This week’s question: “Are social media websites like Facebook, Instagram, Snap-Chat, Tik-Tok and X good for society overall?”
- Yes. We are able to communicate with others much more easily and engage with them.
- No. It’s a cancer on children and a scourge of democracy, as two governors have said.
- It all depends on how it’s being used.
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“Social media is brainwashing society, I don’t use them. If it weren’t for (President Donald) Trump being in office, they’d have kids so far gone. I’m anti-addicted. I used to use Facebook for a while until I heard (owner Mark) Zuckerberg say 15 years ago that he wanted everyone to communicate only if they went through Facebook. I said that’s the end of you, and I haven’t been on it since.
“It’s worse for society because that’s all they give you to do. They’re not pushing athletics, health or anything but gaming. If you don’t give it to them or try to take social media away from kids, they don’t know what to do. These kids today are 10 times smarter than me with technology, but they have no social skills – if they do, it’s minimal.”
James Favata, Hot House
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“It’s probably been worse for society. I grew up in a generation where it became popular. I hate that my kids are gonna have to grow up with it being weird if they don’t have a cell phone or use social media. I think it’s good to stay connected, but you can also become disconnected.”
Shannon Rhyne, Hayesville
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“Personally, they’re just people’s opinions, and I don’t really care about it. The only way I can see it being a good thing is if you post things that try and bring people to the Lord. Social media has hurt society because people don’t communicate face to face anymore. You don’t get to know anyone really.
“They can post anything they want; it can be true or false, and most of it’s false. You can only get to know someone if you sit down and talk to them face to face.”
Jim Abt, Ranger
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“I think they’ve become a problem because what they set out to do isn’t what social media is used for anymore. It used to be for connecting and communicating, but I feel like people mostly use it to either consume content that keeps them hooked on social media or fight with other people. It’s like an echo chamber of belief. It’s hard for people to compromise with one another.
“It’s either so much acceptance that it overlooks key problems, or it’s mostly people bickering and there are no agreements found. It’s hard for people to find a middle ground. It’s easier now to be on social media than to have communications with people in person.”
Vivian Kelly, Murphy
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“I think cell phones and all of it’s crap, I don’t like any of it. We’re devolving, not evolving. People don’t know how to get along with each other anymore. You can say whatever you want on social media, and nobody’s there to punch you in your face. Everybody gets away with everything, and that’s the way it goes. It’s bad for everybody.”
Butch Stuber, Hanging Dog