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How social media has made people unsocial

Pulse Ghana decided to interview a few people to get some insight as to the degree to which this 21st-century culture is affecting lifestyle

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Gone were days when family, friends, couples, siblings, colleagues etc would spend time together in each other’s company whole day without any interference from elsewhere.They would laugh, cook, watch movies et al with excitement and even without the realization that time is flying away.

They would laugh, cook, watch movies et al with excitement and even without the realization that time is flying away.

Technology is good, and with its frequent use in the 21st century, there is no doubt that it has come to stay.

A national survey reported teenagers spend, on average, 8.08 hours a day using various forms of media, not including time spent doing school work or talking or texting on a cell phone. This includes television, commercial or self-recorded video, movies, video games, print, radio, recorded music, computers, cell phones, and the Internet.

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According to National Coalition to prevent Child sexual abuse, 77% of all 8-18-year-olds have their own cell phone, up from 44% in 2004. Cell phone ownership has increased with age, as 87% of teenagers’ 14-17- years-old now own a cell phone, and 31% of these older teens have smartphones.With smartphones come the use of social media. Young girls and boys, mothers and fathers, employers and employees, husbands and wives all succumb to this phenomenon, which is so popular and influential that it has become a source of addiction for many.

With smartphones come the use of social media. Young girls and boys, mothers and fathers, employers and employees, husbands and wives all succumb to this phenomenon, which is so popular and influential that it has become a source of addiction for many.

Has social media become so powerful that it has begun to negatively affect the social lives of people? Has its effect been ironical? That is, has social media actually made people unsocial? Pulse Ghana decided to interview a few people to get some insight as to the degree to which this 21st-century culture is affecting lifestyle.

Mr. Kweku Sakyi, a social media officer who works with a digital firm in Accra says it has improved his summary skills. He also said he has made friends and has been “always kept updated”.

This could be attributed to the fact that social media has affected his life positively notwithstanding.

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Mrs. Ama Sam, a journalist in Accra noted: “It has helped me make new friends, introduced me to more people and I often release stress on these platforms.”

It can be deduced from this fact that she spends quite a lot of time on social media than with perhaps family and friends.Mrs. Adelaide Osei, a banker, told pulse.com.gh: “Sometimes it keeps me detached from what is happening in the real world.”

Mrs. Adelaide Osei, a banker, told pulse.com.gh: “Sometimes it keeps me detached from what is happening in the real world.”

This is a clear indication that Mrs. Osei is disconnected from reality, obviously making her unsociable, out of touch with family and friends.

Mr. Amoah also, also a social media officer with a digital firm, reveals social media has actually given him “regular updates on the activities family and friends living outside Ghana.”For him,  social media has affected his life positively.

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For him,  social media has affected his life positively.

Finally, Miss Adepa, a journalist in Accra told pulse.com.gh that she periodically uses social media as a place to release boredom and also make communication easier with her family. She admits that in so doing, she has been significantly distracted from real life.

It is clear that social media’s pros cannot be entirely extricated from its cons. It’s good and bad sides form an alliance that is needed for our development.

The phenomenon has indeed drawn people away from an awareness of what is happening in their real surroundings, but ironically, it has also made people aware of things happening around the world.

We have to learn to use it in moderation or simply to embrace both its highs and lows.

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