Are Social Networks Good Or Bad?

Written by Sivuyile Tshalana.

There are two sides of the story when it comes to social networks, because they can be both good and bad according to how people use them in their lives. People that invented different types of social networks had good intentions to make people's lives better communication wise. However airtime is expensive and rate per minute on calls has increased. Many people find it better to buy monthly data and chat the whole month rather than buying airtime to make phone calls.

Most people feel that they cannot say everything they want to say by calling someone because their conversation is timed, they rush through the conversation afraid of their airtime getting finished while on call and end up forgetting or not mentioning important reasons for the call. Hence social networks helps you communicate quicker and effectively. There are some people that hardly respond to phone calls because of work reasons, they are either at school or generally busy, but can respond to conversations on social networks when they get a message or comment. Social networks play a role in updating people about what is current in life, like who are your friends, family and people that affected your life, either in good or bad way or both depending on the situation at hand. Other people post captured moments and use social networks as their memories keeper as in a photo album or a dairy that people have access to view. While others use it to get to know their role models and mentors mindset, especially quotes and motivational talks or posts to uplift their attitude in life and be more inspired, when they are not having a good day. Many businesses and entrepreneurs uses social networks as a platform to market their businesses, whereby they sell, advertise their products and brands to the masses to grow their target market. Certain people also use it for dating, whereby they meet their life partners, while others just want to make new friends.

The bad side about social networks is that you get a lot stalkers, people that follow your every move and know where you stay, work, your family and your daily routine. You end up getting deaths threats if you do not comply to what they need or want at that time. Many people post incorrect information on purpose about themselves and post fake pictures claiming it is them just so that they can get up to no good because no-one knows who they are. Some people have lost their lives due to people they met on social networks, because they say all the right things at the right time and end up getting your trust and then manipulate you. This leads to sexually abuse as they want to give you money and gifts to buy your love. Some people sell and advertise things that do not exist, like jobs and certain products. But before you get these things they ask for a fee upfront, before you receive anything. It is full of crimes like fraud, whereby a person just sends texts telling you the saddest story and after that ask for money. Things like asking for banking details, phone numbers, address and identity number happens a lot on social networks. Another thing many people use it for gossiping, to basically talk about other people behind their backs. 

It is up to you to decide whether social networks are good or bad, bare in mind the reasons why people create social networks accounts and as well as downloading it in the first place. Keep your distance and do not take social networks serious not everyone is going to love you like money.