According to Richard D. Jones, Jr., the overall quality
of relationships is being weakened due to social media. First, he discusses how
“friend” is a word that is being thrown around without much meaning ever since
the use of Facebook. He says that many social media users accept “friend”
requests from people that they have met once or even never met. He believes
that this could be a strategy that some use to increase the popularity of their
profiles. Also, he relates social media profiles to dormant networks, a network
in which users may not have contact with other users but find comfort in
knowing that they are there. This, he says, is beneficial because it can help
prevent the loss of friendships by keeping a certain level of interest in others’
current lives. Impression management comes up a few times in this article, and
Jones believes that social media users use the websites as outlets to present
themselves to others in a favorable way. How others perceive one another on
social media is another topic he addresses. The way people view someone and
what they think about that person can be developed by what is on his/her social
media profile. Relationships, according to Jones, can also be maintained by
staying updated on a friend or family member’s profile.
In another article, Debra Fileta states three ways in
which relationships can be impacted by the use of social media. The first way
is that people can lose their warmth. Social media cannot make up for real life
interaction with one another, and she encourages readers to not get so caught
up in the digital world that they forget about the physical world. Also, social
media can lead to people becoming more self-focused. She refers to the “spotlight
stage” in which adolescents usually assume that they are the center of
attention and that they usually grow out of this stage; however, she believes
that social media is bringing the ideal of “all about me” back into our lives.
She advises readers to use Philippians 2 as a lesson; to put others before
themselves and to distance themselves from conceit and vanity. In her last
example, Fileta says that relationships can lead to a loss of one’s inhibition.
She says that people hiding behind computer screens feel that they have more
control in what they can say and do not consider the consequences. My favorite
part of her article is when she states, “May we be challenged to use it in a
way that reflects the heart of Jesus rather than simply used to promote
ourselves. May we, in all things, learn to proclaim: Less of me…and more of Him
(John 3:30).”
My own outlook on the effect of social media on relationships
is that it can be used positively or negatively. When someone uses social media
in a negative way, relationships can be destroyed, reputations can be ruined,
and things are said that cannot be taken back. However, when someone uses
social media in a positive way, relationships can be nurtured, reputations can
be boosted, and things can be said that will inspire others to look up to you.
I’m not saying that one should do this to be self-justified, but to use social
media as a way to connect with friends and family and to be an inspiration to
others that see your profile. In what way could it possibly uplift someone that
is having a rough day by scrolling through their newsfeed only to come upon
negativity from one of his/hers friends? Be the friend that puts a smile on
his/her face, makes he/she laugh, or encourages that person to do something
aspiring. Most importantly, spread the love of Christ around to ones who
desperately need Him in today’s trying times.
Is there a time when you had a positive influence over a
friend on a social media site?
http://www.richardgjonesjr.com/blog/2013/5/12/how-does-social-media-affect-our-relationships-interpersonal-9.html
http://truelovedates.com/3-ways-social-media-can-impact-your-real-life-relationships/
https://i.chzbgr.com/maxW500/5954506240/hC43F2DC8/
http://www.dumpaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/funny-facebook-updates.jpg
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