Positive and Negative Impact of Social Media on Internet

This report discusses the positive and negative impact of social media on the internet. It also explores the challenges and measures for security and privacy on social media, and compares Facebook and Instagram.

Integrated Professional Skills in
the Digital Age

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Positive and negative impact of social media on internet............................................................3
Different challenges and measures for security and privacy on social media.............................5
Comparison between Facebook and Instagram...........................................................................7
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Social media is a platform that allows exchange of information between people staying
away from each others by using websites and application. This report emphasis on positive and
negative aspects of social media on the internet. It explains different challenges of security and
privacy that are faced when social media services are used online. At same time explains various
measures or precaution to be taken while using social media services online. This report also
compare and contrast features, application and suitability for businesses between Facebook and
Instagram. At last, it explains social media site is good communication tools between people
staying away from each other.
Positive and negative impact of social media on internet
Social media has impact on internet positively as used social media is used by everyone
in today world that has demanded high internet connection. Increase use of social media has
adversely impact on health of people thus restrict use of internet.
Positive impact of social media on internet
Increase uses of internet in businesses: Internet initially has uses confined to exchange of text
messages for business deals or other such official works but addition of social media has added
options of personnel communication, exchanging of videos, audio and images, online video calls
(face times) which has increased the use of internet among younger generation (Hargittai and
Micheli, 2019). In today world company uses social media to market its products and services as
large number of people spend their time watching videos, playing games on social sites. Thus,
businesses use social media to attract large customers within limited time and cost. It is also
useful for business that operates its function across various nation as it promote communicate
easily and effectively with each other by use of social media such as Facebook, Instagram. So all
this factors has lead to increase demand of internet connection in businesses for effective
communication within time.
Transformation in internet connection due to social media: Social media has added feature of
communicating freely via internet and has given a platform that can reach people staying away
from each other. People are less interest to travel distance places as they are able to connect with
their dear one that are staying away from them within limited time and cost. Thus, less time and
cost involved in connecting with dear ones by use of social media has demanded 4G,5G internet
connection among people. Social media is also source of income for many people as they by

posting videos on social sites such as YouTube, Instagram able to generate income. It has
promoted growth of telecommunication industry and generate large number of employment thus
increases importance of internet in economic development.
Internet has become necessity: Social media can be used to create a positive digital footprint on
the internet just like google. It provides platform on the internet where creativity and technology
can be showcased. Social media helps in enhancing creativity of people as different people share
each other ideas and view on social sites so internet has become crucial part of them (Poy and
Schüller, S., 2020). It is also used by highly knowledge and expertise people to share their ideas,
view and opinion by positing video and information on social sites thus it helps in enhancing
knowledge and skill of people. Social media is also used to spread social awareness and various
social issue thus lead to increase social importance of internet too. Thus, Social media has
created awareness and enhance knowledge of people about their health conditions. Therefore, it
can be stated that because of various benefit provided by social media internet has become
essential part of human being.
Negative impact of social media on internet
There are various negative impact of social media on internet such as most of the people
spend time using social media that impact adversely on their health thus limit or restrict use of
internet among people.
Limited use of internet: People spend most of their time watching videos, playing games
through online sites that has adversely impact on health of people. It causes feeling of depression
and anxiety as there are various negative pop while using social media (Fletcher and Nielsen,
2018). People started comparing their lifestyles with other thus causing distress and anxiety so
most of the people try to minimize or limit use of internet because of negative impact of social
media on health of people.
Cyberbullying: It is type of harassment through electronic means such as computers, mobile
phone while using social media by sending or posting information that is harmful for individuals.
Social media is a platform where new people can meet each other easily thus cruel people by
making fake profile betray and embarrass other people online which leave deep mental scars on
individual. Most of the people avoid use of internet because of cyberbullying caused by social
media. Therefore, it is another disadvantages that social media has caused on internet which is
not possible in case of face to face communication.

