The Completely Unsupported Speech I Wrote in Five Minutes

Social Media such as Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Tumblr all potentially serve as a positive way to connect with people all around the world. You can share news with friends and family, and even meet new people. They can also be used as teaching tools as well as create hobbies for the users. However when misused they can lead to negative consequences such as anti-socialism, issues with public speaking, identity theft, or even some consequences as serious as death. Death, can mostly be attributed to younger more naive who seek to use these websites and applications as portals to bullying and harassment. Some even use them anonymous ways to send hatred and threats to other users. Fake accounts are created on websites such as Facebook and Twitter, where they can send anything out that they want using any name they wish to use. There are even social sites created with intents of you being anonymous, including the website Ask.FM where users who sign up are given an “ask box” where other users or non users are supposed to ask the person questions. This may at first sound like an okay idea but like any “good” social media site it comes with potential negative consequences. Seeing that users can be completely anonymous, and anyone, with or without an account can send messages to users, there have been many instances where people, typically teenagers , see this as an opportunity to harass someone, or voice their negative opinion on others.

Of course NONE of these website creators intended for their websites to be used in this fashion and have even try to prevent this with many security tools. The sad part is most teenagers don’t take all the necessary precautions to prevent this.

Even though it seems teenagers are the only ones who do not take necessary steps to prevent this, adults are guilty as well. Many adults have been victims of identity theft. Bank accounts have been hacked into through spam emails, or distribution of personal information into mocking social media sites, or sites that resemble popular websites, that are actually controlled by hackers. There are cases that pop up everyday, sadly, lives are ruined by something that can easily be prevented.

In addition “social media” ironically poses a risk of anti socialism and fear of public speaking in those who constantly use online websites as their main form of communication. It allows the more antisocial users to avoid being social in person. Dating websites (most 18+ only) are a form of social websites where users set up profiles that can be used to meet people they want to potentially have a romantic relationship with. Seeing that users probably have no mutual friends with this person, and no history with this person, it can be very dangerous. Not only do these websites aid in making a person more antisocial but can potentially result in the dangers of those who use them. There has been many instances of kidnapping among users who share personal information with people who they believe they can trust. A person does not need an ID to create an account which makes it easy for people to create fake accounts on these websites. Even if the person can prove who they are to the other user does not make them any more safe or trustworthy. That is why I feel websites like this should tried to be avoided as much as possible.

Social media sites can assist in communicating with people you haven’t spoken to in years. It allows users to chat, and enjoy themselves. Though every site has it’s perks, it also has it’s risks. This is why users should try to take all steps and safety precautions to prevent any negative consequences.