‘Social media has improved friendships more than it has harmed them-2

‘Social media has improved friendships more than it has harmed them.’ Do you agree? Why or why not? How are friendships built? They are built through interactions, shared time and interests. With the rise of social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok, people are able to communicate and share their life, aiding the process of forming friendships where one has shared interests with their friends. Thus, I agree that social media has improved friendships more than it has harmed them. It allows for people to communicate and find common interests. Firstly, social media allows for more communication between friends. On platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp, users have the option to contact their friends at any time of the day. Whether it is about a simple math question or a group discussion, one’s friend is always just a text away. Unlike the past when one had to call one’s friends to chat with them, now it is more convenient to get in touch with them, making the process of chatting with friends much easier. For example, my friends and I often text each other on the weekends and after school discussing the homework we have, the latest shows on Netflix and the things we are doing during the weekend. It is a fun experience as it is just like talking face to face, but online. From these interactions, I not only gain a deeper understanding of my friends but also get to bond with them over shared experiences. These frequent interactions not only bring us closer, but also improve our friendship through mutual understanding. Thus, social media has improved friendships through communication. Secondly, social media allows for friends to find common interests. On platforms like Instagram and YouTube, there is a ‘For You’ page where the platform shows videos of content similar to what one usually watches. Friends can share videos of things they see or like, and through these sharings, they can find common interests which they can explore together. For example, recently crocheting has become a trend. If one shares a crocheting video with one’s friend, or one’s friend sees it on one’s ‘For You’ page, a common interest is formed. These two friends can then explore the hobby together, or have more to talk about, creating a deeper bond with each other. This example proves that through social media, friends can find a common hobby or topic to talk about, fostering a deeper friendship. Thus, social media has improved friendships through common interests. Some critics of social media argue that social media can lead to more miscommunication with friends. This is because of the lack of emotion shown through text, which may lead to misunderstandings if the message is interpreted differently by both. A study done by The Straits TImes shows that 20% of people had at least one harmed friendship due to online miscommunication. This shows that even though communication is about interacting, emotion matters too. However, I still believe that social media has improved friendships. With clear communication, clarifying the meaning of the message before reacting in times of misunderstanding will lead to less miscommunication. This allows for friendships to remain strong, and maybe even become stronger as there is more understanding with friends online. Thus, even though miscommunication with friends online is something to be taken note of, friends can clarify before reacting, ensuring fewer misunderstandings occur.

All in all, social media can improve friendships through communication on social media platforms and finding common interests. Despite the danger of miscommunication harming the relationship, overall social media is a platform that helps develop relationships between friends. We must protect this space while also keeping in mind that face-to-face interactions are still crucial in developing a friendship.