Given how pervasive social media has become, it is indisputable that it can influence individuals. Social media wields the power to both divide and unites the community. While social media divides and has the potential to create rifts in society by perpetuating generational divide and creating echo chambers, it has an even greater potential to bring individuals together. It cuts across physical boundaries to unite different opinions and people. Social media sheds light on various otherwise unknown situations. Therefore, social media does not, in fact, divide more than unite.
From one perspective, social media perpetuates and exacerbates the generational gap between the older and the younger generations of today. Food, fashion, music and even relationships are guided by the trends on social media. The chasm between the young and the old is ever-growing due to social media. Thanks to social media, the young now have a vocabulary that is not easily understood by older people. Terms like woke, lit, awks and are host of other terms are just too dope for the older generation. In terms of world outlook and language, social media has divided people.
Avoiding a totally absolute view of the ability of social media, we have to acknowledge that social media facilitates the interaction of people across borders. Social media allows people to make new friends from different countries, as well as sustain relationships with friends and family who have moved overseas. Through sites like Tumblr and Instagram, friendships can be forged between diverse people. Critics opine that these links do not allow for a deeper understanding of other cultures, practices and ways of thinking. The connections are cursory at best. While social media has shrunk the world, it nevertheless has become an echo chamber and polarised view of people. The divisive nature of social media is shamefully sublime.
Fortunately, there are some small nuggets of positive experience through social media. It has helped unite the global community by shedding light on situations all around the world. With the ease of dissemination of information, netizens all around the world are not just able to glean insights into the struggles of others but are empowered to take action. For example, the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge started in the summer of 2014, raised $115 million for its cause. #MeToo Movement, #BlackLivesMatter, #YouAintNoMuslimBruv and a host of other movements have brought millions of people together, working to stamp out prejudice and discrimination. Social media has raised awareness about issues that society is confronted with and mobilizes people to act in the interest of their communities.
In essence, while social media may cause some rifts to occur within a society, its tendency to unite and bring people together is even greater. The availability of information online allows for more understanding and hence a more united world. As social media becomes part of everyday life, it will perform only one function, unite us in sociopolitical issues that matter far and wide.
