Among the members of Generation Z, social media is virtually universal. According to a Pew Research study, nearly every high school student owns a smartphone and uses a social media platform. Social media’s tremendous impact on our society cannot be understated, and with it comes a myriad of advantages and problems, especially for younger populations. One major problem with this technology is the potentially deadly distraction it provides to young drivers. Technology companies and end users need to create awareness campaigns and engage in behavior to negate the potentially mesmerizing effect this medium has on drivers.
Social media affords users a feeling of being continually connected to others, but it can produce negative impacts on users particularly the need to constantly monitor their device. Another such impact is the potential for bullying. The anonymity of the Internet, coupled with the ability to avoid face-to-face communication, makes bullying prevalent on social media, as culprits frequently go unpunished. Social media often negatively affects its users’ mental states by encouraging the posting of only favorable aspects of one’s life, thus painting a false picture of users’ real lives. The most negatively impactful aspect of social media is its permanence. Frequently people are “cancelled” for an alleged inappropriate comment made on social media in the past. No one is immune from being cancelled, even students. In my experience, I have observed students losing privileges or even being expelled because of a questionable social media post. These negative effects can serve to mentally distract young drivers from the important focus demanding task of driving.
Despite potentially negative effects, social media can be a force for good as it allows people to connect instantly, no matter the physical distance between them. Social media has allowed students to remain connected during the pandemic despite not being able to attend in-person school. Social media also facilitates one to reach like-minded people to build relationships and communities. The sights sounds and feeling an individual experiences when interacting with others through this portal can be overwhelmingly positive when properly presented and thus leave a lasting impression. Social media can and should also be used as a force for good by spreading the vital message to its users that they must avoid deadly distracted driving.
Social media may evolve as one of humanity’s crowning achievements by combining our innate desire to be social with the digital world, however it also may evolve as a home to humanity’s shortcomings of judgement and negative distraction. Social media’s fate depends on the behavior of its users. Users must understand the sub-conscious power the technological device has over them, as the device by its nature was designed to distract and get and keep the user’s attention. This powerful draw must be resisted for the user and those around the user’s safety and wellbeing. Humanity must commit to end destructive behavior resulting from social media including cyberbullying, cancelling, and distracted driving.
Driving requires a vehicle operator’s full attention and thus full attention must be applied before taking the wheel to disable the device while driving.
Social media affords users a feeling of being continually connected to others, but it can produce negative impacts on users particularly the need to constantly monitor their device. Another such impact is the potential for bullying. The anonymity of the Internet, coupled with the ability to avoid face-to-face communication, makes bullying prevalent on social media, as culprits frequently go unpunished. Social media often negatively affects its users’ mental states by encouraging the posting of only favorable aspects of one’s life, thus painting a false picture of users’ real lives. The most negatively impactful aspect of social media is its permanence. Frequently people are “cancelled” for an alleged inappropriate comment made on social media in the past. No one is immune from being cancelled, even students. In my experience, I have observed students losing privileges or even being expelled because of a questionable social media post. These negative effects can serve to mentally distract young drivers from the important focus demanding task of driving.
Despite potentially negative effects, social media can be a force for good as it allows people to connect instantly, no matter the physical distance between them. Social media has allowed students to remain connected during the pandemic despite not being able to attend in-person school. Social media also facilitates one to reach like-minded people to build relationships and communities. The sights sounds and feeling an individual experiences when interacting with others through this portal can be overwhelmingly positive when properly presented and thus leave a lasting impression. Social media can and should also be used as a force for good by spreading the vital message to its users that they must avoid deadly distracted driving.
Social media may evolve as one of humanity’s crowning achievements by combining our innate desire to be social with the digital world, however it also may evolve as a home to humanity’s shortcomings of judgement and negative distraction. Social media’s fate depends on the behavior of its users. Users must understand the sub-conscious power the technological device has over them, as the device by its nature was designed to distract and get and keep the user’s attention. This powerful draw must be resisted for the user and those around the user’s safety and wellbeing. Humanity must commit to end destructive behavior resulting from social media including cyberbullying, cancelling, and distracted driving.
Driving requires a vehicle operator’s full attention and thus full attention must be applied before taking the wheel to disable the device while driving.
Content Disclaimer:
Essays are contributed by users and represent their individual perspectives, not those of this website.
