to think there is nothing positive about social media

[meloncotton]

I am trying to find anything positive about social media, we all know the negatives but are there any positives?

YABU - There are positives which outweigh the negatives
YANBU - Social Media use negatively affects people overall

YABU in that there are positives but YANBU that overall it's a bad thing for most users. Same as with alcohol or heroin for that matter, some people get positives but most develop unhealthy habits.

Positives:
Youtube has a huge archive of programming that would not otherwise be available. (On the flipside, some of it is of questionable legality copyright-wise, but much of it isn't available to legally purchase anywhere and much of it is there with the copyright holder's knowledge if not outright approval - they can get things taken down quickly if they choose.)

It gives consumers a chance to air their grievances with a company in public. If you have a problem with a service provided you are more likely to get a positive timely response if there is a risk of damage to the company's reputation.

It helps get the word spread about niche causes and campaigns. Songs like "Boris Johnson is STILL a Fucking Cunt" wouldn't have reached the top 5 in the music charts without social media. Approve of that or not, it gives people a voice when mainstream media is silent.

I've always enjoyed forums and have frequented several over the years. I use X and reddit for specific interests which are well-represented there, but I don't browse them generally or look at trending so I miss most of the crap.

Lost interest in FB and Instagram and deleted. I never tried the other popular ones. So a mixed bag really.

I think they're quite addictive and divisive and it's far too easy to end up in an echo-chamber, which can be dangerous.

Otoh, I usually head to a forum as a starting point when looking for information or advice and work out from there.

Of course there are many positives! More than negatives actually. If you don't find any yourself, don't use them or follow different people / accounts.

One positive for so many MNetters is the opportunity to find material to bitch about people they are jealous of😂

I think there are positives to social media. There's certainly a lot of well-documented negatives which I won't list here because we all know too well what they are. But there are a lot of good things:

For me above all its the ability to stay in touch with people who would otherwise have completely drifted out of your life. People may argue that its facile and "friendship lite" to have friends on FB but the beauty of it is that you can keep in contact with people in a low-pressure way. Pre social media you would have to call people up and have excruciating conversations about "what have you been doing" etc. Facebook and Insta take the pain out of that. I think that's a great thing.

I also think social media provides communities for marginalised groups who would otherwise find it very hard to find like-minded people. There is almost literally something for everyone on the internet. A lot of people who would have had a really dreadful lonely time in the past can now connect with people like them at the click of a keyboard.

I'm using it currently to make people in my neighbourhood aware that my cat is missing(and people are actively looking for her too). I can't wait to get off it and go back to not posting though.

I don’t think it’s just young people. One of my mum’s friends (late 50’s) was posting all the pictures over Christmas - the decorations, the matching pjs, the food. She lives her life through social media. There are people in every age group that are too dependent on social media for their validation and that is a huge problem. But it doesn’t stop social media being a means to connect with other people who are experiencing a similar thing to you e.g. a specific illness or parents of SEN children.

The answer isn’t no social media but stricter regulations on social media.

It's how you use it I suppose.
I like Facebook for keeping in touch with old friends and family members. It's a nice way to hear their news and share photos etc. Facebook is now too full of random stuff I don't want to see.
I hate X as it just suddenly seems to be full of right wing racists and there's no escaping them. I was actually feeling very tense and upset every time I went on.
I'm fairly new to Instagram and like it. I love looking at photos in general so I think it's a nice forum to share photos. I'm also getting some brilliant recipe ideas on there.
I've never used snapchat or TikTok.

I don't think Mumsnet is SM. I do wish they'd get rid of the new 'reactions' though, as it makes it more SM like.

I've stopped using or even browsing SM these days, as it's utter brain rot. That said, I use it to research paint colours or interiors/garden inspiration. I use FB for the local news. That's about it now!

Thank you for all the replies.
So far I can see that
-It's great for small business -
-For connecting with niche groups - finding likeminded people further afield.
-To help with loneliness, although I would argue that many social media platforms actually make people's loneliness worse, seeing everyone else posting they are out and about. But I accept forums can be helpful.

Social media is great for
Support from eg other runners who are more enthusiastic about your successes than anyone you know irl
It's polluted us though.

I think you are right.

