Humans have always been social animals; we are always inventing mechanisms to interact more efficiently and organized as a society. Like gossip for communities up to 150 people. In this world where the physical boundaries are nonexistent as a society, we developed social networks. And as gossip created order or conduct these networks does the same on a bigger scale.

The Double-Edged Sword of social media

Positive Impacts:

Social networks have had a positive impact on society on different ways:

• Reconnecting people
• Keeping society engaged.
• Promoting connection between peer with similar interest and fostering its development.
• Accelerating commerce
• Fostering social learning and the dissemination of information.
• Enhancing citizen participation, leading to more transparent governance.

Negative Impacts:

• Filter Bubbles: Due to its nature of engagement-based promotion, social media will trend to show you information you are inclined to be on favor. This creates a filter making people think” all the world thinks like me”. This cognitive bias, enforced with the echo chamber originated from the engagement on this content reinforces pre existed ideas and inhibits contemplations on different point of view.
• Attention Spans and Irritability: Research found that constant social media usage is associated with a reduced ability to delay gratification. Enforcing people to work towards a small and near goal over a bigger but further one.
• Social Comparison: Dove (yes, the soap brand) makes an excellent activism effort to combat this effect on children. They that “8 in 10 youth mental health specialists say social media is fueling a mental health crisis” this is due to unrealistic beauty standard exposure from the filters and continuous need for children to expose themselves and compare to others. What is not measure does not exist but what it is, is compared.

Social media is here to stay. And like all tools developed it can have positive and negative uses and outcomes. It is our responsibility as humans to be smart and not let the tool use us. I encourage all our followers to look for information on how to mitigate the negative impacts of social media.

We can always help.

Alejandro Furman

Business Development Managaer

DA`AT| REPUTAIOINAL INTELLIGENCE.

Alejandro@daat.cloud