Social media has become part of the fabric of life in the last decade. It quickly expanded beyond personal use, and is now utilized by journalists, PR pros and others attempting to share their message. Still, there is backlash surrounding social media’s rise. Exploring the conflicting beliefs about social media’s influence is key to understanding the modern world.
Forbes – The Ills of Social Media
For Forbes writer Theo Priestley, social media is an “addiction” that has infiltrated and negatively affected personal and professional lives. In particular, Priestley is dismayed by the influence of social media in sales and the rise of social media ranking website, Klout.
Econsultancy – Social media creates positive “personality” for businesses
Not all business-commentators view social media as a negative, however. Many business leaders think that social media gives their otherwise fairly bland businesses the chance to cultivate a more distinct, unique and engaging personality.
PRNewser – #NotMyOzarks and grassroots social media
While Priestley says that social media “connection” is at the expense of true, personal understanding, social media advocates point to trends like #NotMyOzarks as cases in which social media promoted cross-cultural understanding. Fearful of allowing KKK influence in the Ozark Mountain region of Arkansas to define their home, Ozarkians have launched a social media campaign against the KKK and racism utilizing the hashtags #NotMyOzarks and #RuralNotRacist.
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Seamus Roddy is an intern at WordWrite Communications. You can find him on Twitter @SeamusRoddy or email seamus.roddy@wordwritepr.com 
