SLC-S29/W3-“Thinking and Ideas!| Seeing Problems Differently!

Social media has become powerful part of daily life especially for young generation. Positive use offers information and entertainment and misuse is creating serious social problems. Unverified content, fake news and negative influence are affecting values, behaviour and peace in society.

◉1.Identify one everyday problem in your community or country and explain some steps in solving them.

Nowadays a bad environment is being created in our society due to social media. The young generation spend most of their time online. They take wrong path after seeing unverified and false information. Many times they adopt immoral and dangerous behaviour under influence of rumors fake news or violent content. As a result not only moral values are affected but also social peace is weakened.
Solution to this problem lies first and foremost in educational and social awareness. It is important to teach young people not to trust every news or video and to verify information. Parents and teachers should guide children towards positive use of social media. The government and media institutions should also promote authentic information and positive messages on social media. This is important to encourage young people to engage in positive activities in real world along with online activity such as community service sports and academic activities. These measures will not only protect young people from going astray but will also improve social environment.

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◉2.Why do you think this problem still exists despite many people noticing it?

This problem also exists because social media is everywhere. Young people are easily drawn into its emotional and exciting content. Lack of public awareness and online skills leads young people to believe false and emotional posts.
Another reason is that parents and teachers often do not properly explain to young people about harms of social media. Young people rely on their own experiences which often turn out to be wrong.
Social media companies use algorithms to increase interest which means that young people often see this same types of controversial or violent posts. As result they take immoral or wrong paths.
All these factors together perpetuate problem and unless young people parents and society take its effects seriously this problem will persist.

◉3.In your opinion, what is the most misunderstood part of this problem?

In my opinion, most common misconception is that social media is only source of entertainment and its effects are limited. The fact is that social media can directly affect thinking behaviour and morality of young person. A false video or rumor can immediately influence to young person and force him to adopt dangerous behavior.
Another misconception is that everything is online it does not affect real life. This thinking is completely wrong. Because the effects of social media are also visible in real world. Fights at school hateful behavior and sometimes in the form of crimes.

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This problem is not only informational but also moral and social and its seriousness is often underestimated. This problem is increasing day by day due to the lack of guidance of young people and the increasing influence of wrong content.

◉4.If you could change one mindset related to this issue, what would it be?

If I could change one mindset it would be that both youth and adults need to understand that social media is not only source of entertainment. But this is a platform that influences thinking and character. Youth should be aware that it is dangerous to immediately believe every video every post and every piece of news.
We need to change the mindset that online fun and reality are different. Every user should learn to think responsibly and verify content. Parents teachers and society should guide youth so that they see positive and constructive content.
If this mindset is adopted youth will avoid the wrong path and morality will improve. The social environment will also become safe and positive. Using social media correctly becomes responsibility of every individual. This change will bring about improvement of society.