Nora's Narrative: A Journey Through Words

My grandmother was elated to talk to me after seeing the pictures my mom posted for my 16th birthday. She had been recently diagnosed with cancer and was unable to come to my party due to the harshness of her treatment regime. It broke my heart not having her there for my special day, but I could not have been more excited to tell her about all the details after the night was over. 

Social media has given families, communities, and society as a whole the privilege to stay interconnected and up to date on each other’s lives, even while being miles away. It brings opportunities to see posts and make comments that you know will make a loved one smile. In fact, about seven in ten users under the age of fifty say that keeping in contact with friends and family is a major reason they use online social media platforms (Heimlich, 2011). There is so much negativity around how social media prevents us from living in the real world, and that it leaves us glued to screens all day, however, I believe social media allows us to better connect with the ‘real world’ by allowing us to keep in touch with individuals who we may go our whole lives without seeing again. Social media makes it possible to learn about what other people’s ‘real world’ looks like, despite you not being physically there. 

Another benefit of social media that has proved especially useful to me as a medical student, is the education resources and opportunities that social media offers. Social media platforms often have quick 30-second videos that help me memorize the cranial nerves, or offer mnemonics to memorize difficult concepts right before exams. And not only this, professional social media platforms like LinkedIn allow students to network with faculty members and apply for internships, research positions, and more. Social media platforms for colleges and universities can help current students connect with alumni, help parents stay up to date on school activities, and can even attract prospective students (Kenan, 2023). By using social media for education purposes, learning is made more efficient and finding opportunities to succeed professionally comes with much more ease. 

One of my favorite impacts social media has had on the general population is how it has allowed individuals to showcase their talents and creativity. Social media empowers individuals to express themselves in unique ways. One of my favorite pieces of artwork in my apartment is a landscape painting I bought from an Instagram artist who was advertising and selling her work via Instagram. If it hadn’t been for social media, I never would have known she existed. Other than traditional artwork though, there are individuals who advertise and sell clothing they make from hand, or people who sell baked goods made from recipes that have been passed down for generations. The list of people who use social media as an outlet through which they can show the world their talents is neverending. 

Ultimately, the debate on whether social media is good or bad might never truly be settled. But, I personally love to think about how social media has changed our lives for the better, and how it will (hopefully) continue to do so. 

Citations: 

1. Heimlich, R. (2011b, August 22). Using Social Media to Keep in Touch. Pew Research Center 
2. Kenan, J. (2023, October 3). 15 ways to use social media for Education. Sprout Social.