20 Social Media Problems and Solutions in Society Today

Social media is a boon. Or, is it a bane? Though it has its many benefits and uses, there are plenty of social media problems that trouble us. What are these social media issues? And how do we deal with them? One of the major complaints with social media is the amount of time it consumes. Here are some insights into the problems with social media and suggested solutions that may help you use the social media networking sites in the right way and keep a healthy work-life balance in this updated post. ~ Ed.

Social media is both, good and bad. It has actually changed our lives in many ways since its inception.

Like everything else, it too has its cons, which seem to get an upper hand over the pros. So, most people face social media problems sometime or the other.

Social media issues are inevitable; you just need to find ways to deal with it, isn’t it?

Let’s talk about the problems with social media that you or others might be facing. Hopefully, also find the social media solutions too.

First let me make it clear; social media is a great place to promote your views and meet new people, aid communication, and find new job prospects, besides the many other advantages. However, it can at times do more harm than good. I hope you agree.

I’m not skeptical or negative about social media; in fact, I use it immensely on a daily basis. However, let’s face the facts and accept its drawbacks.

Perhaps the biggest problems that people face is the amount of time they spend on the social media networks. However, ironically, this is essential nowadays if you want a strong social media presence. You can’t forget the impact of Social media signals that is essential for bloggers, writers, and other professionals, isn’t it?

The resulting lack of time directly or indirectly leads to other problems in life.

So what do we do?

“Social media is your opportunity to reach a massive number of people with transparency, honesty, and integrity.” ~ Brian E. Boyd Sr.

Let’s move ahead and try to find the solutions to social media problems and make a combined effort to help those who in need in this regard.

I would be mainly talking about the social networking sites and the problems people face. If you have any such issues, come over and share it in the comments.

Types of Social Media Problems Today

Social media has many benefits; the social media sites are great places to build connections, for personal and professional work. But here we want to focus on the problems with social media.

Besides the usual problems with social media you face, especially on the social networking sites, there are a few other social media issues like –

• Plagiarism Issues in Social Media

• Social Media Legal and Ethical Problems

• Marketing Problems in Social Media

However, I’d not go into more details about the other kinds of problems with social media, but concentrate on the ones that affect most of us commonly – social networking site problems.

“Social media spark a revelation that we, the people, have a voice, and through the democratization of content and ideas we can once again unite around common passions, inspire movements, and ignite change.” ~ Brian Solis

20 Social Media Problems in Society and Their Solutions

These 20 social media problems and solutions aren’t the only issues people face. But they are the most common social media problems with their possible solutions.

Spending Too Much Time on Social Media

Problem: As you have accounts on many social networking sites, do you spend time visiting each one too often?

Solution – Yes! I know I do, but you need to find ways to overcome this issue. So, the ONLY thing that works on such social networking sites is limiting your time and running off!!

Believe me, nothing else really works – tried and tested!

Social networking can be addictive and overwhelming at the same time. You need to learn to filter out the ‘noise’ to find something specific.

Getting Addicted to Social Media

Problem: Do you get so lost in your social media networks that you can’t function if you aren’t connected the online world? You feel lost, isolated, and become dependent, which can be dangerous.

Solution – I agree that people need a strong social media presence nowadays, and if you aren’t online the main social networking sites, you’re missing out on a LOT, but you need to know how to handle it all.

Don’t become dependent on such sites. Instead, find yourself some offline hobbies, friends, and ways to recreate so that you don’t become addicted to the Internet.

The Update Syndrome

Problem: Do you keep updating your status and remain busy reading the updates of others?

Solution – Chalk out a schedule and how much time you want to spend on such sites, visit them, share your update, quickly go through your notifications and messages, and move away.

The more you stay and check out what others have shared, or see the invitation to play games, or visit unnecessary pages, the more time you waste.

Neglecting Family and Responsibilities

Problem: As you are online 24×7, are you neglecting your family, kids, siblings and friends?

Solution – Family and your relationships should always come first, and this is a reminder for me too! Thus when you need to be with them, you need to move away from the social media.

Don’t allow social media to interfere with your daily chores, responsibilities, nor your relationships with your family, friends, parents, kids, and spouse. Take out time for it, and move away after that!

“Social networking platforms drove man closer to those in neighboring continents, while driving him further apart from those in his neighborhood.” ~ Mokokoma Mokhonoana

Dependence on Online Friends

Problem: Do you spend lots of time interacting with friends or strangers online to make new friends? As you are so used to working behind the scenes, perhaps when you meet offline people, do you feel awkward in conversing with them?

Solution – You need to ask yourself does online friendship really work. Yes, and no – just as the link to this post describes, do read the interesting conversation that goes on about it in the post. 🙂

It all depends on how you build relationships with your online friends. Check their profiles before making friends with them, another point most people forget to do.

