Strengths and Weaknesses

Social Media Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

Social Media Advantages and Disadvantages Essay PDF. Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media Essay IELTS. Benefits of Social Media Essay. Disadvantages of Social Media Essay.

Social Media

Social media are website and application-based networking tools that allow people to share real-time information on them. It has been accepted as the most innovative invention by science in the digital era to ease the human communication system. There are various types of social media globally, such as Facebook, WhatsApp, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, WeChat, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Reddit, Pinterest, Zoom, and Google Meets. People use social networking sites to share opinions, educate others, disseminate mainstream media content, shape political opinions, and entertain each other. Apart from that, People use them for crime reporting.

Social Media Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

The essay on social media advantages and disadvantages describes social media platforms' positive and adverse impacts. The most significant parts of an ideal essay are the introduction, body, and conclusion, and the additional elements are thesis statements, transitional verbs, and examples.

The essay on the advantages and disadvantages of social media includes the introduction, thesis statement, advantages, disadvantages, and conclusion. Nowadays, social media have become a widespread phenomenon. Therefore, the advantages and disadvantages of social media essays have become a crucial topic for students, educators, and academicians. Many students focus on social media essays to obtain excellent results in the IELTS exam. The school, college, and university lecturers also set this topic for the assignment and exam questions. The author demonstrates examples of social media's advantages and disadvantages essay.

Social Media Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

Introduction

Social media are the most significant blessing of technology in the modern era. Social media are mainly Internet-based tools and applications that people use for communicating, entertaining, and sharing information. The most common social media platforms are Facebook, TikTok, WhatsApp, Viber, Instagram, WeChat, Pinterest, Linked In, VK, etc. The total number of social media users is around 3.0 billion worldwide. Facebook has become one of the most famous social media, gaining 2.96 billion monthly active users. It becomes a double-edged sword due to its positive and negative impact on society. The author discusses the advantages and disadvantages of social media platforms in the community.

Advantages of Social Media

The advantages of social media are maintaining communication, sharing knowledge, and enhancing business.

Firstly, social media eases the communication process that contributes to building relationships. Nowadays, more than 90 percent of teenagers are using smartphones, and in the meantime, 45 percent of them surf the internet every day. For example, students utilize social media networking sites to conduct virtual meetings and classes. So, social networking sites benefit people in maintaining communication globally.

Additionally, Social media have become the most convenient tool for imparting and sharing knowledge. People can easily perceive how difficult educational life would be without using social networking platforms. Every student acknowledges that Google has become the best lecturer for asking questions and seeking knowledge from the Google search engine. For example, educators adopt Google Meet and webinar meeting platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Zoom meetings, Google Meet, etc. So, social media are the best grace of technologies from the perspective of sharing knowledge and expertise.

Furthermore, social media have a tremendous positive impact on the company from the viewpoint of marketing policy. Social media help organizations communicate with potential customers virtually. For example, the organization utilizes its official social media pages for corporate branding, product branding, social media marketing, paid marketing, website traffic enhancement, promotion, etc. In sum, selling products and services online has been more straightforward for the blessing of social media.

People benefit from several viewpoints on social media, such as education, communication, workplace, marketing, entertainment, etc.

Disadvantages of Social Media

On the other hand, the most critical disadvantages of social media are using them for cyberbullying, hacking, and addiction.

Firstly, teenagers utilize social media platforms to bully others, also known as cyberbullying. Cyberbullying refers to harassing someone by sharing personal information on social networking sites. A study shows that around 50% of teenagers were bullied in Bangladesh until 2016. In 2016, an American teenager named Megan Taylor Meier died by suicide of cyberbullying. For example, most teenagers get bullied on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube.

Hacking is another negative consequence of using social media in society. Many people preserve their personal information on social networking sites, including photos, ID cards, and passports. Hackers can hack this personal information and share it on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Sometimes, they demand money from victims committing to not disclosing their private photos. After all, it traumatizes the victim mentally; hence, it is another negative consequence of social media platforms.

Moreover, social media's most alarming negative impact on society is addiction. A statistic revealed that around 220 million people are now addicted to social media directly or indirectly. For example, many teenagers play games on social media instead of doing their daily tasks properly.

