OPINION
A BLESSING... The benefits of social media
T
Nyah Simpson
he global rise of social media began with MySpace in the early 2000s. Since then, the rapid rise of online media and communication has generated a frenzy of criticism. However, many fail to remember how much social media benefits the world, and why we continue to use it today. Social media platforms thrive off of connection, not just to the web but also between humans. They are a tool to connect people across the world and from all walks of life. On any social app, you can have a conversation with someone from anywhere in the world. With apps like Twitter, you can easily stay up to date on news and connect with people from anywhere in the world. Many are quick to point out the negative impacts brought by worldwide communication yet, there are also countless positive stories that they ignore in their criticism. One example is Kayla Gaytan, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2016. Despite being told she couldn't bear children, she unexpectedly got pregnant with quadruplets. The
babies had to be delivered early due to her cancer coming back. Gaytan's family created a GoFundMe that raised $1.1 million, paying for her children's medical expenses. Thanks to online platforms like GoFundMe and Facebook, online communities and organ donors can help patients gain access to financial and medical aid that they would not have been able to obtain otherwise. Through social media, people can also find others who share the same interests and passions. This can inspire people and allows them to find communities of like-minded individuals. When people no longer feel isolated and misunderstood, their mental health is also positively affected. According to a study by Stanford Medicine, people who feel more connected to others have lower levels of anxiety and depression. However, as much as this connection to new people has improved people's mental health, it is impossible to ignore the negative impact social media has had on the mental health and body image of people, especially teenagers. People are becoming increasingly aware of this issue and are taking
steps to help remedy the effects of social media on mental health. An increasing number of global campaigns, trends, and hashtags are promoting self-love and body image advocacy. Many social media creators are also aware of the impact they have on individuals and choose to use their influence for good. An example is YouTuber Anthony Padilla, who is open about his own experiences going to therapy and actively encourages his 6.85 million subscribers to seek help if they need it. One of his most frequent sponsors is the company BetterHelp, a free online therapy service. Social media has also opened up new career paths. Some of the most famous individuals in the United States are creators and influencers. It is through social media that their career path was created, but it is also how other celebrities stay relevant in the modern world. When you open a social media platform you are bombarded by all the problems that it causes, but the next time you start to scroll on your explore page reflect on all the reasons social media continues to help people.
26 HIGHLANDER ISSUE II