The amount of digital information increases tenfold every five years. Moreover, there are now many more people who interact with information. Between 1990 and 2005 more than 1 billion people worldwide entered the middle class. As they get richer they become more literate, which fuels information growth." - The Economist
There are more people using the internet and on social media today, than ever before, and the debate as to whether social media is good, or bad for society is ongoing. Clearly, there are numerous benefits to social media, but what about the negative impacts?
Social Media Today provides some insights into the pros and cons:
POSITIVE EFFECTS
Connects People
Gives everyone an equal voice
Can revolutionize business
Leads to increased transparency
Provide valuable consumer insights
Provides educational opportunities
Real time News updates
NEGATIVE EFFECTS
Misinformation and fake news
Reduced Productivity
Can be addictive
Cyber-bullying
This is not an exhaustive list, but it does lead to a question - As the use of social media increases, and as technology advances, do we need to be proactive about finding more ways to use social media for good?
There are certainly both positives and negatives with Social media. One of the many things I love about Kingston Professionals, is the way our industry specialists help to filter some of the abundance of information that's available, and help us to focus on the the most relevant information.