Also, don’t entirely depend or only have online friends. Move out and meet offline friends and be with them, so that the awkwardness doesn’t remain.

Managing Social Media Time

Problem: Get too many messages, notifications, tags that you find it tough to cope with once you are on these social media networks.

Solution – I deal with this issue every single day! You just need to ignore them if they come in huge numbers, or if you feel they are important – take them up by visiting your account once a day.

Choose a time for your preferred social networking site to visit and reply to all the notifications, but don’t get stuck there. End it up within a set time period – and move away!

Wasting Time on Social Media

Problem: Some people bore you and you don’t like to interact with them, yet you do because you are being polite. So do you waste time in talking to those who don’t matter to you over issues?

Solution – If you are on the social networks just to waste time, you can never get anything worthwhile done. In case you have to deal with people who bore you, and you are one of the polite ones, you need to change!

After one or two replies, excuse yourself from the conversation and get away. If you continue talking, they will continue asking or talking. So, the choice is always in your hand.

Reducing Attention Span

Problem: Do you face short attention spans because of the time you spend on social networking sites – making it tough to cope with ALL the information because there is so much to read and learn and so little time?

Solution – If you find your attention span shortening over the years – that’s perhaps due to the time spent online gathering or reading the vast information at a faster rate, as compared to earlier.

Keep taking frequent breaks when you work online. Your mind and body, including the overworked brain, need a BREAK! Chalk out a time for social media and the Internet, instead of being online all the time.

“Distracted from distraction by distraction.” ~ T.S. Eliot

Lack of Focus and Productivity

Problem: Do you lack focus and think your productivity is taking a back seat due to these social media sites?

Solution – When you are forever online working and visiting several social media and social networking websites in day, you tire your brain and lack the attention and focus.

Yes, if you have the free time, these social networks are good, or else, they can reduce your efficiency and productivity, besides harming your entire days work and routine.

Thus, time yourself and remain focused in what you need to do first – everything else can come up later. Setting your priorities is essential, which ensures you only work to achieve your target.

The FOMO Syndrome

Problem: Perhaps you always want to listen to what everyone has to say, all the time. That’s called FOMO (fear of missing out), which makes you anxious and crazy. So, are you online and on these social media networks always?

Solution – You need to break this bad habit of being online ALL the time, as I know some of my blogging friends face this issue.

Just set a timer or go by the watch, and get away as soon as your time is up. I know it’s tough, but if you are determined, you can easily do it, just as I’ve learnt to do.

So, you hardly see me on Facebook and Twitter, except for the short time that I am online. 🙂

Remember, if you want to achieve something – you need to be very focused, or else it doesn’t work.

Wasting Time Playing Games

Problem: Do you waste time playing online games like Angry Birds, Zynga Poker, Facebook Scrabble etc, which are present on such social networking sites? Or do people tag and invite you to play such games?

Solution – I get a LOT of such invitations to play online games. But I just do one thing – IGNORE such notifications! Sorry for doing that – but I don’t have the time to waste in playing games!

If you are free, by all means play such games and invite those who might like playing too. But don’t tag, bother, or trouble those you know wouldn’t be keen.

You can also check the settings of your account to stop getting the notifications for such games or apps, if you look it up.

Seeking Validation

Problem: Do you spend time clicking your pictures and sharing it on the social media and seeing what others share, or comment on them?

Solution – You need to remember that all that you share on the social networks becomes public. So, be careful when you click your pictures and share them.

Or you can adjust the settings to share them with a group of close friends and family, though it’s better to email them or share it through other sites like Picasa etc., rather than social networking sites, where they can still be traced.

Besides, clicking your pictures, uploading the, and sharing it all over becomes an addiction, especially with young tweens and teens. Parents need to be careful because people can misuse such pictures too.

Relationship Issues due to Social Media

Problem: Do you feel your relationship is breaking up or broke up due to the amount you spent on these social network sites?

Solution – Talking of relationship issues – who doesn’t have them? But if you have problems with your partner because either of them is online for a long period, you need to make amends there.

Chalk out a fixed time when you are online or working, after which, devote time with your spouse or partner. They also need your undivided attention.

More the time you spend with them, better your relationship becomes.

Infidelity on Social Media

Problem: Some people use such sites to hook up or indulge into extra-marital activities. Have you faced such issues where there are problems in your relationship or marriage?

Solution – Be online for your work and get away soon after that, just as I’ve been saying all along. If you have issues in your marriage – resolve them. Running to social media and finding others there is not the way!

