Historically, there have already been several significant outages of some social networks, if we take Meta as an example, the last time such a situation occurred relatively recently, specifically on October 4, 2021, when many people experienced what it would be like without access to them, while the reaction of users were mixed. While for some the non-functionality was a difficult experience to accept, others welcomed it as an opportunity to take a break from the flow of information for a while.
Social media undoubtedly has its positives, but it can also have a negative effect. On the one hand, they help us establish contacts, allow us to build communities through which they can provide support in various situations, allow the sharing of content and valuable experiences, and offer space for free expression. On the other hand, it can lead some to low self-esteem when comparing themselves to the often idealized versions of others' lives, cause depression and disappointment in the reality of everyday life or even disrupt interpersonal relationships, not to mention some pitfalls, invasion of privacy, possible aggression or criminal activities, on which can also be found here. Today we look at 10 good and bad things that could happen if social media disappeared.
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It would be harder to find any close people
Networks such as Facebook, Instagram, X and others, offer users the opportunity to connect with peers and members of various groups that they might otherwise have a hard time finding and wouldn't have the chance to connect with.ancand establish contact with them in real life, regardless of whether they are other people with the same rare oneempowerment, fans of the film, or individuals who support the same cause.
Such connections often provide benefits to individuals, especially when they receive support in what can be a difficult life situation. For example, those struggling with mental health issues can reach out to others with the same issues. oneempowerment, asking for their opinion or sharing their experiences so far, and this scenario can be applied to practically any other area related to the selected interest, circumstances or problems.
We wouldn't compare ourselves so much to others
One of the side effects of "constantly" watching what everyone we know is doing at different stages of their lives is that it sometimes forces us to compare their achievements to our own and see if we've fallen behind them in some way. Unsurprisingly, it's not exactly the best for our mental well-being, so one of the things that could happen in the absence of social media is an increase in self-esteem.
This also eliminates one of the most common factors associated with dissatisfaction with one's own appearance, which is to some extent due to the confrontation with perfectly rendered and often heavily edited images on some accounts creating a false idea of "perfection". For example, groups supporting eating disorders, sometimes under hashtags like #thinspo or #fitspo, can be considered dangerous in this context, which reinforce disordered eating habits or provide advice and information that has a negative impact on health.
It would be harder for us to defend our positions and rights
Social media has given everyone a say. When individual voices come together, they can become drivers of important change. Using these tools effectively, it becomes achievable for individuals to engage in dialogue about societal issues, collaborate on transformational efforts, and co-create a sense of community.
The force behind supporters promoting a common purpose can influence the public and bring to the fore often very burning questions regarding, for example, civil rights, the environment, social conditions and many other areas.
Children would learn differently
Although it may not seem like it at first glance, and many parents may have the opposite experience, there is also evidence that social media can improve children's learning experiences. If we leave aside the pandemic period, even today it is not unusual for students to share assignments on the networks, give advice and solve the problems raised, which is why their correct and reasonable application should be part of what they learn and will be useful to them in adulthood. Their positive influence during joint learning and thus on study results is demonstrated, for example study from 2020 published in the journal Smart Learning Environments, claiming that students can then communicate better with peers and teachers. "Using online social media for collaborative learning makes it easier for students to be more creative, dynamic, and inquiry-oriented," the study authors wrote.
Whichever way we look at it, there's no denying that certain interactions simply aren't available. Perhaps children with the same intentions would visit each other more, while for some it would mean greater isolation and limitation of communication with the collective.
It would be harder for potential employers to find us
Whether we like it or not, social media has clearly become one of the ways for HR departments to find potential employees.ance. A significant number of companies and organizations use this space as part of the recruitment process. These entities publish a variety of content on the networks with the aim of establishing contact with candidates.
At the same time, this is how HR professionals check the applicant, which is why some of the contributions can become a reason for rejection. He also points to these facts survey carried out by the Job Description Library in 2021. In Czech conditions, this will most likely not apply to such an extent, but nevertheless, there are offers for example on FacebookThere is no shortage of them, and a significant portion of them are relevant.