Conclusions

In short, Social media positively and negatively impacts individuals and companies. People benefit from social media to maintain communication, share knowledge, and enhance business. In contrast, some crimes happen due to social media, such as cyberbullying and hacking. Many teenagers are addicted to social media, which bars them from maintaining a healthy life. However, people can make social media a blessing tool by preventing negative societal impacts.

Advantages of Social Media Essay

Social media advantages essay discusses the benefits of social media sites in human life. It also includes the introduction, body, and conclusion. An example of a social media essay has been outlined.

Introduction

Have you ever wondered why half the 7.7 billion people worldwide use social media platforms? Social media refers to the internet-based networking system that facilitates human communication through computers, smartphones, and tablets. Around 3.8 billion people use social media, yet Facebook achieved about 2.74 billion monthly users worldwide in 2021. Today I would like to talk to you about the positive role of social media in society. Nevertheless, social media have both positive and negative impacts on society. Regardless of the critics, the advantages of social media are practicing citizen journalism, maintaining emergency communication, and conducting a virtual education system.

Advantages of Social Media

Firstly, citizen journalism plays a significant role in creating social awareness and shaping public opinion. Citizen journalism means collecting, generating, and publishing information on social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, etc. Social media allow citizen journalists to spread information quickly compared to traditional media. A study shows that around 45% of Americans consume news and information from social media platforms. For example, citizen journalists play a crucial role in sharing social awareness content on Facebook daily.

Secondly, social media platforms have become the most convenient networking sites for emergency communication. The disaster management authority utilizes social media pages to conduct agency-to-community communication. Social media can spread any news quickly among many people in the community. For example, according to CNN, A Russian court has placed Forbes journalist Sergey Mingazov under house arrest after he was detained for allegedly spreading fake news on Telegram channel about the Russian armed forces. Mass media utilize social media sites to promote programs and content through media convergence. Social media sites are undoubtedly effective tools for quick communication in emergency periods.

Finally, educators, students, and academicians currently utilize social networking sites to conduct virtual classes. Nowadays, many educational institutes conduct and regulate online courses through virtual meeting minutes, including Google Meet, Zoom meetings, and WhatsApp. As a result, students organize virtual meetings to complete group discussions and submit online meeting minutes. A study shows that social media enhances students' communication skills; therefore, they perform better than average students who are inactive on social networking platforms. So, it is another crucial benefit of social media in conducting a virtual education system.

Conclusion

In sum, social media are a blessing invention of technology in the 21st century, contributing significantly to information and communication technology (ICT). The three significant advantages of social media are practicing citizen journalism on social media, maintaining emergency communication, and conducting a virtual education system. Based on these positive social media roles, it is safe to say that social media benefits people immensely.

Disadvantages of Social Media Essay

The Social Media Disadvantages essay discusses the adverse consequences of social media sites in human life. The article on social media's disadvantages includes the introduction, thesis statement, body, and conclusion.

Introduction

Social media have brought a significant change in the communication sector. Social media, also known as the new media, have become indispensable to the modern lifestyle. According to the statistics report, more than 800 social media platforms globally. Nowadays, people can not imagine a day without using social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and TikTok. However, it has both positive and adverse impacts on society. Apart from the positive consequences, social media's most typical adverse effects on society are spreading fake news, negative reviews on businesses, and addictions.

Firstly, People opt-in to social media sites to spread fake and fabricated information for its availability. Many citizen journalists utilize these sites to disseminate misleading political issues. For example, Twitter banned President Donald Trump’s account due to posting misleading information.

Secondly, social media can destroy the business due to negative reviews from customers on social media. It also creates high customer expectations and a reduction in employee productivity. A study shows a negative social media review can diminish hundreds of positive comments.

Finally, Netizens are incredibly keen on social media and spend most of their time here instead of traditional media. People are highly addicted to social media and experience physical and mental illnesses.

Conclusion

Social media have both positive and negative consequences on society. Nobody can deny the blessing of social media to make our civil life more accessible from communication with each other beyond the country's boundaries. The adverse consequences of social media are spreading fake news, negative reviews on businesses, and addictions. The government and policymakers should come up with a solution to the problem.

Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media

The essay on the advantages and disadvantages of social media outlines how to write a body paragraph of an essay with APA citation. The essay's thesis statement and body paragraph on social media's advantages and disadvantages have been illustrated here.

Thesis Statement

Social media help us communicate with each other, but it is also beneficial for education & marketing purposes.

Body Paragraphs

First of all, social media have a tremendous positive impact on the educational sector, and it assists students in nourishing their knowledge with the teaching aids that are available online. Faizi, Afia, and Chiheb (2013) mentioned that students who are actively involved in social media could earn more knowledge easily in a better way. They also stated that social media had become a great platform that allows students to conduct small group communication on projects and also enhance their knowledge capacity. In addition, social media allows everyone to access vast knowledge through various educational websites, knowledge-sharing portals, and online classes.

Greenhow and Lewin (2016) proposed that social media tools have several educational advantages for students and teachers. They also said that it provides opportunities for further learning for people from all walks of life who can access the Internet. In essence, it is clear that social media positively impacts the educational sector.

Secondly, social media are the biggest platforms for different brands and organizations to use for marketing. Many recognized brands use social media to promote their products and services to their targeted audiences. Barefoot and Szabo (2010) explain that social media marketing can be defined as using different platforms to promote an organization and its products to the targeted audience. Furthermore, celebrities worldwide use social media to connect with their fans and followers, and they also used to do publicity work. Wright (2015) claimed that celebrities also use social media channels to keep a good reputation and online presence. Additionally, the main intention behind this is to increase the number of fans and followers. In short, social media plays a significant role in the corporate and personal branding sectors.

References:

Barefoot, D., & Szabo, J. (2009). Friends with benefits: A social media marketing handbook. No Starch Press.

Faizi, R., El Afia, A., & Chiheb, R. (2013). Exploring the potential benefits of using social media in education. International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy (iJEP), 3(4), 50-53.

Greenhow, C., & Lewin, C. (2016). Social media and education: Reconceptualizing the boundaries of formal and informal learning. Learning, media, and technology, 41(1), 6-30.

Wright, K. (2015). Social Media and Celebrities: The Benefits of a Social Media Presence.

Tuckman's Theory of Communication Stages With Advantages and Disadvantages

Tuckman's Theory of Communication. Bruce Tuckman's Five Stages of Group Development are Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. Advantages and Disadvantages of Tuckman Theory PDF.

Tuckman's Theory of Communication

Tuckman's theory refers to the five stages of the group development model developed by Bruce Tuckman in 1965. It is also known as Tuckman's model, Tuckman's theory, Tuckman's ladder, five stages of group development theory, Tuckman's team development model, Tuckman's theory of communication, and Tuckman's stages.

Bruce Tuckman introduced his four stages of group development theory in 1965. However, in the 1970s, he added the fifth stage to his four stages of group development theory. In 1977, Tuckman and Mary Ann Jensen included the fifth and final stage in Tuckman's theory. The name of the fifth stage is Adjourning, which represents the happiness of achieving the interdependent group goal by the group members. So, it became known as Tuckman and Jensen's theory after adding the fifth stage.

Tuckman's Stages of Group Development

Tuckman's five stages of group development are Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. It is one of the appropriate theories for explaining the behavior of group members with dynamic characteristics. Additionally, a perfect theory describes how group members adjust and adapt to a group gradually.

Tuckman's Theory of Communication Five Stages Framework — Bruce Tuckman's Theory of Communication

Five Stages of Tuckman's Theory

The five Stages of Bruce Tuckman's Theory in Communication are:

Forming Stage
Storming Stage
Norming Stage
Performing Stage
Adjourning Stage

1. Forming Stage of Tuckman's Theory: (Orientation)

Forming is the first stage of Tuckman’s theory of communication, also known as the five stages of the group development model. Usually, members carefully explore both personal and group goals in this stage. They feel uncomfortable working with a group of strangers or unfamiliar colleagues trying to understand and test personal relationships. Member also orients itself to itself.