Better still, share your social media account profile with your spouse – no harm. This only builds the trust and they are sure of your activities. Otherwise, some people spend most of their time to find ways to catch a cheating spouse online.

Remember, anything outside your marriage is lust, and not love, just as I mentioned in my earlier post.

Disturbing Privacy Issues

Problem: Have you had privacy issues while being online these social networking sites?

Solution – Online privacy is a serious issue, especially for kids, tweens and teens – so parents need to be very careful about spending time and teaching their kids about the pros and cons of social networking sites.

You need to keep a watch on the sites your kids are operating or opening and teach them the right from the wrong.

Even for adults, you need to be very careful about sharing your personal information online and your details too.

Falling for Fake Identities

Problem: Was your account banned or hacked? Have you come across people with fake accounts and false identities?

Solution – You cannot say who the other person behind the screen really is or what his or her intention is. So be aware of such fake accounts and identities by checking out their profiles in detail.

Change your setting so that not everyone can read and know about you, till they are your friends. Things like your hobbies, birthdays, address, likes, dislikes, and other details needn’t be shared till required.

Cyber crime is something everyone needs to be careful about.

Getting Duped on Social Media

Problem: Have you come across scammers on social networking sites who trick you to download malicious software or visit certain sites?

Solution – Beware of hackers and spammers! They often send links that can harm your computer, and once that gets infected; they can use your contacts to spread the malware further.

Don’t open any link that you feel suspicious about or if it’s from some unknown person, whether in your email or your social media accounts.

Health Issues due to Social Media

Problem: Do you face health issues, like sleep deprivation due to being on the social networks till late night? Even your teens could be busy texting or surfing online, are you aware?

Solution – When you are always online, your health will suffer. Lack of sleep is an issue I deal with and the side effects are not good as they affect you, and your next days working.

Remember, your body needs at least 7-8 hours of sleep, so time your work and limit your online activities. Look after your health because that is your greatest wealth.

Your kids will follow you, so limit to the amount you allow them online. I’m glad we do that, so things are in control.

Negative Impact on Academics

Problem: Do your kids spend endless hours online, especially on social media networking sites, which affects their studies and results in low academic grades?

Solution – Studies indicate a fall in grades in students who spend endless hours on the social networking sites. Parents need to keep a check and allow them enough time to interact and work online if need be.

Not to mention that unlimited access has various drawbacks, which I’ll take up in a future post. 🙂

Dangers of Cyber Crime and Bullying

Problem: Are your kids facing social media problems? Perhaps stalking, cyber bullying and such things have occurred with them or their profiles – how did you handle that?

Solution – When you allow your kids to be online, you need to keep a check on their social media profiles and educate them to use it the right way too. Sit with them and guide them on how to open an account.

Not to mention all that they are allowed to reveal about their personal self on such sites. Anything written – becomes public, so be aware of cyber bullies, texting, and stalkers.

You might like to read this post – Are Your Teens Cyber Safe – a very important post for ALL parents. If things get out of hand, limiting the screen time also helps.

I’m sure you can relate with these issues, isn’t it? I know I can, though with time I’ve learnt how to handle these problems with social media. So, do you face any of these social media issues?

“Now we have so many more social outlets, so many ways to be stalked and bullied. If social media is too much for you to handle, then don’t have a Twitter or Facebook account. Just be yourself. Be who you want to be.” ~ Khloe Kardashian

Wrapping It Up

As for the negative impacts mentioned above, I think when you know the social media problems; you also know the solutions to such problems, don’t you?

Such social media networks are great place to be on, especially if you work from home as you get to make so many new friends. More so, it’s a good way to use them for social causes, and also take a break from work!

Speaking of which, I know I’ve met all my blogging friends by visiting and blog commenting and social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Google Plus.

Besides, there are many other friends I’ve met on these social network sites who don’t visit my blog, but love to connect, talk, message, or just read my posts. So they too are listed as your online friends.

All of the above doesn’t mean you go ahead and delete your social media accounts! It’s just that you need to know how to use them, and how much time you need to spend on them. 🙂

If you can control the time you spend on the social media sites, and not let them control you, you can maintain a good work-life balance.

“Social networks aren’t about Web sites. They’re about experiences.” ~ Mike DiLorenzo

I hope by talking about the above-mentioned social media issues, I’ve managed to help you pin-point your problems. Remember, everything has a solution if you are ready.

So, get away from your social media networks if you find it overwhelming and take a break. 🙂

“Social media demands a lot of us on top of our already demanding lives. So let’s disconnect as we need to and renew our interest and ourselves.” ~ Simon Mainwaring

Over to you –

Do you have problems with social media? How do you cope with the social networking problems? Do you think you can add more to this list of social media problems? What suggestions would you give? Share in the comments.