Features
10
The Divisive Potential of Social Media Words by Maddie Balcombe
There is no denying that, today, social media platforms have become indispensable to the workings of our society. In fact, it is rare to go a day without hearing the words: “I saw this on TikTok”, or “it’s trending on Twitter”, or “did you see their post on Instagram?” Social media has transformed the way we live, the way we communicate and the way we perceive society. However, recently I have been wondering if the prevalence of social media within our lives is always a good thing. I am not ashamed to say that I have actively used social media platforms every day for the past eleven years of my life. In 2012, long before the days of filters and reels, I joined Instagram. Then, in 2013 I made my first Twitter account. Then came the Tumblr pages, the Facebook profile, the Snapchat account, the (albeit shortlived) YouTube channel… the list really is endless! Back in the early-mid 2010s, I remember feeling so excited by social media. These platforms were a place for people to bond over shared interests; a place to recognise talent and creativity; a place of positive change. Social media, with its charm of instant connectivity and ability to defy physical borders, is meant to unite us. However, eleven years later, I can’t help but feel as though it is now just driving us further apart.