instagram live, stories, multi-photo posts, promotional business public accounts, and Instagram TV just to name a few. 

Its Impacts (Positive & Negative)

Social media is an outlet that can be used at time of the day and is often rarely or never regulated by supervising adults. This could lead to negative thoughts for teen users or being able to increase the chance of cyberbullying because of the automatic network it creates. Social media may be used excessively by teens and may promote misconceptions when teens unfavorably compare themselves to their peers. In fact, from a study, they analyzed they concluded that when social media use is limited to 30 minutes per day, teens experience “a significant reduction in levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems, and FOMO” (Robinson & Smith, 2020). FOMO is known as a term that stands for a “fear of missing out.” Social media creates a platform to show others what you are doing at all times, often causing someone to feel a desire to be there or wonder why they weren’t invited. These feelings can overcome a social-media user’s emotions when they are seeing certain posts and thinking these things while they are isolated and alone in their room. Social media can also become a distraction, fill all your free time leaving you no time for self-reflection, cause sleep problems, and contribute or worsen symptoms of anxiety and depression (Robinson & Smith). 

In contrast to that, the Center for Mental Health suggests there are two ways we can make social media a place to help mental health, rather than hurt it. The first is “creating and sustaining connections between people and thereby reducing loneliness” (Stephen & Edmonds 4). The second way is using social media as a platform for “boosting people’s self-esteem by presenting a positive version of ourselves to the world and our networks” (Stephen & Edmonds 4). Making social media platforms a way to connect and support each other is important, rather than focusing on the bad that can come with it.

Another positive that comes from social media is online network marketing. Social media marketing is contributing to much of the world's economy right now, and if you were planning on jumping into a business that is designed around social network marketing, there is no better time than now. Social media is a way to share ideas, a way for political figures to push agendas, and a way for an average boy or girl to become a world-known influencer for positive reasons.

How I use the platform in my daily life?

In my daily life, I use Instagram for multiple things: promoting my business, connecting with friends, and a positive outlet for personal growth. I recently started an Arbonne business where I share products and the business opportunity on my Instagram every day. Often I am posting videos on my story, graphics in my squares, or reaching out to potential clients and business builders through direct messages. I also connect with friends by engaging in other's posts and staying connected with people from my home town who are now thousands of miles away from me making their lives at their own universities. Personal growth comes from following and interacting with people's accounts who educate me or inspire me to learn new things whether it is about a personal enneagram number, the BLM movement, or inspirational stories and blogs from previous successful people. 

References

Jones, Matthew. “The Complete History of Social Media: The Founding of Online Networking.” History Cooperative, 16 June 2015, historycooperative.org/the-history-of-social-media/.

Robinson, Lawrence, and Melinda Smith. “Social Media and Mental Health.” HelpGuide.org, 16 Apr. 2020, www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm.

Stephen, Ross, and Rhys Edmonds. Social Media, Young People, and Mental Health. Center for Mental Health, Sept. 2018, liwww.centreformentalhealth.org.uk.