BY: ROBERT MCCALL, OPINION WRITER
In students’ lives today, social media plays a major role in shaping how we make decisions, communicate, and structure our daily routines. Many people think social media poses detrimental risks, yet there are benefits people tend to overlook as well. Dr. Benjamin Gross, Associate Professor of Sociology and Criminology at St. Bonaventure, presented research on “TV News Media Effects and Audience Attitudes Regarding Poverty” at the Michigan Sociological Association (MSA) Annual Conference in 2006.
“The pros [of social media] outweigh the cons, overall. The benefits of being able to make new friends, rekindle dormant relationships, find information and enjoy entertainment are at least equal to the negatives of social media,” said Gross. In our society, especially during COVID, the importance of social media skyrocketed. With people quarantined, one of the only ways to communicate with friends and family was through social media. It helped dispel loneliness in a time of great isolation.
“[Social media] broadens our horizons by expanding our human experiences through seeing and hearing information, people and events we would otherwise never experience,” said Gross. “[P]eople can see, feel, and think about things which they may never have had without social media, which makes it a treasure in a sense.” When used the right way, social media can be a very valuable tool.
While there are many positives, the negatives are significant, too. “It is also a space where negative emotions flow, hate speech is openly expressed, and misinformation is present and spreads quickly” said Gross. “[H]ow teens use social media also might determine its impact…our relationship to social media is a complex one filled with ambivalence – it is simultaneously good and bad for us”.
For college students, social media is a great way for them to connect with campus. Instagram accounts such as @sbucab and @sbu_dining, are just two of the many accounts that keep students, faculty, families and alumni notified about things going on campus. By staying informed, students can become more engaged, aware, and proactive in finding ways to enjoy themselves and make the most of their college experience.
“When possible, [students] should use social media for direct communications with loved ones and to spread positive messages while avoiding lurking or doomscrolling,” said Gross. “When people can use social media this way for no more than 3 hours per day, social media predominantly has a positive effect on the quality of their lives.” Using social media as a resource instead of an isolator can amplify the lives people currently have.
Moderation plays an important role when using social media as well: people become less productive when doomscrolling all day compared to staying on social media for only 2-3 hours per day. Moderating social media leaves time for in-person interactions and memories as well; not only digital ones. “People should use social media to improve and bolster their offline lives. Use it to improve friendships, to add new people into your offline lives, to join groups that you will meet up with in face-to-face environments, and to educate yourself in order to make yourself a better student and citizen,” said Gross. “If you find that social media is not improving your life, then don’t use it – it is a choice medium, and we should all be free to walk away from it if that is in our best interest.” So, make sure to manage your social media use, and don’t let it consume you to the point where you lose touch with life beyond the screen.
