Social Media: Our New Collective Condemnation

Have you ever noticed how extreme behaviors seem to be becoming more and more frequent in public spaces? How shocking statements and controversial actions go viral within hours? It’s no coincidence. It’s the direct result of the power social media holds in modern society.

Think about it: what would the world look like without Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube? The answer is simple and harsh: probably much better. These platforms have opened a Pandora’s box, allowing anyone to say anything, anytime, without filter and without real consequences. The result? A large-scale social disaster.

Ten years ago, the world was a quieter, more rational place. People were kinder to each other, less inclined toward extremes. Stupidity, malice, and rudeness existed, of course, but they were kept in check by social norms. Now? They’ve exploded, fueled by the constant attention received online.

It’s crystal clear: social media has ruined society. And that’s just in a decade (approximately 12 years). Can you imagine what’s to come? In an already fragile world, with economic, political, and social crises at every turn, manipulation has become the new universal language. And everyone seems to speak it fluently.

But the negative effects don’t stop at the societal level. As an individual, you are equally affected. I constantly collaborate with psychologists and psychotherapists, and they all tell me the same thing: people are increasingly anxious, depressed, disconnected from reality. The direction we’re heading in is catastrophic. And that’s not an exaggeration, but a cruel reality we refuse to see.

Ironic, isn’t it? I myself use over 15 social media platforms to promote my web design and digital marketing services. Yes, I acknowledge the contradiction between what I do and what I believe. I’m aware of the paradox of my situation: I profit from these platforms while being concerned about their negative effects. But that doesn’t stop me from being honest: these networks should be severely regulated or, why not, even banned. For everyone’s sake.

And if social media is bad, the combination with smartphones seems downright catastrophic. The lives of some of us have come to be lived exclusively in this digital universe, dependent on connectivity, views, and likes. Sometimes, we record our lives to post on social media.

The excessive nervousness you see in online comments? Also an effect of this addiction. People have lost their filter, the ability to reflect before reacting. Everything is a click away, including unjustified outbursts of anger.

Social media makes us feel alienated from real society. It’s a drug that isolates us, makes us believe we are connected when, in fact, we are lonelier than ever. Get on a bus and look around. How many people do you see with their faces buried in their phones? It’s disappointing and, frankly, a little scary.

And there’s something else: constant comparison. Social media has made us believe that everyone’s lives are perfect except our own. We see only the good moments, the edited photos, the fake smiles. And we feel inadequate, unhappy, always behind in a race we didn’t choose to run.

The conclusion? Social media has fundamentally changed the way we interact, think, and behave. And not for the better. We’ve lost real connection, empathy, the ability to see beyond labels and stereotypes.

A Very Brief History of Social Networks

Social networks began to have a significant impact on society around 2006-2007, when Facebook became available to the general public and began to gain rapid popularity. However, their radical influence on human behavior and society as a whole became more evident and pronounced around 2010-2012.

This period coincides with several key events:

The launch of Instagram in 2010
The exponential growth of smartphone usage (the iPhone was launched in 2007 but became mainstream around 2010)
The launch of Twitter in 2006, but its popularity grew significantly around 2010
The emergence of the first major studies on the impact of social networks on mental health and social behavior

Therefore, we can say that the period 2010-2012 marks the beginning of the era in which social networks began to radically influence human behavior and the structure of society. This influence continued to grow and intensify in the following years, especially with the emergence of platforms such as Snapchat (2011) and TikTok (2016).

Estimates of Social Media Evolution by 2040

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)

Although there have been some resounding failures in this area (see Facebook and Apple), VR and AR could dominate social network experiences. Who needs a real beach when you can have a perfect virtual one, without sand in your pants?
We will share immersive experiences. Because posting pictures of your food is no longer cool enough, now you can invite your friends to a virtual feast where no one gets fat!
Virtual meetings will become the norm. Get ready to live out romantic dramas not just in chat, but in virtual worlds where “it’s complicated” takes on new dimensions or where “I need space” literally means another digital universe!
The more we are virtually “connected,” the more alienated we will become in reality. But who needs real friends when you have thousands of online followers?

Artificial Intelligence and Automation

AI will know what you want to see before you know it yourself. Free will? Well, who needs that when algorithms can think for us? Speaking of free will, it doesn’t even exist – see Cătălin Moise’s video “Biology of Human Behavior.“
Algorithms will anticipate our interests with frightening precision. Big Brother would be jealous.
We will interact with virtual influencers. Because we need even more “experts” telling us how to live our lives.

Regulations and Ethics

Governments will implement strict regulations. Yes, especially the governments of Romania, because so far they have done such a great job of keeping up with technology.
Algorithmic transparency will be demanded. We will finally find out why we see so many sock ads after searching for “shoes” on Google or Facebook once.
The fight for regulation will be a spectacle worthy of a reality show. Who will win: those who make laws or those who make apps? Stay tuned to find out!

Decentralized Networks

Blockchain-based platforms will “liberate” us. Or at least that’s what our new crypto overlords will tell us.
We will have more control over our data. Great, more responsibility to ignore!
Decentralization will make regulation more difficult. Digital anarchy, here we come!

Impact on Mental Health

Platforms will integrate mental health features. Because nothing says “wellness” better than a notification reminding you to breathe. We already have watches that do that.
Scheduled digital breaks and meditative content. Perfect for those moments between obsessive scrolling.
Addiction will remain a problem. But at least we’ll all be addicted together!

The Evolution of Social Influence

Influencers will collaborate with AI avatars. Because we need even more fakeness in our lives.
The line between human and digital will disappear. Who hasn’t wanted to be friends with a hologram?
Authenticity will become a vintage concept. Just like discernment.

Platform Interconnectivity

Social networks will be interconnected. Great, now your shame will be omnipresent across all networks!
Users will move seamlessly between platforms. As if you have multiple personalities, but all in one place.
Data privacy will be a fond memory. Just like privacy in general.

User Culture and Creativity

Everyone will be an artist. Because we need even more artistic selfies. When we look in the mirror, we can congratulate ourselves with the appellation “Maestro.” Constant pressure to produce content. Do you live if you don’t post? This is the question! Burnout and excessive competitiveness. But at least you’ll have millions of virtual likes!

Bleak Perspectives

Technological changes are overwhelming us. Who would have thought the future would come so quickly?
AI complicates everything. Because life wasn’t complicated enough already.
Rising global tensions. Perfect for your personalized news feed!

Unanswered Questions

Where is society heading? Probably toward the nearest Wi-Fi hotspot.
The long-term impact on humanity is uncertain. But at least we’ll have great memes about it.
Will we adapt to this pace of change? Spoiler alert: probably not, but it will be fun to try! Or maybe not ….

Blog Webage English

The Devastating Impact of Social Media

Table of Contents:

Social Media: Our New Collective Condemnation

A Very Brief History of Social Networks

Estimates of Social Media Evolution by 2040