Decrease in popularity of internet: Internet was used by many people for entertainment or to
utilize their free time by watching videos, playing games on various social sites. But due to
various negative impact of social media such as unhealthy sleep and privacy disruption internet
popularities has been decreased among people. People tend to spent lot of time on social media
that has lead to poor sleep and a type of addiction to people. It is such addiction that is more
harmful than any other addiction such as cigarette or alcohol (Masih and Rajkumar, 2019). Poor
sleep impact on individual productivity, time and health thus they avoid having internet
connection as they think it is wastage of time and money. Social media is a threat for privacy of
information as crucial information of individual posted on various sites are leaked by use of
social media. Hacker by hacking accounts of individual gather information such as bank account
number, name of person etc thus use it for undesirable purpose. Thus, people in order to prevent
themselves from threats of social media try to avoid use of internet so it negatively impact on
internet popularities.
Different challenges and measures for security and privacy on social media
There are various challenges that are faced by individual while using social media such
as privacy disruption, cyberbullying and hacking of accounts and misuse of information so
various measures to be taken to protect individual from such threats. Various challenges of
security and privacy faced by individual while using social media are as follows:
Ransomware and virus attack: Ransomware is type of malware that deny access to computer
system or data of individual by blocking until a specific amount is paid to attacker (Mondal,
Silva and Benevenuto, 2017). Attacker uses access computer system or data for undesirable
purpose that harm an individual or company adversely. For examples: Attacker by making use of
information ask follower or people to click on link or download file in name of individual thus
download virus or ransomware in other people computer system. Thus, it challenges privacy and
security of data of individual that need to address to protect individual from such threats.
Hacking of accounts and impersonation: Social media platform is facing challenges of
hacking of accounts such as Facebook, Twitter thus leaking personal information of individual
(Khazaei and et.al., 2016). Hacker by hacking accounts of individual can post personal or
crucial information of individual and business for undesirable purpose by impersonating in name
of individual. Thus, it harms adversely to individual and firms as their internal or personal

information is share among large number of people thus possessing threat in privacy and security
while using social media.
Staking and harassment: Such threats to privacy and security come from strangers as social
media allows to create new friends thus increasing threats of online stalking and cyberbullying at
rapid pace. For example: Stranger by continuous stalking various accounts such as Facebook,
Instagram of individual can get to known about password or personal information thus post or
share it to large number of people. It proves to be serious threat to security and privacy of
individual information thus cause mental distress and even force people to attempt suicide.
Unattended accounts: It is important for an individual to use all social account as idea social
accounts can be used by hacker to send fraudulent message to friends and relative in name of
individual. As if the hacker is aware that certain accounts are not used by individual they gain
control over it and send various virus infected link to large number of people. Thus, ideals
account harm individual and its followers in adversely manner. It also impacts businesses as
many companies does not use or monitor most of their accounts so such ideal accounts are used
by person to send false information to customers, investors in name of company.
Thus, there are different challenges in security and privacy while social media services
are used online so in order to prevent individual and businesses from such threats various
measure are been taken that are as follows:
Post crucial information: People should post crucial information on various social sites such as
Instagram and Facebook to avoid leakage or misuse of information by hacker or attackers. As
attacker or hacker by hacking your accounts or password can send undesirable information or
link to followers by impersonating in name of individual. Thus, to avoid leakage of personal
information of individual such as bank accounts, name and photo an individual should post
minimum information on its social profiles.
Strong password: It is crucial for individual to set unique and strong password for different
social sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (France-Hudson, 2017). As same password
for all social sites increase chances of threats in security and privacy while using social media.
Hacker can easily get access to all social accounts by identifying single password. Thus,
multiple, strong and unique password is essential for safety and privacy of crucial information.
Norton safe Web for Facebook: Various free app are provided that helps in protecting
individual from various threats that are faced while using social media services. Norton Safe

Web is a free app that scans newsfeed for unsafe links thus protect individual by warming about
potential threats and should not share it with others.
Locks your phone: It is also crucial for individual to lock its phones by assigning strong
password to it as most of the people uses social media by their phones (Lindén, 2016). Unlocked
phone of individual can be used by strangers to get access or control over social accounts of
individual. Thus, person by assigning strong password and locking its phone restrict control over
social accounts by strangers.
Read terms of social sites: It is very important and first steps that need to be taken by individual
to protect itself from various threats. Thus, Individual should invest time to carefully read terms
and conditions for effective use of social media and to protects itself from threat of cuber-
bulling.
Comparison between Facebook and Instagram
Social media helps in exchange of information between people that are staying away
from each other. There are various social sites such as Facebook, Instagram that is used by
individual for entertainment and gaining knowledge. The comparison between Facebook and
Instagram is as follows:
Basis Facebook Instagram
Features It helps in organizing list of
individual that can be used by
it for various purpose. This
allows seeing post or content
of specific person. Business
use this feature identify and
target its customer base.
Group features of Facebook
create group of people thus
helps in sharing of information
between people that have same
interest and opinion. Royalty
Free music Features allow
individual to add music to its
Filters is a unique features that
is given by Instagram to
people as there are 40 filters
that create different look and
feel (Jones and Harvey,
2019). Video post is another
feature of Instagram that allow
to post video for more than 1
minutes. Business by posting
video attract large number of
customers. Another feature is
Instagram stories that is a little
circle in top of follower feeds
that disappear after 24 hours.