Group Develops in the Forming Stage:

Ice-breaking” stage.
Group members are uncertain about their roles.
Mutual trust is low.
There is a good deal of holding back to see who is in charge.
Conflict is beneficial and leads to increased creativity.

Primary Tension

Firstly, group members feel social unease and stiffness accompanying the getting-acquainted stage in a new group. They become overly polite with one another. Additionally, members don’t interrupt one another. They often speak softly and avoid expressing strong opinions, also talk less, and provide little in the way of content.

How to Solve the Tension?

Firstly, the members should be positive and energetic so that other members build positive attitudes toward them. Secondly, smile and Laugh at others when interacting with them. Additionally, nodding in agreement and exhibiting enthusiasm is a useful non-verbal cue to hold effective interactions. Group members should also be patient and open-minded, knowing that the primary tension will decrease with time. Finally, Be prepared and informed before your first meeting to help the group focus on its task.

2. Storming Stage of Tuckman's Theory: (Power Struggle)

Storming is the second stage of Tuckman's theory of Group Development. Group members become argumentative also emotional. The most confident members begin to compete for both social acceptance and leadership. Many groups try to skip this stage to avoid competition and conflict is necessary to establish a climate in which members understand the value of disagreeing. The conflicts among group members are also known as noise in communication.

Group Develops in the Storming Stage:

Time of testing (Testing leader’s policies and assumptions and how they fit into the power structure).
Subgroups take shape
Subtle forms of rebellion occur
Conflict ⇒ cohesion dialectic.
Leadership ⇒ follower ship dialectic.

Secondary Tension in Tuckman’s Model

Firstly, frustrations and personality conflicts are experienced by group members as they compete for acceptance and achievement within a group. Members have gained enough confidence to become assertive and even aggressive as they pursue positions of power and influence. They gain a high level of energy and agitation. The group becomes noisier, more dynamic, and physically active in this stage of group development. Usually, members start to speak in louder voices, interrupting and overlapping one another so that two or three people may be speaking simultaneously. Members sit up straight, lean forward, or squirm in their seats. Finally, everyone is alert and listening intently.

How to Solve the Tension?

Making jokes is very important to avoid tension in the second stage of Tuckman's theory. They should work outside the group setting to discuss group members' difficulties and anxieties.

3. Norming Stage of Tuckman’s Theory (Cooperation)

Norming is the third stage of Tuckman’s 5 Stages of Group Development Theory. Members start learning to work as a cohesive team and be task-oriented. They start developing “rules of engagement.” However, they feel more comfortable with one another and are willing to disagree and express opinions – communication becomes open. Finally, a feeling of trust and clear goals emerge inside the group.

Group Develops in the Norming Stage:

Group more cohesive.
Less conflict with increasing team member interactions and interdependence of work tasks.

4. Performing Stage of Tuckman's Theory: (Synergy)

Performing is the fourth stage of Tuckman’s 5 Stages of Group Development theory. Members become fully engaged and eager to work at this stage. Members adjust and adapt to the situation and also start solving critical problems. Group identity, loyalty, and morale are generally high in this stage. However, disagreements occur, but members usually resolve them intelligently and amicably. Finally, Interaction patterns reflect virtually no tension; the members are cheerful, loud, boisterous, laughing and verbally backslapping each other”.

Group Develops in the Performing Stage:

Activity focused on problem-solving.
Work done without hampering others.
The climate of open communication and full engagement.

5. Adjourning Stage of Tuckman's Theory: (Closure)

Adjourning refers to the fifth stage of Tuckman’s 5 Group Development Theory. Members have usually achieved their common goal and may begin to disband. It also represents whether the group members will work together or form a new group. Finally, they are happy with their achievements but feel lost when the group dissolves.

Disband = confront relational issues (For example, how to retain friendships with other members).

Group Develops in the Adjourning Stage:

Work completed; group moves on to other activities.
Opportunity for leaders to emphasize valuable lessons.

