How is it September already? At TDMB, we’ve been so busy that it seems like our July social roundup was only yesterday! As we approach the end of summer and head towards the last few months of 2018 – eek! – we’ve put together the best social media articles for August covering the ever-changing world of digital and technology.
YOU CAN NOW GET PAID TO STALK SOMEONE ON SOCIAL MEDIA (UNILAD)
By Josh Teal
We all have that one friend who can find out anything using social media. Need to know about your ex’s new partner or what your school bully is up to? Social media platforms are such powerful tools for finding out information and one man has taken it a step further, by creating a business out of social media stalking.
CHILDREN’S LITERACY LEVELS FALL AS SOCIAL MEDIA HITS READING (THE TELEGRAPH)
By Charles Hymas
A study by University College London has found that advances in social media technology have caused a decrease in children’s literacy skills. 11,000 children were tracked from their births and it was discovered that they were being significantly distracted from their homework by social media. Not only that, but the time spent online has been found to affect mental well-being.
HOW INDIANS ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO HELP FLOOD-HIT KERALA (BBC)
By Nikita Mandhani
Social media gets a bad reputation for spreading hate and causing low self esteem, but it also does a great job of bringing communities together. Hundreds of people have come together to help coordinate search and rescue missions for victims of the flood. Along with raising money, people have been putting out messages asking for donations of essential items for those who have lost everything.
WE NEED TO STOP BLAMING SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THE TEENAGE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS (METRO)
By Natasha Devon MBE
Natasha, a mental health activist, defends social media, explaining that there are various other factors that contribute to the teenage mental health crisis, including cuts to community services, austerity and changes in the curriculum. Academic anxiety has taken over body image worries in young people, as funding for therapeutic subjects such as art, music and and sport has been reduced.
SCROLL-FREE SEPTEMBER: SEVEN BENEFITS TO GIVING UP SOCIAL MEDIA (THE INDEPENDENT)
By Olivia Petter
In last month’s roundup, we shared an article introducing the ‘Scroll-free September’ concept. Although digital detoxes are becoming commonplace and the research into the impact of social media is improving, it’s not clear yet how a 30 day break from sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram could be beneficial. This article discusses the seven possible benefits for users who take the plunge.
By Tim Collins
Following the changes in GDPR, social media users are on high alert when it comes to the topic of data and online security. Hundreds of people were left locked out of their Instagram accounts, with their login details changed and unable to contact bosses. Hackers managed to change email addresses to mail.ru – a Russian email hosting service which revealed their location.
By Mike Wright
Concerns have been expressed that social media giants are hiring psychologists to identify ways to keep people, particularly children, hooked on their apps. This is similar to techniques applied by the creators of video games. It isn’t the first time in recent weeks that the engineers of this addictive software have admitted to feeling guilt in contributing to so-called social media addiction.
GET WITH THE TIMES, HOW A SOCIAL MEDIA COPYWRITER CAN MAKE YOU RICH (CLICK DO LTD)
By Francis Nayan
A lot of the benefits to using social media don’t actually come from the platform functionalities themselves, but how people use them to their benefit. Putting money into offline advertising without investing properly in the potential of social media is a mistake businesses can’t afford to make. A strong and successful social media strategy starts with well-written content, which is where copywriters come in.
By Tijana Milosevic
This article is an interview with Tijana Milosevic, author of ‘Protecting Children Online? Cyberbullying Policies of Social Media Companies.’ Cyberbullying is a new phenomenon with the rise of social media and the actions of the most popular companies haven’t been addressed in great depth. Understanding the measures put in place and what the future holds in protecting children and teens from cyberbullying is the subject of Milosevic’s book.
HALF OF MILLENNIALS TAKE OUT CAR FINANCE TO MATCH THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA DREAMS (THE INDEPENDENT)
By Kate Hughes
We’ve all seen it before – unbelievably young men and women on Instagram with flashy cars most people their age could only dream of owning. Or could they? It turns out that they didn’t buy their BMW i8 or Audi TT with money earned from their career as an ‘influencer’ or from the bank of mum and dad, they took out an expensive and lengthy finance contract. These decisions at a young age can pave the path for financial ruin, if not handled carefully.
