The threat of social media3 min read
Reading Time: 2 minutesPehar Kaushik
St. Marks Senior Secondary School, New Delhi
Class 7
Social media is an umbrella term for interactive technologies that allow
the creation and exchange of information, ideas, career
interests, and many other things. Social media is a very
important part of our life because most of our time and work is done on this huge platform.
Creative space or an addiction?
This platform gives birth to new ideas and is a space for people to showcase their talent all over the world. But it is our effort and luck that makes us famous or popular online. Unfortunately, while all of the above sound good, there is a flip side to social media – It is very addictive.
People’s lives, including photos of food and daily personal vlogs, are everywhere. But are they really the truth?
The top 10 most used social media apps are-
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube
Pinterest
Social bee
Snapchat
Tik Tok
WhatsApp
Messenger
Why is social media a threat?
Social media is a threat because no matter how wonderful or fascinating it is, it is dangerous when we share our information or ideas online. This gives viewers a chance to reply to us
and even upset or hurt us sometimes. Yes, you’re right I am talking about cyberbullying and hacking.
Cyber bullying
Cyberbullying is a form of harassment using electronic devices and is also known as online bullying. It has become increasingly common, especially among teenagers, as the digital sphere has expanded and
technology has advanced. It causes psychological, emotional and physical stress. StopBullying.gov reports that youth who are bullied have a higher risk
of developing depression and anxiety.
Tip: If you’d like to learn more about depression and anxiety, click on the image to read Owliver’s article on mental health and why it is important.
Examples of cyberbullying are-
– Sending mean texts or images to someone
– Hacking into someone’s gaming or social networking profile
– Being rude or mean to someone in an online game
– Spreading secrets or rumours about people online
Hacking
Hacking is to use a computer to look at or change information that is stored on
another computer without permission. It Is a major threat because it can
Hijack your username and passwords, steal your money and open your credit
card and bank accounts in your name and make purchasing.
Tip: Be careful while using social media apps and make sure not to give out
any personal information or open any unauthorised links, media or file.
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