Social media can actually do more harm than good Today, social media is everywhere. Playing a big role in people’s life, social media has made interactions among people easier. Although social media is so easy to use, it brings us many problems as well. In other words, social media has been an essential means of communication, but it can be harmful intentionally or unintentionally. Since we now live in this modern internet society, social media users should think twice before publicizing their posts on the internet.
The website called CyberBullyHotline indicates that 4500 kids commit suicide each year due to cyber bullying. An example of unintentional harm with social media is seen in Sue Scheff’s recent writing about “accidental” cyberbullying for the Huffington Post. She describes incidents where teens say things to others, usually online, that are not intended to be hurtful, but are experienced as such. Even though it is not our objective, our words can be taken out of context by others when they are read and regurgitated, amplifying our digital footprint. This can happen offline as well, of course, but technology certainly makes it easier to obscure actual intent. Many of us know from experience that social media often leads to more frequent misunderstandings as communication occurs without important facial expressions, vocal intonations, or other interpretive behavioral cues that provide color and context to what is being conveyed. I agree that it is common for teens to say things to classmates or best friends without malice or harmful intention, yet the comments are misinterpreted thus resulting in harm.
Another case relating to the issue of intentional or unintentional harm on social media is about Adria Richards tweeting about a man’s comment, according to the CBSNews. Regarding Richards’s case, CEO Jim Franklin’s said, “Her decision to tweet the