Positive Influences of Social Media: Building Connection and Encouraging Activism

Social media: Don’t use it to impress people. Use it to IMPACT people.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

As social media platforms continue their rapid proliferation, people’s perceptions of these digital spaces often fixate on the negative repercussions — ranging from comparison-induced stress to echo chambers that perpetuate misinformation (Twenge, 2017). Despite these concerns, it is important to recognize that social media also possesses the potential for significant positive influence, offering avenues for increased social support, expanded learning opportunities, and widespread engagement in social causes (Hampton, Goulet, Marlow, & Rainie, 2012). By facilitating real-time interaction, user-generated content, and the rapid dissemination of information, social networking sites can bridge geographic divides, cultivate online communities centered on shared interests, and even mobilize collective activism (Ellison, Vitak, Gray, & Lampe, 2014). Far from being an inherently detrimental force, social media’s design features — such as comment sections, direct messages, or curated public pages — can amplify pro-social behaviors, spark creativity, and instill a sense of empowerment among users (Hampton et al., 2012). This multifaceted perspective demands a nuanced consideration of how individuals and communities harness digital connectivity…