Our homes might look different
Just like clothes, home design trends come and go over time. And not only that, the visual concept of the home can often reveal something about ourselves, so we think about it and try to give it the right impression. In the days before social media, people learned about the latest developments in interior design by flipping through the latest editions of their favorite catalogs or visiting furniture displays at local department stores.
But times have changed. In addition to the number of web portals, smart applications, augmented reality and other modern conveniences, social networks also influence our choices. So it's no wonder that we come across terms like "insta-interior". The various types of furniture, wallpaper, art and other home accessories from the contributions inspire us (some more, some less) when furnishing our own homes.
Most of us would probably go back to reading newspapers and magazines
Following current events at home and in the world through social networks has its advantages. First of all, it is very fast and convenient. At the same time, comments from other readers can also be engaging, and many people appreciate the opportunity to express their own point of view on a matter. Although it is nice not to have to "hunt" in printed newspapers to find out what is happening where, one of the disadvantages is that some messages may be inaccurate. Also, the intensity of the flow of information can have the effect thatoneWe will spend much more time on the posts than we originally planned.
Although we may feel nostalgic for the days of newspapers and magazines, lament the news from "X" and remember the relaxing moments in the company of a favorite magazine on the sofa with a cup of coffee, the truth is that the number of people who prefer printed sources is decreasing year by year. Without social media, it is most likely that a certain percentage of people would switch from Facebookback to the newspaper articles.
We would have more control over personal information
There is a perception that we have at least some control over our personal data, based on what we choose to publish and share with the world. Of course according to study from 2019, conducted by researchers from the University of Vermont and Australia's University of Adelaide, this cannot be considered a completely true picture.
In fact, even if a person does not have an account on Facebooku or X, a surprising amount of their personal information can be collected through posts made by their friends, family members, and others. Researchers liken this situation to passive smoking. Even though you may never have touched a cigarette in your life, you could be putting yourself at risk—in this case, your personal information—by other people. Without social media, such a risk would be much less likely, and we wouldn’t have to think and remind ourselves as much about whether or not to mention someone.
We would waste less time
In today's fast-paced world, we're looking for ways to be as productive as possible with the least amount of energy investment. And while there are plenty of ways to do that with social media, spending time on Facebooku, X, Instagram and other platforms, can take up a relatively large part of the day. According to experts, this time for adult users is on average around 1,5 hours a day, which is also confirmed by, for example, data eMarketer published in 2021. Although this may not be an outright loss, it is worth thinking about what we could do with that extra hour and a half every day, either for ourselves or for the benefit of our loved ones and acquaintances.
Would we be happier?
Does looking at your friends' Instagram make you happy? Of course, it is individual and valid for many users, but according to research, incl study from 2020 published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, this effect is rather the opposite with regard to the way the networks are used. Specifically, researchers found that passive browsing of platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or X, makes us feel worse than when we actively engage in communication with others.
Why is that so? In such a case, the interaction factor is neglected here, and this again leads us to tend to compare our position with the achievements of the people being watched. Derrick Wirtz, associate professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia and lead author, echoed this sentiment research with the headline "It's not whether, but how, people use social media that affects their well-being". Detachment from social networks is certainly not a recipe for happiness, but if we are already devoting our precious time to them, switching to a more active approach may not be harmful.
let it be…….
That's right, I'll survive it personally.
I can influence points 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 even today, even without social networks ceasing to exist. It's always about me.
well, and... when? it would be enough to ban them :-D
... very popular topic, but unnecessary, because it is everyone's choice how much SN uses or are dependent on them
... I don't have any respect for SN, I don't follow them or use them in any other way...
and the buyer leads a very satisfied, active life, I don't feel that we lack information, connected to people with whom I want to meet and have fun...
if we take the internet as such as SN, then yes, it would be difficult .. but FB, X, TickTac, Instagram and all the others ... you can live without them ...
but I understand it depends on who is snuffing or hustling regularly, so it's hard to imagine your day without a line, needle or quill...