Argumentative Essay On Death By Social Media

Haya Alkhabbaz
Professor Maslane
English 1301
26 September 2015
Death by Technology
How would it feel to watch people’s minds become more and more robotic like? Is the current generation’s set of brains slowly dissolving to mush? People may see social media as a way to share one’s life and look into what others may be up to but, social media can have a negative effect. For example, social media can distract away from school work or important mandatory tasks. Somehow, people start focusing on the latest Snapchat trend rather than an upcoming biology test. In addition, the Twitter chirps or the bell ring indicating a message are very likely cause people to become more fidgety. Not to mention, individuals may even start to forget what they were doing before taking a selfie. In conclusion, social media may cause

procrastination, narcissism, and may even shorten ones attention span.
Over the years, companies have come out with new devices that consumers somehow become compelled to purchase. For instance, every new IPhone has become a must have for the current generation. In addition to these new gadgets, the latest technology updates and apps have also occupied our minds. Why are some people so desperate to get their hands on these devices? How are people impacted by social media? One can argue that these devices have done us good but, most of the time people are negatively affected by some of the outcomes.
First, it can be noted that social media is one of the biggest distractions of this age. As Nicholas Carr mentions: “When we’re constantly distracted and interrupted, as we tend to be online, our brains are unable to forge the strong and expansive neural connections that give depth and distinctiveness to our thinking.” (pg. 217). Sometimes, five minutes of checking a Twitter feed may lead to hours of scrolling into random suggestions. Media uses a manipulative way of causing people to press interesting suggestions to them to possibly make more profit as well as keep the audience captured on these apps and sites. Like Eli Pariser states: “Today’s Internet giants---Google, Facebook, Yahoo and Microsoft see the remarkable rise of available information as an opportunity.”(pg. 215). As a result of this, people start pushing away certain important assignments, goals, and mandatory tasks. Although students often procrastinate because of social media, there could be a solution to this problem. Knowing the right time and place to use social media can be crucial.
This brings us to the next point, the fact that social media may affect the brain in a negative way. As Carr put it: “A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the Net, with its constant distractions and interruptions, is also turning into scattered and superficial thinkers.” (pg. 217). Often times, the notification buzzing or the message ring can cause the human brain to be alerted almost immediately. Much like receptor’s in animals when called, humans become used to these certain sounds and become compelled to answer to them. Since people become so easily distracted, their attention turns from important things to responding to a Facebook message. In many cases, people have forgotten the tasks they were even doing before using social media. Soon enough, a person’s memory may also suffer from this process.
Finally, social media is a huge outlet for narcissism.

Ever since selfies started trending, this generation started caring only about how their pictures turned out. People nowadays stop everything they may be doing to capture the perfect selfie. Selfie sticks were also recently created to add more to this silly picture. After this trend, many apps came out to edit and perfect ones selfie. Eventually, these apps may lead to over editing and maybe even towards younger people. Teens stop focusing on school work and more on how to keep their online audience entertained. In fact, it has become sort of a competition to see who has the lost Instagram followers or likes on our selfies.
In summary, social media will have a negative effect despite the positive it may bring. The occasional use of social media use can lead to loss of thought, procrastination, and narcissism. Social media could probably never be completely cut out of the world. Thus, people need to manage their time better so they may have time to go onto social media after the important tasks. In other words, the use of media does not always have to be bad if one puts in mind the right

time.

Work Cited:
Carr, Nicholas. "Does the Internet Make You Dumber?" (n.d.): n. pag. Rpt. in The Blair Reader. By Laurie G. Kirszer. Ed. Stephan R. Mandell. 8th ed. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2011. 216-19. Print.
Pariser, Eli. "When the Internet Thinks It Knows You." (n.d.): n. pag. Rpt. inThe Blair Reader. Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner. By Stephen R. Mandell. 8th ed. Boston: Prentice Hall, 2011. 214-16. Print.