Negative Impacts

Negative Impacts

Trolling

Cyber-bullying

Privacy

Productivity

Connection

Trolling/Cyber-trolling

When an individual/company is persistently targeted in a negative way online, usually through social media channels

The number of social media platforms available has led to a proliferation in this, as has the fact that users enjoy a degree if anonymity when posting via social media sites

Case Study: Ariana Grande

After she split with rapper boyfriend Mac Miller, and the latter died through a drug overdose, Grande was trolled online. As a result, she disabled her Instagram comments for a time.

Cyber-bullying - When an individual is targeted online through hurtful or threatening messages, generally online

Cyberbullying statistics - 2018-2021

• Ipso international survey
• 20k interviews (March-April 2018 - 18-64 year olds US/Canada and 16-64 year olds else where)
• Russia and Japan, parents felt that their children weren’t victims of cyberbullying 
• Indian parents felt cyberbullying was apparent
• Reporting: 47.7% of parents (6-10) reported bullying. 59.9% of parents (14-18) reported bullying
• School is a top place for bullying
• Social Media + Apps main source of Cyberbullying
• 1/5th of all bullying on social media
• Cyberbullying may be major cause of youth suicide

Body Image, Connotations & Interpretations

Filters and Photoshop

• Unrealistic body types
• Lying
• Present themselves in unrealistic ways
• Present unrealistic expectations

Negative Body Image

Obsessing over the (e.g.) Instagram posts of others can lead to feeling of negative self-worth - both from the lives influencers purport to lead (they only show the good stuff) and from the images themselves, many of which have had filters added, or have been excessively photoshopped 

Some lenses on cameras, due to their size, distort the shape and size of the nose, again leading to feelings of negativity regarding appearance 

Most Popular

Celebrity task: Doja Cat

Is the material appropriate for young people?

Whilst she isn’t completely nude, her outfits are quite suggestive and revealing so maybe audiences below a certain age (15) shouldn’t be viewing her account. Her songs do tend to be explicit so her instagram most likely appeals to the target audience of her music

Have the images been photoshopped or had filters added?

In the past Doja Cat has had allegations thrown at her for editing some pictures she has shut them down ad said that she does not edit her photos.

Where and how have they been shot (lighting, makeup etc.)?

The photos below have clearly been taken in a studio, or a set of some sort with a backdrop and professional lighting and cameras. She has also commented the name of the photographer taking the pictures in her captions.   

Backlashes against Brands

Social media has enabled consumers to voice their own opinions on a range of issues

These include big businesses, whose marketing and/or products they object to

An examples of this is Kim Kardashian’s recent ‘Kimono’ line of underwear

Japanese users of social media took offence to this, creating the hashtag #KimOhNo, complaining that Kardashian has misappropriated their cultural clothing

In a rare act of human decency, Kardashian has taken the decision to rebrand in the wake of criticism levelled against her

One way in which brands receive negative comments is through memes

A meme is an idea, behaviour or style that spreads via social networks from person to person and that usually involves a sarcastic or critical statement. This is known as as parodying 

With enough shares and likes, campaigns might go viral, attracting hundreds of thousands of responses

Decreased productivity

Businesses use social networking sites o find and communicate with clients

Sites can prove as a distraction to employees - more interested in social media than work tasks

grave risk of individuals commenting something about their work place online - disciplinary actions if the comment brings the company into disrepute 

Loss of Privacy

Social media encourages people to be more public with their lives

Most sites allow people to privatise their accounts and control who sees their content - these limitations are often forgotten, hard to use, or don’t do what advertised 

Employers can look you up on social media and fine material that may not be favourable

A false sense of connection

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can be applied to show why people use social media - sites make it difficult to distinguish between real life meaningful relationships, and common, casual, online relationships 

Users may be less successful in forming meaningful relationships in real life

 

Self-actualisation: Desire to become the most that one can be

Esteem: respect, self-esteem, status, recognition, strength, freedom

Love and belonging: friendship, intimacy, family, sense of connection

Safety needs: personal security, employment, resources, health, property

Physiological   needs: air, water, food, shelter, sleep, clothing, reproduction