Anti-Social Media
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The Sunday Feed!
The one thing that the world has made me aware of is the fact that everything has an opposite to it. A day is followed by the night, rain by sunshine and action by inertia.
Over the years, we have seen how the platforms often referred to as social media have gained popularity because people are looking for easier and cheaper ways to entertain themselves.
The latest statistics show that Facebook continues to reign strong as the king of social media, with 2.96 billion active users in 2023.
That means that nearly two out of every three of the 4.89 billion social media users across the world are active users of Facebook.
In 2023, the total number of YouTube users worldwide is forecast to hit 868.4 million, a 10.6% increase from 2022.
While this is a slight slowdown from the previous year’s increase of 10.8%, the number of users on YouTube has been rising at a remarkable rate in recent years.
On average, a good platform can look to grow about 6–10% per annum with the smaller ones growing much faster, especially platforms like WhatsApp, Twitter or even TikTok.
While this sounds very good, and we can say that they have made life so much more interesting we should never forget the darker side of these so called social platforms.
Let’s have a look at how precarious these platforms can be to people across the world, especially children.
1. ID Theft.
Social media platforms often encourage users to share personal information, such as their location, interests, and relationship status.
This information can be used by marketers and advertisers to target users with ads, but it can also be accessed by people who have no legitimate reason to know this information.
2. Cyber Bullying
Social media can be a breeding ground for cyberbullying, which can be devastating to those who experience it. Cyberbullying can take many forms, from name-calling and harassment to sharing embarrassing photos or videos.
Cyberbullying is a serious issue that affects many people, particularly young people. According to a global survey conducted by the United Nations, approximately one in three internet users aged 11–18 have experienced online bullying.
Here are some statistics on cyberbullying. A study by UNICEF found that 30% of young people in 30 countries have experienced bullying online.
3. Unwanted messages and notifications
Social media can be overwhelming, with constant notifications and messages. These messages can be from people you know or strangers, and they can be intrusive and disruptive.
There are no clear statistics on this but it is believed that more than 90% of people get regular spam texts on a daily basis. The volume of spam texts is growing at about 60% every year. Some people receive as much as 20 spam texts a day.
4. Online harassment
Social media has made it easier for people to harass and intimidate others online. This can take many forms, such as sending threatening messages or posting hurtful comments on someone’s social media account.
Harassment online is a serious issue that affects many people around the world. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to determine the exact number of people who are harassed online, as many incidents go unreported or are difficult to track.
However, here are some statistics and studies that provide insight into the prevalence of online harassment:
1. A survey by the Pew Research Centre found that 41% of US adults have experienced online harassment, including offensive name-calling and purposeful embarrassment.
2. A global survey conducted by the United Nations found that 73% of women have experienced some form of online violence or harassment, including unwanted sexual advances, stalking, and harassment.
3. In Australia, a survey by the Office of the e Safety Commissioner found that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men have experienced online harassment.
4. A study by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that nearly 1 in 4 young people have experienced some form of online violence or harassment.
5. Privacy concerns
Social media platforms often collect and use personal data for various purposes, including targeted advertising. This can raise concerns about privacy and data protection, as users may not be aware of how their data is being used or who has access to it.
There have been numerous data breaches reported by companies around the world in recent years. It’s difficult to determine the exact number of companies that have been affected by data breaches, as many incidents go unreported or undiscovered.
To conclude: The world is more dangerous than it used to be 2 decades ago. There is no privacy left for anyone. The so-called social media platforms even hear everything that is being said in the room.
Don’t believe me, try talking about something with your phone on the table. Then pick it up and scroll down the platform and you will be bombarded by ads relating to the topic of your discussion you had a minute before.
Both Google and Facebook have denied listening to their users’ conversations for the purpose of serving ads. So how does the magic happen every time?
You figure it out.
John Khalkho: CEO — Dolores Education
