دانلود رایگان مقاله انگلیسی رسانه های اجتماعی؟ درک بخش تاریک رسانه های اجتماعی - الزویر 2018

abstract

Research and practice have mostly focused on the “bright side” of social media, aiming to understand and help in leveraging the manifold opportunities afforded by this technology. However, it is increasingly observable that social media present enormous risks for individuals, communities, firms, and even for society as a whole. Examples for this “dark side” of social media include cyberbullying, addictive use, trolling, online witch hunts, fake news, and privacy abuse. In this article, we aim to illustrate the multidimensionality of the dark side of social media and describe the related various undesirable outcomes. To do this, we adapt the established social media honeycomb framework to explain the dark side implications of each of the seven functional building blocks: conversations, sharing, presence, relationships, reputation, groups, and identity. On the basis of these reflections, we present a number of avenues for future research, so as to facilitate a better understanding and use of social media.

Final thoughts

“Social Media is everywhere” is how Kietzmann et al. (2011) article first introduced the honeycomb framework. Seven years later, social media have truly become ubiquitous. But unlike in 2011, the news surrounding social media are no longer just cheerful and bright. Instead, the popular press usually informs us about new instances of how social media have fueled intellectual property leaks, fake news, privacy invasions, election meddling, etc. The tone has changed, and we are becoming keenly aware of how deeply the dark side of social media impacts our private and business lives. As private individuals, although we know better, we continue to use social media with little regard to its darker side. We continue to upload pictures and videos of our children without their consent and start a digital presence they will never be able to reclaim. We install new apps on our phone without reading the end-userlicense agreement, and we give away our (and our friends') Facebook data in exchange for free Wi-Fi. We take and post pictures of our food for distant friends instead of enjoying the moment with our loved ones at the table. It has become normal for people to “slutshame” and post “revenge porn” of their former partners e two terms that did not even exist a decade ago but are common among adolescents today. Children are losing their sense of empathy, because when they insult someone online, they no longer see the impact of their actions and the sadness of their victims’ faces. And like them, hiding behind online anonymity, adults are quick to judge others publicly, without really knowing all the necessary details. On social media, people are guilty until proven innocent, and then, it is usually too late for their reputation to recover. While social media offer us previously unforeseeable levels of connectedness and with it offer tremendous advantages (e.g., the collective power behind the “#metoo” movement against sexual harassment), we simultaneously see levels of online harassment, bullying, vigilantism, etc. increase sharply.