This document discusses some of the key issues raised in the article "Social Media Explosion" regarding the effects of social media on society. It notes that social media can negatively impact personal relationships and privacy due to a preference for digital communication over face-to-face interaction among younger generations. However, social media can also positively spread information about important causes and help organize communities for support and protest. The document concludes by examining social media's growing influence on politics, marketing, and public opinion.

1. Kwesi Wilkerson
Harold Blanco
FYS
November 16, 2015
After reviewing the reading of Social Media Explosion, some of the issues with
the concerns of social media in the article elaborate on limiting privacy access, profits
and control, personal relationships, and changing expectations. These issues deal with
changes in expectations and how society perceives communication. Time seems the
overall
One of the key concerns within the reading of Social Media Explosion is the
effect on human relations. Social Media effects social relations when it comes to face-to-
face interactions. This article stated a fact how in a survey on favored communication
modes that confirmed people born between 1990 and 1999 said they preferred digital
communication rather than face-to-face. People born in an earlier age were surveyed with
the preference of communicating I person.
Different ways of communication cause dysfunction between people and how
they view the purpose of discussion. This could cause confusion to understand properly
due to the difference in reference. Another confusion of the social media is the
continuous tracking of the quantity of photos and other personal information that is
imported online. Social media has an effect on privacy and how humans relate to their
communities. Hoaxes and identity fraud are key concerns when it comes to online

2. protection of privacy. People who prefer to use social media over face-to-face are more
likely to encounter these problems.
According to Social Media Explosion, social media can also be beneficial when it
comes to spreading information to communities on different problematic causes to help
an abundance of people get involved. There has been peculiar engagement in causes like
the riots in London where involvement of mass people imply change and comfort to
society. Another example that has benefited society according the article was in January
2012, when a Dallas-based foundation for breast caner announced that it would no longer
fund programs offered by Planned Parenthood. After this situation there was an
immediate uproar of commentary on some of the most popular social media sites. This
foundation three, days later, reserved their course helping support patients in their cancer
programs for funding.
Engagement in communities for support to different causes is more accessible due
to the ability to instantly donate and reach out to organizations from social media sites.
Not only can an individual donate instantaneously but also they can be notified about
different causes that are spread by individuals. Social media helps increase organization
of protests. For example, it is stated in the article, Social Media Explosion, that Iranians
used Twitter to organize protests after contested June 2009 election.
Social media may cause danger to democracy if political campaigns are selective
to information being spread through media. This could limit other campaigners to
important information creating confusion in communication (Clemmitt). The power of
social media can also be a tool to help terrorists and other high-powered people control
mass thinking. Another example is Iran, where social media affects democracy now

3. because the country’s leaders recognized the power of social networks and the need to
take them over (Catherine Lutz).
Social media has helps compete in the battleground of politics campaigning for an
office. It helps to identify a bias from the people to understand how to target voters for
elections. Traditional news has been overcome by social media works because of the
amount that social media is used by society. According to Tom Price social media has
increased the ability to extend influence when online supporters help carry out messages
that influence others. I believe that the more people aware of a campaign, then the
capability of more votes easier. There are also concerns of privacy with the influence of
voters from social media. Voters tend to be worried that social networks’ nature
contributes to polarization. The low cost in price is the reason why social media news is
spread with ease. Social media increasing engagement is as effective as a convention.
Social medias importance is growing vastly as advertisement and bloggers are
always changing people’s opinions and views (Price). Social media has improved
production rates due to fast and easy communication and information being sent
instantaneously. Communication between people and businesses help to target consumers
and increase company sales.
Social media has cut down marketing data usage. Marketing data allows traders
and investors to find the latest price and trends. With social media, customers don’t have
to spend hours searching for data when they can influence data and locate trends. Sites
like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have the biggest effects on spreading news and
getting support from volunteers that help contribute to even more supporters (Boykin).

4. Works Cited
Boykin, Jim. <http://www.seochat.com/c/a/social/social-media-and-society-the-good-the-
bad-and-the-ugly/>.
Catherine Lutz, Guest Blogger. The Aspen Institute. 6 August 2014.
<http://www.aspeninstitute.org/about/blog/social-media-dangerous-force-against-
democracy>.
Clemmitt, Marcia. CQ Researcher . 25 January 2013.
<http://ezproxy.marshall.edu:2165/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2013012500&
type=hitlist&num=1>.
Price, Tom. Social Media and Politics. 12 October 2012.
<http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2012101200&type=hi
tlist&num=4>.