video by offering thousands of
tunes to download at free of
cost. Live stream to multiple
page is another feature of
Facebook that allows sharing
of videos and events of
individual and company live
across multiple pages (Nisar
and Whitehead, 2016). Admin
can also tag people as live
contributors while live
streaming.
Story highlights is great
feature as it allows to keep the
best stories of person for long
term on its account. Instagram
live it helps in telecasting an
live event on individual or
businesses to large number of
people. AR filter allows
individual to add cute outlay to
its photos and video through
Instagram stories. Sticker and
Quizzes it allows to collect or
save different post they
individual may like by use of
sticker or hashtag.
Application Different application of
Facebook are available that
can be used by number of
people. Photo application
helps in uploading images or
pictures of individual and also
provide option to tag friends
and relatives. Another
application of Facebook is
video application it allows to
upload videos in any format
but it should be below 100
megabytes. Gift application of
Facebook send virtual gift to
another members in form of
small icon. Post item
There are various apps such as
Afterlight 2, Snapseed, canva,
pic monkey and Aviary that
helps in enhancing images by
using filter, text or graphics. In
it Afterlight 2 take photo to
higher level by giving option
to create own filter thus
giving consistent style to
individual photo. Whereas
Snapseed is professional photo
editor that has 29 filters that
can be used to personalized
filter and save them for use in
the future. Inshot, video
editor- editing studio, hype

application is used to post
songs, video on webpage or
profile of individual thus
making website interesting and
cool. Group application allows
individual to create its own
group or add to another group.
Event application is also an
application of Facebook that is
used by person to invite people
for specific event. Business
use this features to invite
customers for providing
information regarding new
product launch.
type and GIPHY cam are some
app of Instagram that helps in
making video attractive while
posting or sharing with friends
and family (Ferwerda, Schedl
and Tkalcic, 2016). In it
Inshot app allows user to add
music , emojis and text to
videos. It also helps In
merging, trimming of video.
There are different tools in
Instagram such as later, buffer,
sprout social and hootsuite that
are used to create automate
post publishing of business or
individual.
Suitability It is suitability for small scale
organisation as it helps in
identifying target customers
(Ford and et.al., 2019). Good
content and appropriate
targeting helps in attracting
number of customers.
It is suitable for restaurants ,
gyms, retailer business and
clothing brand as they can
easily post image and videos
of their product to attract
customers.
From the above analysis it can be stated that social media is an effective tool of
communication between people staying away from each other (Teo, Leng and Phua, 2019). Most
of the people has avoided distance travelling due to digitalization and use of social media to
connect with each other. People can exchange their feelings and view to other people that are
staying away within limited cost and time. Social media helps in connecting nation by sharing
each other culture and value of each countries by posting video and other crucial information.
Highly Knowledgeable and expertise people share their knowledge and experience to people by

posting videos thus enhancing skill and knowledge of others (Sunstein, 2018). Social media is
also uses by people to generate awareness about current trends and social issue among people
living in the society. Thus, it can be stated that social media helps in connecting people staying
away from each other within limited time.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that social media has various positive impact
on internet that has lead to increase demand of internet connection among younger generation.
Despite positive impact there are various negative impact that social media has caused on
internet by restricting its use or decreasing its popularities. There are different challenges in
privacy and security of information that are faced by businesses and individual while using social
services online. Thus, in order to protect individual and businesses from threats of security and
privacy various measure are to be used while using social media. It can also be concluded from
above report that Facebook and Instagram offers different application, features and are also
suitable for different businesses. At last, it can be concluded that social media is a platform that
helps in exchange of information between people within limited time and cost.

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