Social network has become an important tool in our everyday lives. People are more connected; some become dependent, and spend most of their time on it. In our ever-changing world, social media has become an essential factor in our lives but also in our economic growth and in politics.

Social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter have crawled their way up and have now found their peak in dominating the world.

Users have found a passion, a routine but also an addiction in using these social networks. They have been adopted in our modern lives, as many of us depend on them. Even though many seem to find a pleasure using these tools to connect and communicate with the world, they present many negative aspects to our human relations.

 

First of all, these social networks create a dependency effect and influence many users. They are anchored in our daily lives. One can see the influence that is building from these. We see it in our own political campaigns such as the American elections. Many debates and votes were promoted throughout social networks like Twitter and Facebook. We can also see their presence in our economy. Many enterprises use these social medias to value themselves and to gain the attention of many users.   

 

Secondly, we can see that this phenomenon is changing our way of being.

Our relations are changing. People are changing. We are becoming puppets, addicts of this new instance. We are currently living in a world where communication has been jeopardized, weakened and has evolved into a mechanic interaction and exchange.

Most people now talk through these new technologies instead of having a real conversation, and conversing head to head. Some even find it easier to talk on these platforms, as it creates a barrier between reality and virtuality. These conversations create a separation between the conversers, as some may find it easier to express behind a screen. There is less pressure and judgment than talking in real life. Humans are thus becoming cowards and lazy, as they are hiding behind a tool, a screen in order to communicate. Dialogue, language and conversation have slowly started to collapse.

 

 

Thirdly, these social networks can most of the time accentuate the narcissist nature of man.

Networks such as Snapchat and Instagram are photo based, and so, forms and re-enforces this egoism that tends to dominate man’s character. Indeed, when using these networks, the user will stimulate all of his features in order to show their best self. But behind the perfectly cropped picture, the natural editing and the long hours in finding the perfect shot and lighting, hides a drastic reality. Many people use these networks in order to escape reality. Some may tend to create a new identity in order to feel confident and secure, whilst others will use them to boast and gloat about a life they want to believe is perfect. Behind these pictures, these conversations and these tweets, hides a darker story. As a majority of us use these social networks to talk and catch up with friends, others may use them in order to escape life, to find liberation, a world where they can find their place. Nothing is as impeccable and superb as they seem to be. Most of the time, people use these networks in order to forge a new identity, create a new personality where one can finally be accepted.

 

 

To conclude, social networks are a key element in our everyday lives. We have all come to accept them in our lives as we use them constantly. However, an addiction towards these networks can be harmful, and what is shown is not always what is felt. The screen, is an excuse, a disguise to protect or to hide what is really under.

 

 

Chloe C