Tuckman's Theory of Communication

Tuckman's theory of communication has significant theoretical and practical contributions to research. The Five Stages of Tuckman's Theory of Communication are Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. Although in 1965, Tuckman proposed a four-stage group development theory but later added the fifth stage called adjourning. Tuckman's theory assists group members in subduing the group barriers. It also helps to adjust them in the group gradually. Therefore, it is known as a group facilitation theory. Tuckman's group development theory consists of five stages that facilitate group formation and development.

Tuckman identified both the advantages and disadvantages of group communication; therefore, he provided suggestions for reducing the barriers to group communication.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Tuckman's Theory

The Tuckman model has both theoretical and practical advantages and disadvantages. Many researchers have identified the pros and cons of the Tuckman theory. It is also known as the strengths and limitations of the Tuckman model.

Advantages of Tuckman's Theory

1. Concise Framework for Understanding Group Dynamics: Tuckman's model provides a structured framework for understanding the natural stages of group development. It clarifies the specific stages of any group and team discussion; for instance, the five stages of group development are forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Tuckman's theory helps to understand more about primary and secondary tension generated from group communication. It also recommends reducing the tensions among members and influencing group activities. It is essential to reduce the tension among the group because the tensions are obstacles to achieving the group goal. Additionally, the theory strengthens the relationship among group members and motivates them to be productive. Finally, the Tuckman group's developing theory shows the perfect and successful way of solving group uncertainty issues and gaining interdependent goals.

2. Predictive Capability: By recognizing the typical stages of group development outlined in the model, leaders can predict potential challenges and issues. This predictive capability enables proactive intervention to address conflicts, facilitate communication, and foster cohesion within the group.

3. Facilitates Team Building: Tuckman's model emphasizes the importance of communication, trust-building, and goal-setting in group development. It guides leaders to actively promote team-building activities and create an environment conducive to collaboration and goal achievement.

4. Enhanced Leadership Effectiveness: Understanding Tuckman's model allows leaders to adapt their leadership style to the group's needs at each stage of development. Effective leaders can provide support, direction, and empowerment as necessary, facilitating the group's progress toward maturity and productivity.

Disadvantages of Tuckman's Theory

1. Oversimplification: Critics argue that Tuckman's model oversimplifies the complexities of group dynamics. Real-world groups may not always linearly progress through the stages, and the model may overlook individual differences, cultural influences, and external factors that can impact group development.

2. Focus on Conflict: The emphasis on conflict in the Storming stage of Tuckman's model may reinforce negative stereotypes about group dynamics. While conflict can be a natural part of group development, an overemphasis on conflict may neglect the importance of relationship-building and collaboration in achieving group goals.

3. Limited Practical Application: In dynamic and rapidly changing environments, Tuckman's model may have limited practical application. Groups operating in fast-paced settings may not have the luxury of progressing through each stage sequentially and may need to adapt more quickly to changing circumstances.

4. Neglect of External Influences: Tuckman's model primarily focuses on internal group dynamics and may neglect external factors such as organizational culture, leadership style, and external pressures. Ignoring these influences may limit the model's applicability in diverse organizational contexts.

5. Difficult to Maintain: Tuckman's theory consists of five important stages that are difficult to maintain one by one. Group members need to follow different instructions to maintain effective communication and a good relationship with group members. Additionally, there is no instant solution to solve all conflicts in group communication, although it suggested some recommendations to reduce conflicts. Furthermore, Tuckman's model did not mention what would have happened if the storming stage did not end. Finally, Tuckman's model has failed to discuss why the group changes over time. These are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Tuckman's Theory.

Conclusion

This article offers elaborate information about Tuckman's theory of group development. It explains the five stages of group development in social groups. The author suggests tricks to reduce group conflicts and noise in communication. Finally, this article mentions the advantages and disadvantages of Tuckman's theory. Thus, this content benefits students, researchers, instructors, researchers, group members, and leaders. It enables the group leader to regulate the team properly to achieve common goals.

Citation for this Article (APA 7th Edition)

Kobiruzzaman, M. M. (2024). Tuckman Theory of Communication, Advantages, and Disadvantages. Educational Website For Online Learning. https://newsmoor.com/tuckmans-model-five-stages-of-group-and-team-development-theory/

Tuckman 1965 Reference Apa 7th Edition

Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63(6), 384.