The document summarizes an article about the benefits and concerns of social media. It discusses how social media has impacted privacy, social skills, relationships and identity development among teens. While social media allows people to stay connected and support causes, it also enables oversharing of private information and excessive phone/social media use. The document also notes how social media has influenced politics, with politicians like Obama using platforms to target supporters.

1. Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Society? 1
Kayla Dickson
FYS 100
Professor H. Blanco
20 November 2015
Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Society?
Step 2:
“Social Media Explosion” Explanation
Social Media Explosion by M. Clemmitt is all about the good and bad things regarding
Social Media. This article talks about everything from concerns about teens social skills to how
campaigns and companies use your online information to persuade you a certain way.
There are many key issues mentioned in Social Media Explosion. Privacy is a major one.
Many people fear that because of social media privacy is going out the window (Clemmitt,
2013.) Because of the “tag suggestions” on Facebook and the retweet feature on twitter, many
peoples profiles are easier to access. Many users believe their information is private on social
media when, most of the time, it in fact is not. Anyone can see and use your private information,
and this worries a lot of people. To go along with the privacy concern, another concern is that the
United States does not have data-protection requirements which means anyone can access and
use users information with no consequences (Clemmitt, 2013.) Another issue is that teens social
skills are not developing correctly. Many teens say they do not prefer face-to-face
communication over text messages or phone calls (Clemmitt, 2013.) One concern is that social
media makes personal relationships more difficult. Many people would rather talk to some via
Facebook, instant message, or text message because it makes uncomfortable situations less
uncomfortable when you don’t have to look the other person in the eye (Clemmitt, 2013.) This

2. Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Society? 2
also results in people becoming less vulnerable. Finally, people worry that because of social
media adolescence miss out on the experimentation phase and do not become who they truly are
(Clemmitt, 2013.) Many adolescences only post positive things that they will not be judged for
or made fun of. Because the online social world and the real like social world are so intertwined,
many young people conform to fit whatever image they think best fits what others want them to
be. Meaning, they do not allow negative emotions to show or “ugly” pictures to be posted of
them because that is not socially acceptable online, and therefore they may not become the
person they truly want to be (Clemmitt, 2013.)
Social media, according to the article, has many benefits. One benefit is that people can
use social media to stay in touch with people they otherwise may not be able to. Having just
graduated high school about 6 months ago, Facebook will help me stay in touch with my
graduating class. Social media also helps people find ways to help and support causes which they
care about (Clemmitt, 2013). It can also be a useful tool in getting one’s friends and family
involved in a cause, as well as inform those who know little about the cause. Along with
informing users of causes and organizations, social media can also alert people to danger. With
the recent attack on Paris, or even when there is a shooting near campus, social media keeps
people informed about what is going on. Many news stations and University offices have
Facebook and Twitter accounts which they upload the latest information too. Social media users,
especially teens and young adults, check their social media accounts for this information.
Researchers have also found that, because of social media, some users are more empathetic in
the real world. It has been proven that posting a positive comment on someone’s Facebook wall
or Instagram picture helps that person learn how to be more empathic in real life situations
(Clemmitt, 2013.) Social media also helps users make new friends who have similar interests as

3. Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Society? 3
them, as well as meet friends of friends (Clemmitt, 2013.) A final benefit of social media is that
it gets peoples thoughts and feelings out there. Social media helps people converse, collaborate,
and comment on others postings (Clemmitt, 2013.) Social media users no longer have to write
time consuming blogs that may never be seen by anyone, instead they can post something on a
social media site where they’re friends and family can read and acknowledge what they have to
say (Clemmitt, 2013).
Although there are many benefits of social media, M. Clemmitt also points out many
concerns about social media. As mentioned before, one of the biggest concerns with social media
is privacy (Clemmitt, 2013). Social media takes away from privacy, however most people who
use social media do not cherish privacy as much as nonusers and they understand that their
information may, and probably will, be seen by people they do not know. Another fear is that
social media is belittling young users’ social skills (Clemmitt, 2013.) People are always using
they’re phones, and today communication via social media, text message, or phone call is
favored over face-to-face conversation (Clemmitt, 2013). Users of social media also have
developed what Social Media Explosion refers to as “checking habits.” People are constantly
checking their phones and social media accounts as often as 30 seconds every 10 minutes. This
just shows that people are becoming obsessed with social media, which can potentially be
harmful to society. We are so obsessed with our phones and what our social groups are saying
we do not focus on what is happening right in front of us (Clemmitt, 2013.) It is also a concern
that because “Digital natives,” the generation which grew up and is growing up on technology,
have become dependent on continuous technological connection, they will not know how to deal
with frustration or loneliness (Clemmitt, 2013). This generation has always been connected to
their social group in some way, what will happen to them if that connection ever goes away?

4. Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Society? 4
Finally, social media has effected democratic societies in some way. During his 2008 and
2012 campaign President Obama used Facebook to his advantage by encouraging supporters to
contact particular Facebook friends who analysts determined were promising targets to vote for
Obama (Clemmitt, 2013). Obviously, his Facebook campaign worked. His campaign had access
to more than 500 points of data for the whole public including, data from surveys, commercial
and financial transactions, magazine transcriptions, and many many more (Clemmitt, 2013). This
effected the democratic society of the United States because Obama was the first presidential
candidate to do anything like this. Since the prior elections were in 2000 and 2004, the 2008 and
2012 were the first presidential campaigns to take place in this digital age we now live in. Many
of our countries leaders now have Twitter accounts which supporters follow to track what this
specific person has to say about certain things. Whether social media ultimately benefits or
harms society, it has even effected the United States government and the way it operates as well.
100 years ago some people would hear about things that happen in Washington 6 months after it
happens, today thanks to social media people know within 6 minutes.
Social media has effected our lives in many ways over the past few decades. I do not
remember a time before cells phones. I don’t remember the creation of Facebook, however I do
remember when Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Snapchat were created. Social media has
effected the lives of everyone on earth, whether you support it or not. Social Media Explosion by
M. Clemmitt outlines many benefits and concerns of social media. This article talks about many
points including social media’s effects on social skills and social media’s effect of rallying
people together for a specific cause. Today, everyone uses social media. Everyone from my
grandmother to the Pope have social media accounts. These accounts help people stay in touch,

5. Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Society? 5
stay informed, and stay aware of what is happening in their own community and all over the
world. Social media is a wonderful tool, however it also has its demons.
Step 3:
The Benefits of Social Media
Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumbler, and Snapchat are only a few of the
hundreds of social media sites out there. Social media has taken off in the past 20 years and
today people cannot even imagine their lives without them. But, this is not a bad thing. Social
media has many benefits including benefits in improving hospitals, getting individuals more
active in politics, and it is also a useful tool to law enforcement officers. No matter how it is used
or what particular site is used, social media effects everyone in some way.
Hospitals use social media to increase revenue, recruit new employees, and increase
customer satisfaction (Richter, 2014). Hospitals and use their own websites or use a Facebook or
Twitter account to do this. Much of current hospital social media use is for educational purposes
for its consumers. Many costumers can ask questions, share stories and experiences, or reach out
for help on these sites and a doctor or another hospital employee will answer or help the
costumer. Hospitals also engage consumers through not only rapid responses, but daily quizzes,
questions, and prizes as well (Ritcher, 2014)
It has been shown that the more an individual perceives his or her experience using social
media to participate in politics was satisfactory, the more they believes they had the ability to use
social media for political purposes (Velasquez, 2015). Many Americans use social media for
political involvement. Whether it is tweeting support of a cause or forwarding a news article
about an issue, young Americans are getting more involved in politics via social media

6. Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Society? 6
(Clemmitt, 2013). If people see a cause growing popular on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram they
are going to research it and possibly get involved in the cause. Through social media advocacy
groups can reach millions, and friends can urge friends to get more involved in a cause
(Clemmitt, 2013). Social media users can also support election candidates though their accounts,
and get their voices out there on specific issies.
Law enforcement agencies use social media as a means of social networking, meaning
they use it to allow multiple people to share information with them and with each other, and tis
opens a whole new door for the general public to communicate with their local police department
(Stuart, 2013). Basically, law enforcement officers use social media for public relations, crime
prevention, and crime investigations. By using social media, officers and share information with
the public such as real time information concerning crime, traffic, and breaking news. Also,
citizens can ask questions, make suggestions, and provide tips which may help solve crimes via
social media (Stuart, 2013). Furthermore, criminals also use social media and often times share
their location and the locations of their associates and sometimes even share pictures and videos
of their criminal acts. By using social media, law enforcement officers can apprehend fugitives,
single out associates of suspects, link individuals to gangs, and find evidence of criminal activity
(Stuart, 2013). By using social media, law enforcement agencies can make our community safer,
keep citizens up to date with information, and perhaps even solve crimes a lot faster and sooner
than they would have without the use of social media.
Social media has helped our society grow in a positive way. Through the use of social
media news can spread like wild fire, keeping more people safe and informed. Social media
keeps everyone connected to each other in a way that has never before been possible. Through
the use of social media, hospitals being improved, individals are becoming more involved in

7. Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Society? 7
politics, and law enforcement can better keep their communities informed and safe. Without
social media we would not be where we are today, and we would not be able to continuing
bettering ourselves and our society for tomorrow and the years yet to come.

8. Is Social Media Helping or Hurting Society? 8
References:
Clemmitt, M. (2013, January 25). Social media explosion. CQ Researcher, 23, 81-104.
Retrieved from http://library.cqpress.com/
Richter, J. P., Muhlestein, D. B., & Wilks, C. A. (2014). Social Media: How Hospitals Use It,
and Opportunities for Future Use. Journal Of Healthcare Management, 59(6), 447-460.
Stuart, R. D. (2013). Social Media: Establishing Criteria for Law Enforcement Use. FBI Law
Enforcement Bulletin, 82(2), 1-3.
Velasquez, A., & LaRose, R. (2015). Social Media for Social Change: Social Media Political
Efficacy and Activism in Student Activist Groups. Journal Of Broadcasting & Electronic
Media, 59(3), 456-474. doi:10.1080/08838151.2015.1054998
Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date