Are social networking sites a good, bad thing for youth?
Express asked residents if they thought social networking sites were bad for young people.
Desmond Boshego
LIMPOPO – SOCIAL networking sites are the use of applications to interact with other users to find people with similar interests. Some people claim social networking sites are a waste of time, create an illusion, bring negative emotions and also affect behaviours and attitudes of young people.
Express asked residents if they thought social networking sites were bad for young people.
Petronella Matlala said social media dismantled human relationships.
“As a teenager, I find social media is destroying the simple act of socialising. You no longer go over to a friend’s house, you just sit on Facebook and type messages to them. I love talking face to face, it is fun. All people want to do is play video games, watch television and post on Facebook. It’s true that social networking sites are bad for young people.”
Dimakatso Mokoele said social networking sites ruined human communication and this needed to be counteracted in some way.
“People need to learn to communicate with each other again face to face as people used to before social media ruined everything. It’s time to take a stand against such behaviour as young people.”
Moloko Mosotswane agreed.
“Social networking sites make our people more lazy when it comes to communication.
“This is bad for society. Social networking sites were originally created as a way to talk to friends in far places, but they have become the devil. They have dumbed down the way everyone communicates and it gives everyone the ability to preach hate all over the world,” said Mosotswane.
Jimmy Manyelote also agreed that social media was bad for young people.
“Social networking sites are bad for young people.
“This is because they spend more time on social networking sites than than they do interacting with people face to face. While this may not seem like a big deal right now, you can be sure there will be negative effects in the future.”
Tebatjo Mashatola on the other hand disagreed that social media was bad for young people.
“Social media isn’t terrible at all for young people. It was created to connect with people all over the world. I use Twitter and Facebook a lot. On Twitter, you are able to create friendships which could actually change your life.
“Through social media, you can create bonds and relationships just by liking the same thing as other people. I wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t have social media because it is a way to also connect with your favourite celebrities.”
Martin Racheku agreed with Mashatola.
“Social media is the only way for everyone in the world to stay connected. Take government for instance. As citizens, we do not have much interaction with government.
“However by using social media, citizens are able to have a say in important issues and government is able to make innovations that can make the country better. ”
