What are the advantages and disadvantages of social media?

The relative advantages and disadvantages of social media are a subject of frequent debate. Some of social media's advantages include the ability of users to conveniently stay in touch with friends and family who live far away, connect with like-minded people, and expand business contacts, usually for free. Social media has also been used to increase awareness of social and political issues and organize demonstrations. Frequently cited disadvantages of social media include a decrease in real-world, personal connections and the possibilities of cyberbullying, stalking, hacking, and other privacy concerns.

One of the most important advantages of social media is certainly the speed and efficiency in which it allows communication between people. For example, in the 2013 protests which took place in Turkey, social media played a vital role in communication. Many of the protesters were young men and women, students, and they organized the protests using social media. The plans of where and how the protests would take place spread through social media accounts rapidly, staging some of the biggest protests that Turkish people had witnessed in the country's history.

This is a great example of how social media can be used for change and for public mobilization. Similar examples took place during the Arab Spring and other incidents across the world. Social media has given people, especially the new generation which is very computer savvy, a new and effective instrument to come together for issues they believe in.