FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY

SY. 2022-2023 | 1st Semester

Maria Criselda P. Tuazon

Connected: Has Social Media Made Communication Easier?

Could you imagine a world without facebook? How about a world without Instagram,
Twitter, Youtube? Some would say the world would still be the same, while others would
disagree. It is due to the fact that social media has been inevitably part of our lives for decades
already. Nature of humans to communicate and create advancement of technology, social
media has quickly become one of the primary means of communication. The recent statistics
from Statista proves likewise. As of this year, around three billion people use social media. It is
evidence such as this that further rebut ongoing oppositions from the conservatives that instead
of bridging us together, social media is causing gaps for socialization. But in between debates,
the majority would concur social media has improved our social and interpersonal skills. How
come? One would ask that is because of a few reasons.

Social media has become a platform that encourages individuals to create more diverse
personal connections. As a part of the wide network of the internet, social media has connected
us with each other. Before, when the internet was not so advanced as it is now, we have used
traditional means of connecting and interacting with others: verbal and written. But with the
electronic age surfacing, we are introduced to a more multi-functional medium to do so. Back in
the days, meeting people from outside the country took a lot more effort like traveling but now in
just one click we get to be acquainted with millions of people all over the world. This has been
advantageous for the youth especially. In 2015, Pew Research Center stated that it is mostly
teens with the ages 13 to 17 that are more involved in online social engagements. Social media
has become their ground to widen their social circle.

However, along with this benefit, socializing online may also bring potential dangers or
cyber crimes such as privacy breaches, scamming and many forms of cyberbullying. Knowing
that our interactions are virtual, there isn't always the assurance that the people we interact with
are the actual people that they say to be. That is why catfishing and faking identities is very
efficacious nowadays. And social media users that are not vigilant and responsible enough are
the frequent victims. Occurrences like this have created a dent to the image of safety to users
and triggered calls of concerns from parents for their children. But in response to that, more and
more solutions are taken into account. The Philippines alone has created a Computer Crime
Unit (CCU) under the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) implements law to
enforce investigation and mitigation strategies in suppressing cybercrimes. It is laws such as the
Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 that is isolating complications of using social media and
maintaining a safe cyber environment for users.

Other than connecting us, social media has brought us one obvious advantage. In this
day and age, information is delivered faster and easier. Before, people’s way of inquiring
information was through literary articles such as books. We had to spend hours in the library or
bookstore to find the material we needed, but now, social media along with the wide network of
the internet has made that easier. Researching and extracting data has been made faster for
students. The same goes in the science and medical field, professionals are also seeing the
advantages of making use of social media in the field. It becomes an equalizer making access
to basic healthcare information more potent especially to populations who had few to no access
at all. Example would be during the outbreak of Cholera in Haiti in 2010, healthcare officials
used social media to establish up-to-date information and news coverage across the country up
to the rural places. People had received constant messages as updates about the outbreak;
providing them adequate health precautions and aid. It is these verifiable instances that proves
how social media makes obtaining and imparting information convenient and easier.

But, how easy had social media made imparting information is also how easy it can be a
conduit of misinformation and disinformation. Let us take the recent presidential election for
example. Social media has been a dominant instrument for campaigning ever since. We saw
how social media could change the course of the election from the experience of former
President Rodrigo Duterte at the 2016 election. And we have witnessed the same thing with
President Bongbong Marcos this year. Election period has brought threat to social media by the
emergence of fake news and trolling. With the division of supporters, information is susceptible
to be altered, reformed and misinterpreted. National opinion is slowly being made into facts
rather than what it is supposed to be, an opinion. Nevertheless, now more than ever many
social media platforms practice remedies to address these issues, Facebook and Twitter have
warning labels in posts that advocate false information. Youtube automatically deletes content or
bans accounts that do such. Moreover, media companies such as ABS-CBN and Rappler have
come out their way and correct public claims that are presented falsely.

Furthermore, social media has brought another advantage. It opens grounds for
individuals to build and develop digital skills. A research of Khan and Forshaw suggests the
demand for jobs requiring digital skills will increase by the year 2024. WIth having most
professions adapting to the digital setting, everyone is expected to know basic digital skills to
keep up with the advancement of countries like Japan and USA. Social media does not only
hone our digital skills but also inspire us to go out of our comfort zones and exponentially grow.

So to draw close, along with the downsides of using social media, it is still to believe that
it brought more benefit to us than harm. That social media, despite its flaws, has led us to not
only obtain information easier and more convenient but also encouraged more diverse
networks. Compared to before, social media has improved our social and interpersonal skills.
We are more connected, akin and in reach with each other.
Bibliography:

University of the People. (2022). How has Social Media Affected Communication: Facts that
Surprise! Tips for Online Students.
https://www.uopeople.edu/blog/how-social-media-affected-communication/

Lenhart, A. (2015). Video games, social media and mobile phones play an integral role in how
teens meet and interact with friends. Teens, Technology and Friendships. Pew Research
Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/08/06/teens-technology-and-friendships/

Philippine National Police. (n.d). Anti-Cybercrime Group. https://rm.coe.int/1680703aa3

Sutter, J. (2010). Texts, maps battle Haiti cholera outbreak. CNN.

McNab, C. (2009). What social media offers to health professionals and citizens. Bulletin of the
World Health Organization, 87, 566–566.
https://academic.oup.com/jcmc/article/19/2/171/406751

Khan, N., Forshaw, T. (2017). New Skills Now: Inclusion in the Digital Economy. Accenture.
https://www.accenture.com/_acnmedia/pdf-63/accenture-new-skills-now-inclusion-in-the-digital.p
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