Written Analysis 1: Popular Belief, Myth and Icon

Due Date February 28, 2016

            I have chosen social media and the effects it has on relationships. The reason I have chosen this topic is that social media over the last ten years has played such a significant role in the interaction of people and networking. It has made what would have been extremely difficult communication, extremely easy and basically at your fingertips.

A theory that applies to this topic is popular belief. It is popular belief that social media is inevitably a positive thing. In fact, it can be a very positive thing. It allows people to communicate in ways that would have been impossible to do so just 10-15 years ago. Families have been reunited with long lost children, parents, or other family members. High school loves have rekindled relationships that would have been impossible before. It has allowed people from all over the world to connect in ways that would never have been imagined.  It would seem the idea of networking would be an overall positive experience.

The purpose of social media is to network with people and to connect. Ironically, in doing so, it has also caused a disconnect in people and relationships. The ability to connect and share information with others has caused a false sense of intimacy. Meaning, relationships that are built or conducted over social media may seem realer than what they are, and can lead to issues in the relationships that actually exist in ones everyday life. It has lead to people spending an absorbent amount of time living a “virtual” life, opposed to real life and missing out on very important moments that can’t be recreated.

Applying the theory of popular belief to this topic provides insight to how people allow social media to affect their lives. Automatically assuming that social media is a positive thing based on popular belief; however, that is not always the case. With most anything there are both positive and negatives. The positives are being able to communicate with long lost friends and family. Networking with employers for future career opportunities and even promoting a business if you have one. On the negative side, it can lead to valuable time being spent on social media comparing oneself to the lives of others, having conversations with people that are not appropriate based on certain circumstances and an overall distorted sense of reality.