how is social media helpful

1. Tonya Shoemaker
Harold Blanco
Debate Research Paper
November 18, 2015
Social Media Debate
Step 2
The article Social Media Explosion is over the broad topic of the concerns of social
media, beginning with the key concerns of the article. Starting off, the first issue that is brought
up in this article is the concern of privacy. Is the aspect of privacy disappearing? According to
the article, websites give the illusion of private settings, but still are using the information people
provide to target you for advertising. For most websites they prefer you giving your personal
information like your real name and phone numbers. They, in fact, encourage it. An example is
Facebook. But then there are also other sites where the user’s information “supposedly” remains
private and anonymous.
In the first page of the article, Mark Zuckerberg's sister, Randi Zuckerberg, had a feeling
of "invasion of privacy" after a picture she posted ended up publicly on Twitter by someone she
did not know. It was her own fault, though, for posting the photo in the first place if she wanted
it to remain a private image. The person who had gotten hold of her photo had free access to it
due to the tagging option on Facebook's site. "People have really gotten comfortable with not
only sharing more information and different kinds, but more openly and with more people. The
new social norm is "just something that has evolved over time" (Zuckerberg)."

2. The other major concern expressed in the article is how social media affects human
relationships. Many people are afraid that social media is starting to or already has become a
form of "replacement" for face-to-face interactions. A survey conducted on people born between
1990 and 1999, texting and instant messaging was the most favored form of communication of
the digital age, with face-to-face communications coming in last (Social Media Explosion, pg.
84).
Even though electronic communication is quick and simple, people fear it can be an easy
way to commit identity fraud or a major hoax. “Others do not see a reason to be worried about
the "everyday person" since this generation grew up online”, stated Kaveri Subrahmanyam, a
professor at California State University.
While there are many concerns about people when they go online, there is a beneficial
side to all of this. There are good aspects to the general idea "social media". One of the most
touched-on benefit in this article is that most people do not always have the pleasure or luxury of
keeping in contact with loved family members. With social media on their side, these people
now can stay connected with personal friends and family that they otherwise would not get to
converse with.
Social media can bring people together for good causes. Whenever there is a major crisis
on our hands, to a political debate, online media helps make organizing relief funds to supporting
your favorite politician easier and more effective than in the past. Donations and debates are now
being done at home, hassle-free with no charge. In the past, creating ways to help people
become politically interested, cost time and money (Clemmitt).

3. There are always pros and cons to any topic in debate. As there were many benefits to
social media, this article has many concerns that are found when it comes to
online socializing. Concerns about social media are on the rise not only because of privacy
issues, but also about persuasive ideas that can be harmful.
Can social media change your opinions, and is that dangerous? The example the article
uses is about American President Obama. “Obama's campaign operators used Facebook to
encourage people to help with a vote-Obama pitch. They asked supporters to contact particular
friends on Facebook that would be ideal targets for their campaign” (Clemmitt). This could be a
strong way to influence voting and possibly sway options. Social media, if it isn’t already, can
start to change how we look at and conduct political situations.
Step 3
Many of us have grown up in the “digital age” and do not know any other way other than
always having the worldwide web at our fingertips. Social media can and is used as an
advantageous tool to everyday life and entertainment purposes, but it can be used for so much
more. Social media has a long list of beneficial factors, but a newer pro is it can help people live
a healthier, maybe even more fulfilling lifestyle.
Online socializing can help people of all ages that have communication needs interact
with others easier. “Individuals with complex communication needs (CCN) are unable to use
speech for everyday communication and may benefit from augmentative and alterative

4. communication (AAC). People with CCN who rely on AAC have atypical communication
patterns including reduced rate of message transfer, increased passive role, reduced initiations,
and limited opportunities for interactions that impact on participation” (Grace, Emma).
Online interaction, virtual worlds, and social media can help older people cope with
aging and loneliness while in retirement homes. “For instance, through the Internet, older people
whose mobility is restricted are able to access essential information and services, participate in
lifelong learning and improve the performance of everyday tasks (Ang and Bobrowicz). They
can interact with family, and engage in stimulating games.
Social media has also been helping update the efficiency of the medical field. According
to Hino, “I have found that social media outlets, such as my hospital CEO blog and Face- book,
Linkedln, and You Tube sites, have allowed our small community hospital to compete with
much larger facilities with larger budgets and more resources for market share, recognition, and
recruitment of employees. Here, I share a number of ways we have accomplished that. In fact, I
believe that social media provides the most powerful community engagement tool that we have
seen” (Raymond T. Hino).

5. Works Cited
Ang, Chee Siang and Bobrowicz, Anita “Exploring the potential of virtual worlds in
engaging older people and supporting healthy aging” School of Engineering and Digital Arts,
University of Kent, Jennison Building, Canterbury CT2 7NT, UK (Received 20 June 2011; final version received
25 April 2012)
Grace, Emma, et al. "Learning To Use The Internet And Online Social Media: What Is
The Effectiveness Of Home-Based Intervention For Youth With Complex Communication
Needs?." Child Language Teaching And Therapy 30.2 (2014): 141-157. ERIC. Web. 17 Nov.
2015.
Hino, Raymond T. “Social Media: How Hospitals Use It, And Opportunities For Future
Use: PRACTITIONER APPLICATION.” Journal Of Healthcare Management 59.6 (2014): 461.
Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition Web. 17 Nov. 2015