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While I certainly won’t deny that social media has many negative aspects, it can be an amazing tool when used for good. Here are the top five ways social media has positively impacted my life.
1I’ve Met Friends Through Social Media
One of the best things about social media is that you can connect with like-minded people and it’s quite common to meet friends online these days. However, I was well ahead of the curve in this respect; I started using social media to meet people in 2010, when it was still seen as somewhat strange. Since I have always had many niche interests, I thought: “Why not?”.
When I moved abroad in 2020, Instagram in particular was a great tool for making new friends. But whileInstagram is my favorite social media site, I’ve also made friends through X (when it was known as Twitter) and Facebook. I’m still in contact with many of the friends I initially met on social media today, and I’m grateful for that.
2Social Media Introduced Me to Many Passions and Hobbies
Many of my biggest passions and hobbies these days were initially introduced to me on social media. Traveling and photography are the two biggest examples of this. I used to think it was so cool seeing people exploring and sharing their best pictures on Instagram.
While I’m not a fan of many influencers, I still think that blogging and photography are interesting. I have even been running my own blog—with original photography—for almost 18 months at the time of writing.
Social media also introduced me to high-intensity training, which started when I first followed Joe Wicks on Instagram in late 2016. Since then, I’ve transitioned to CrossFit and still do that several times weekly. While there’s a lot of bad fitness advice online, social media has also helped me find nutrition tips that aid my training.
3I’ve Gotten Jobs From Social Media
When I was considering applying for jobs in my final year at university, I dreaded the idea of using job boards. So I decided to look on LinkedIn instead. The jobs were higher-quality, and they also felt more targeted—even if they linked to an external job board. I got both of my full-time jobs from LinkedIn when I was an employee.
Since becoming a freelancer in 2019, LinkedIn has continued to be a crucial tool for finding work. Besides applying for interesting roles, I’ve also received several messages asking me if I’m interested in working with different companies. Moreover, I’ve gotten some jobs because I simply messaged a content manager or editor-in-chief. You can alsouse LinkedIn to research your next job.
4Social Media Helped Me Stay Connected After Moving Abroad
I’ve already mentioned that social media helped me make friends after moving abroad. However, another benefit is that I’ve been able to stay in touch with existing friends and family in the country where I grew up.
Now that I’vesuccessfully reintegrated social media after a long break, I can happily check what my friends have been up to each week. On top of that, it’s easy to share what I’m doing and to also message them.
While I personally use Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat are also viable options.
5Social Media Has Boosted My Creativity
This one is a tricky one because if you aren’t careful, social media can sap your creativity. But if you use it well, you’re able to find inspiration for your own projects. I look at a select few photographers’ work on social media that inspires me, and when I used Twitter, I also followed a number of accounts that helped me think outside the box.
I don’t actually recommend using the Explore page because I personally don’t find much of the stuff there very useful. However, if there’s a photographer, YouTuber, or blogger that you like, it’s worth checking out their content on social media. Consider also setting aside some time each week to check what they’ve posted.
From connecting with people you never otherwise would’ve met to boosting your career, social media has several benefits. You can make positive use out of each platform, so pick a few that really appeal to you.
