Social media has become more and more commonplace as time has gone on, and now it’s more likely you’ll meet someone who does use it than who does not. Yet despite how popular it is, we’re often told that it is a bad thing and that we should use it less.
In some cases, that’s true. Of course, there is bullying on social media (and online in general), and people can feel less good about themselves because of comparisons to others, for example. Yet even though this can happen, social media does have many good points, and once you know what they are, you’ll find they (usually, at least) outweigh the bad points. Read on to find out from a contributor how social media can be a good thing that can help in your life.
Connections
Human beings are social creatures, and even if you are an introvert who enjoys your own company, it’s good to be with other people from time to time. Social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook allow us to connect with other people from all over the world. These connections can form an important part of our lives, and even if we never meet these online friends face to face, that doesn’t necessarily matter; the connection is still there.
Being able to log on and chat with people with similar interests can make a bad day feel much better and can assure us that we’re not alone. It can even cause our bodies to create more serotonin, which fights against the stress hormone cortisol and reduces how much of it we have in our bodies.
Access To Information
Social media can actually be a great source of information. It’s true that not all of it will be accurate, and you do need to do some additional research in some cases, but this only strengthens your knowledge rather than detracts from it.
This access to information isn’t just about learning new things to help with your own development and education, although this is possible. It’s also about learning about different companies you might want to buy from or even work with. It’s about being able to find all the information you might need to make an informed decision. You can even read what other people in your position have said in the comments. When you are looking for the best access to information, social media will have everything in one place, giving you a central location to start – and usually finish – your search.
Build Your Business
Although the first thing you’ll probably think of when you consider using social media is creating a personal profile, the fact is that if you run a business, social media can make all the difference.
You can use social media to build your brand. Firstly, as we’ve mentioned above, social media is something people use to learn more about places they might consider spending their money. If you do that, other people will too, and if they can’t find you on social media, they won’t know they can buy from you. Or they might find it strange that you’re not there and stay away from you because of that. You can even sell directly on social media, making it another revenue stream that can increase your profits. Social media for business also allows you to engage with your customers and potential customers a lot more, and that can lead to more loyalty and happier customers.
The key to this idea being successful is to find out where your target market spends their time when they are using social media. Do some market research to determine what social media platform they use, and then create profiles that match.
Awareness And Advocacy
Social media can also be used well to promote awareness about certain causes or groups of people who might otherwise be forgotten or marginalised in some way. A good example is the many transgender women on TikTok who are worth following. They can give their own views on matters and also be a great way for people who are still coming to terms with their own identity to find people like them to look up to.
By using social media to make these causes and issues more well-known, you are able to reach many more people than most other methods – perhaps even most other methods put together. If this is where a lot of people are spending their spare time, being able to make them aware of important issues at the same time can be ideal.