I think it's great! The whole world is opened up to you! You have to be selective and use it with discernment; not just idle away hours using it passively. But for me, it's really useful, for my job and my hobbies and interests. I get lots of inspiration and ideas from it. I enjoy it and engage with it much more actively than I would slumped in front of Netflix for example. And I have a huge extended family who live in many different countries so it's brilliant to keep in touch with them all.

This isn't the sort of stuff I look at, but I see some of the content that my dds are looking at, and I think at their age you need to be quite grounded not to be sucked in to the constant "the best way to eat, the best interiors, the best pastry, the best make up, the best clothes, the best exercise, the best way to communicate". If I was young I might fall for it, and constantly think I wasn't good enough, but happily I an old crone with enough experience of real life to know that 80% of these extremes are nonsense and you are better relying on common sense and sticking to a middle path.

What a joy it is to be able to peak behind the scenes at the Met Opera or watch a skilled oil painter sketch out a portrait and then try it yourself, or learn about new travel destinations. Just today I have been researching interesting places to visit for a late spring holiday. And putting out feelers to family members en route.

Sm is just a means to an end and it's the way you use it and your objectives when using it that count. It's just one more powerful entity like alcohol, sex and the sea, all of which can be terrific, or completely ruin your life, depending on how you use them.

WhatsApp and instagram are social media platforms, and they enable and allow content sharing and messaging, via text, call or video. I think these factors make it a valuable tool for keeping in touch with friends and family all over the world, and so for that reason I think it’s positive on the whole.

Most of the negative aspects of platforms such as TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat etc are best managed by (a) not using the platforms in the first place, (b) keeping children away from them - using better age verification tools for example, (c) better controls on opening accounts for verified identities only and (d) people understanding and using their privacy settling appropriately.

My Instagram is a beautiful curated place of handmade textile items and makers showing their latest pieces. There’s a huge supportive community, I shop a lot on there and support small businesses. YABU

I think the whole curated image thing is going too far. We were at a tourist attraction the other day, there were 3 girls in particular who spent nearly 45mins taking photos in various poses, it looked exhausting then they left and never actually even went in?!? I find the behaviour so odd, like why if your not even actually doing what your taking pictures off?? It’s all lies and fake. Also don’t like being in the background of these countless images!

Facebook has groups for my interests where I can-speak to scientists of international repute.

Facebook is helpful for keeping up with people and local news/events.

I must come back and say though - I've just had a scroll today and found some great things. Interesting article on taxidermy, I ordered a new mug from a local small business, found a song I'd had an earworm over for a while, and saw the cutest photo of my friend's new kitten. So as has been said - it depends how you use it!

I still think too many people live through the lens of it, but if it isn't the be all and end all of life, then it can be interesting and useful.

It's not quite the same.

YABU

Cat videos.

The videos taking the piss out of Twilight and that H20 show. So funny!

News and opinions

The people who bring drama every 5 minutes. One minute it’s “Just me and the kids from now on no more 🐍 in my life”. The next afternoon they’re posing at Chessington with “My world 🌍 “. I love it

It’s a great way to stay in touch with people. Good for inspiration, but I have to consciously remind myself that things are always exaggerated to extremes.
It is good for introverts who don’t want to socialise all of the time, but can stay in touch with friends.
Local events too - it keeps me in the loop about local issues and events.

I think there’s a lot wrong with it, but I find it incredibly useful for keeping in touch with extended family and I met my husband through Facebook! We both joined a particular group. He noticed we had lots of mutual friends and sent me a friend request.

Our local neighbourhood group is also amazing. Yes, there are some silly posts. But it’s invaluable for everything from reuniting people with misdelivered post to passing on important information.

over the years i have made many friends, several of whom i have met IRL, and joined communities that have enhanced my life.
I sew, and instagram is a great way of showing off my things, and seeing what other people have made etc etc

How other people use their SM is not for me to judge or police

Facebook - local upcoming events

Mumsnet - exposure to all of UK society. I had no idea so many women were still being abused until I joined up. Great for advice on parenting.

Insta - I follow nature and travel accounts so a great way to 'see' the world

Twitter - great for an argument when you're in the mood for one

Social media is very very very bad. There are some pluses but are so overwhelmingly outweighed by the negatives they're not worth mentioning