But I remember around 15 to 20 years ago reading similar claims about youth magazines and advertisements, that they were promoting unhealthy and unrealistic ideas of an ideal body image.
I’d say that most concerns about social media don’t really differ all that much from past concerns about television.
Social media does permit more random parties out there to influence what someone sees, maybe permits for vulnerability to influence campaigns. And it permits a user to potentially view more-highly-personalized — and thus potentially more-appealing — content than stuff at the granularity of choosing a television channel to watch (though I think that you can raise very similar issues about online ads, not just social media).
But on the other hand, social media also has less of the “mindlessness” aspect of TV, I think. Like, people can engage and can point out issues in the material.
I am certainly convinced that TV, being purely passive, is more likely to have negative effects on cognition than online communities, which are something you can actively engage in and be creative.
I’d say that most concerns about social media don’t really differ all that much from past concerns about television.
Social media does permit more random parties out there to influence what someone sees, maybe permits for vulnerability to influence campaigns. And it permits a user to potentially view more-highly-personalized — and thus potentially more-appealing — content than stuff at the granularity of choosing a television channel to watch (though I think that you can raise very similar issues about online ads, not just social media).
But on the other hand, social media also has less of the “mindlessness” aspect of TV, I think. Like, people can engage and can point out issues in the material.
I am certainly convinced that TV, being purely passive, is more likely to have negative effects on cognition than online communities, which are something you can actively engage in and be creative.