Youth debate: Social media: Disrupting family ties

Social media is swallowing up a major part of our daily lives. It has changed the way people interact with their environment. With the increasing availability of smartphones and greater affordability, people now live in a virtual world oftentimes disconnected with their physical and social networks. To what extent is social media causing a disruption in human contacts? The youth debate on this issue this week.

Yash Purushotam: “It builds more ties” 

Yash Purushotam argues that social media, as its name suggests, is all about building connections. “Through social media, it has become easy to create several groups and networks. For example, there are groups for photography that allow people in this field to connect  and sometimes to work together. Similarly, in the retail sector, companies are using social media to be closer to their customers and build ties with them.” For him, social networks may be creating doubts, greed and lust but still, in this era, social media is a necessity.

Nicolas Frichot: “It does not dismantle social ties”

Nicolas Frichot firmly believes that social media does not dismantle social ties. “On the contrary, it has helped me not only to connect in a deeper way with my inner circle, but it has also opened a whole new world of opportunities: business contacts, political outreach, and social change. Social media can help connect in very meaningful ways: it helps sharing one’s ideas, visions and dreams to a larger group. Not only does it help to express feelings but also to establish one’s identity. It is true however, that a misuse of this tool can indeed create conflicts in relationships. But this applies to almost everything in life. In the right measure, it is a blessing, in excess, it can lead to negative outcomes. In my political life, I have sometimes missed several  gatherings in family and social settings. Still, I’ve been able to drop a line, and see how things were evolving. This might not be the perfect solution – and to be honest, I do not believe in perfection – but if social media can make a slight difference, bring back a smile or connect lost persons and create meaningful moments, then it’s really something of great value to society.”

Glorine Maloupe: “Loss of communication within families” 

We are living in a technological era, where the advent of internet has brought down geographical barriers, says Glorine Maloupe. “Internet access is available in every corner of the world. Instagram, Skype, Twitter and popular platforms like Facebook have helped the world to stay connected. In Mauritius, our telecommunication and information infrastructures are being further developed. And the recent free Internet access, where approximately 365 WiFi spots have been set up around the country is a vivid example of technological advancement. Social media has become a new craze. Millions of Facebook accounts are being created for social and business purposes.” 

She further explains that the advantages that Facebook provides are numerous. “One of the most important factors is that it keeps us connected with our close relatives who are abroad or even chat with friends who we are unable to meet more often. Another common factor is the use of video calls which help  to see our relatives or friends on the phone. Secondly, global and national news are being shared instantly, thus we are being continuously updated. Thirdly, posting selfies has become a new habit. On each occasion, a click of yourself can be shared on your wall just to make your friends aware of your day (family or professional moments). Messages are also being circulated of those facing distressful moments and searching for help.”

However, the young lady argues that social media platforms are distorting the very fabric of our society, through misuse of the internet. “Certain users have become victims of identity theft. Violation of users’ privacy is very common and thus, we are in a certain way insecure on social networks. The most usual remark is that some Facebook users use the platform to share offensive messages, for example pornography or racial hatred. Adolescents are more prone to being influenced negatively, with the advent of sextortion. The most alarming phenomenon is the loss of communication between family members in some cases. Social media has raised an invisible wall between parents and their children who spend most of their time on social media and do not really communicate with their parents. Dinner time is less casual nowadays, as it has been replaced by the new craze for mobiles and tablets. The rapid adoption of the internet is good but it has some pitfalls for society. Marriages have  broken up while others committed blunders. Each individual should use social media conveniently for their self-improvement and for their families as well.”

Habeeba Nobee: “It can be used to promote peace” 

Social media has good and bad aspects. However, it is up to us to ensure that we are using it judiciously, states Habeeba Nobee. “Social media platforms such as Facebook are a great tool for communication and a means of sensitisation, enabling access to and sharing of information among individuals around the world. By being connected to people, via social networks, we maximise our abilities to create value for others, to help each other and hence creating a synergy to increase our range of possibilities and opportunities. The best way to create meaningful connections via social media is by empathizing, being true and of high integrity. Therefore, encouraging the building and reinforcement of healthy social ties and relationships.”

For the young lady, as an online networking asset, social media has as much power as face-to-face networking in building meaningful personal and professional relationships. “The global professional network LinkedIn allows us to connect with potential employers, employees, business partners, clients and other people from different backgrounds with a wide range of skills from whom we can learn and even share our knowledge, talents and potential. By effectively and efficiently using LinkedIn, we can optimize self-learning and engage in relevant group discussions. Hence, grow as an individual. Furthermore, social media can be used to promote the message of peace, unity and justice among all, and to lead people in driving positive change around them for a better and sustainable world. Although social media can be useful, we should set limits, and it is essential that we focus on the vital few and most important things in our life.”

Deepshika Aujgobee: “It creates social isolation” 

Member of Weave A Dream Association – a non-governmental organisation providing educational, health and financial stability to people in need – Deepshika Aujgobee argues that online social media have known astounding growth worldwide. This has led researchers to look into the matter and understand the implications.

“With time all generations have come to embrace the changes social media have brought into into their lives, especially teenagers and young adults. Various studies have revealed that these platforms are immensely impacting the lives of the youth. The use of platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, have both positive and negative effects.”

We cannot ignore the fact that social networks nowadays form part of  the lives of teenagers. “Most youths spend an average of at least one hour on these platforms. Generally, 1 out of 7 minutes spent online  is  on Facebook. One may ask what positive impact can be gained from spending so much time on social media? Well, social media helps the youth and other users to stay updated about world events. It also helps people to stay in touch and interact with their close ones even if they are miles apart. With features such as video calling, users can see and talk to each other.” 

However, all is not so rosy, says Deepshika. “While on the one hand social networks seem to bring people together, on the other hand, it creates social isolation. In this modern era, the majority of people are users of at least one social media network. As a result, people prefer to spend time with their virtual friends instead of their  family members or friends. Youngsters spend their free time locked away in their rooms and in front of their computer screens. This eventually results in the dismantling of family ties as there is no face-to-face interactions. Consequently, social isolation can lead to a host of emotional, psychological, physical and mental problems which include anxiety, depression and somatic issues, among many others.”

Pallavi Mattapullut: “It is the new norm”

The internet has become a widely accepted alternative to social interaction over the past decade, argues Pallavi. “Social media such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and many other internet-based sources are becoming increasingly important in healthcare. Families are relying more and more on social media as main sources of information and to share personal experiences and opinions. The availability of smartphones, tablets, computers and other electronic devices have created a bridge to connect with people regardless of the geographical limitations. Our daily communication mostly takes place through SMS, e-mails and the ever expanding social media.  Social media has become the new norm when it comes to communicating just about everything, be it major life events like engagements and the birth of a child to trivial matters such as what you had for dinner.”

She further adds: “The internet has a greater impact on people today than ever before. People can make voice calls through WhatsApp, Messenger, Viber and countless others. Younger people are using mass communication platforms without being fully aware of the implications. There have been instances where younger folks have committed suicide as a result of online bullying. Parental controls are available to limit website access to only authorised contents. But they cannot prevent a youngster from accessing inappropriate content shared by his friends. With the emergence and growth of social media, there are benefits as well as drawbacks. Social media platforms are helpful to the world and improve the way we communicate. As social media evolves, communication will improve and continue to soar to new heights.”