Social media is a new age juggernaut. Move over radio. Say goodbye to the printing press. The new revolution in mass communication is here, and its name is social media. While the virtues of social media should be extoled, there are also downsides to this new tool, which will both be discussed in this essay.
Social media has done a lot for persons in faraway places to stay in touch easily. Most social media platforms are free to access. This means that there is no financial barrier to entry to use a social media site. Persons can create their own profile and communicate with anyone anywhere in the world provided that they have their own profile on the same site. Gone are the days of high phone charges for long distance calls. Now for the price of an internet connection persons can reach others far and wide. Teens have taken to social media to start online enterprises. They are influencers, and tastemakers. They convince others to purchase specific brands, and take a cut on the backend. This has enrichened many a Caribbean content creator, to the benefit of the host nations that earn taxes via monies incoming from often foreign sources. Social media has been a help to many Caribbean persons.
Social media has also had its downsides, one of them being an increase in Caribbean teenagers falling prey to online scams. Persons pose as love interests on these social media sites and convince teens to send them money and illegal intimate photos which are used against them. The teens never see their money again, and are often blackmailed for money, lest their private photos be leaked over the internet. Caribbean teenagers often experience anxiety and depression as a result of the negative sides of social media.
Social media should be regulated to protect Caribbean teenagers from its downsides. Persons under the age of 18 should not be allowed to create social media accounts, until they reach the age where they can make serious decisions for themselves as legal adults. This is one way that Caribbean teenagers can be safer navigating these dangerous new internet waters.
Social media is here to stay. It has its positives like new avenues for revenue generation. It has its downsides like the exposing of young persons to possible predators and them being predated on. Ultimately, with effective regulation, Caribbean teenagers can be better protected as they navigate social media sites.
Read another Social Studies essay here – https://theonlinescholarinstitute.com/2025/03/25/social-studies-essay-examine-the-role-of-cultural-festivals-in-promoting-caribbean-national-identity/
Leave a comment