IELTS Essay: Social Networking Sites
Some people think that social networking sites have a huge negative impact on both individuals and society.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many today argue that social media has an overall negative impact on both the average person and society more generally. I am in complete agreement with this opinion as individuals are likely to suffer from an unhealthy addiction and social media can cause fractures in society.
The most obvious effect of social media is on the mental health of individual users. Most people on social media have become to varying degrees addicted to the small dopamine bursts that come from scrolling through their feed, feeling outraged at posts, receiving likes, and making positive or negative comments. Each person is likely to gain satisfaction through a different route but all these self-esteem boosts are unhealthy relative to achieving something in the real world. In some cases, individuals retreat from the real world in favor of a virtual one where the stakes are considerably lower and interactions are safely one-sided.
Additionally, the drawbacks of social media are evident throughout society. There are numerous small groups and communities on Facebook that encourage anti-social impulses. For instance, many people post and read about conspiracy theories online on a daily basis. Over time, these individuals begin to feel isolated from mainstream society and the effects of this can appear during real-world events such as the January 6 insurrection and the Occupy Wall Street movement. Although these actions can be interpreted as protests, the viewpoints being expressed are often too extreme to lead to defensible and pragmatic reform.
In conclusion, social media is an overwhelming negative for both normal citizens and the entirety of society. Since governments are averse to regulation, it is important for individuals to abandon these platforms.
Analysis
1. Many today argue that social media has an overall negative impact on both the average person and society more generally. 2. I am in complete agreement with this opinion as individuals are likely to suffer from an unhealthy addiction and social media can cause fractures in society.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The most obvious effect of social media is on the mental health of individual users. 2. Most people on social media have become to varying degrees addicted to the small dopamine bursts that come from scrolling through their feed, feeling outraged at posts, receiving likes, and making positive or negative comments. 3. Each person is likely to gain satisfaction through a different route but all these self-esteem boosts are unhealthy relative to achieving something in the real world. 4. In some cases, individuals retreat from the real world in favor of a virtual one where the stakes are considerably lower and interactions are safely one-sided.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
1. Additionally, the drawbacks of social media are evident throughout society. 2. There are numerous small groups and communities on Facebook that encourage anti-social impulses. 3. For instance, many people post and read about conspiracy theories online on a daily basis. 4. Over time, these individuals begin to feel isolated from mainstream society and the effects of this can appear during real-world events such as the January 6 insurrection and the Occupy Wall Street movement. 5. Although these actions can be interpreted as protests, the viewpoints being expressed are often too extreme to lead to defensible and pragmatic reform.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- This paragraph can be longer.
1. In conclusion, social media is an overwhelming negative for both normal citizens and the entirety of society. 2. Since governments are averse to regulation, it is important for individuals to abandon these platforms.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Many today argue that social media has an overall negative impact on both the average person and society more generally. I am in complete agreement with this opinion as individuals are likely to suffer from an unhealthy addiction and social media can cause fractures in society.
The most obvious effect of social media is on the mental health of individual users. Most people on social media have become to varying degrees addicted to the small dopamine bursts that come from scrolling through their feed, feeling outraged at posts, receiving likes, and making positive or negative comments. Each person is likely to gain satisfaction through a different route but all these self-esteem boosts are unhealthy relative to achieving something in the real world. In some cases, individuals retreat from the real world in favor of a virtual one where the stakes are considerably lower and interactions are safely one-sided.
Additionally, the drawbacks of social media are evident throughout society. There are numerous small groups and communities on Facebook that encourage anti-social impulses. For instance, many people post and read about conspiracy theories online on a daily basis. Over time, these individuals begin to feel isolated from mainstream society and the effects of this can appear during real-world events such as the January 6 insurrection and the Occupy Wall Street movement. Although these actions can be interpreted as protests, the viewpoints being expressed are often too extreme to lead to defensible and pragmatic reform.
In conclusion, social media is an overwhelming negative for both normal citizens and the entirety of society. Since governments are averse to regulation, it is important for individuals to abandon these platforms.
Answers
social media has an overall negative impact on both the average person websites like Facebook hurt most people generally
society more generally all people in a country
I am in complete agreement with this opinion I agree 100%
likely to suffer from probably will be hurt by
unhealthy addiction not a good habit
cause fractures separate people
The most obvious effect of clearest result is
mental health emotional stability
varying degrees addicted to different amounts can’t stop using
small dopamine bursts little bits of pleasure
scrolling through their feed looking through social media
feeling outraged at posts be angry about social media
receiving likes getting thumbs up / love on a post
making positive or negative comments writing good and bad comments
gain satisfaction through a different route feel good in a different way
self-esteem boosts feeling good about yourself
unhealthy relative to achieving something in the real world not good for you compared to doing things in real life
In some cases sometimes
retreat from stop using
in favor of a virtual one caring more about online life
stakes are considerably lower situation is less risky
interactions talking to people
safely one-sided not interacting
Additionally also
drawbacks downsides
evident throughout clear the whole time
numerous small groups and communities many online clubs
encourage anti-social impulses promote being alone
conspiracy theories online on a daily basis crazy ideas every day
Over time as time goes on
feel isolated from mainstream society not feel part of the public discourse
appear during real-world events such as happen in real-life examples including
January 6 insurrection protest in the United States
Occupy Wall Street movement another protest in the United States
actions steps taken
interpreted as protests seen as freedom of speech
viewpoints opinions
expressed said
too extreme to lead to defensible too strong to result in good
pragmatic reform practical change
overwhelming negative for clearly bad for
normal citizens average people
entirety of all of
averse to regulation not interested in making laws
abandon these platforms stop using social media
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə hæz ən ˈəʊvərɔːl ˈnɛgətɪv ˈɪmpækt ɒn bəʊθ ði ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsn
səˈsaɪəti mɔː ˈʤɛnərəli
aɪ æm ɪn kəmˈpliːt əˈgriːmənt wɪð ðɪs əˈpɪnjən
ˈlaɪkli tuː ˈsʌfə frɒm
ʌnˈhɛlθi əˈdɪkʃ(ə)n
kɔːz ˈfrækʧəz
ðə məʊst ˈɒbvɪəs ɪˈfɛkt ɒv
ˈmɛntl hɛlθ
ˈveəriɪŋ dɪˈgriːz əˈdɪktɪd tuː
smɔːl ˈdəʊpəmiːn bɜːsts
ˈskrəʊlɪŋ θruː ðeə fiːd
ˈfiːlɪŋ ˈaʊtreɪʤd æt pəʊsts
rɪˈsiːvɪŋ laɪks
ˈmeɪkɪŋ ˈpɒzətɪv ɔː ˈnɛgətɪv ˈkɒmɛnts
geɪn ˌsætɪsˈfækʃən θruː ə ˈdɪfrənt ruːt
sɛlf-ɪsˈtiːm buːsts
ʌnˈhɛlθi ˈrɛlətɪv tuː əˈʧiːvɪŋ ˈsʌmθɪŋ ɪn ðə rɪəl wɜːld. ɪn sʌm ˈkeɪsɪz
rɪˈtriːt frɒm
ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv ə ˈvɜːtjʊəl wʌn
steɪks ɑː kənˈsɪdərəbli ˈləʊə
ˌɪntərˈækʃənz
ˈseɪfli wʌn-ˈsaɪdɪd
əˈdɪʃənli
ˈdrɔːbæks
ˈɛvɪdənt θru(ː)ˈaʊt
ˈnjuːmərəs smɔːl gruːps ænd kəˈmjuːnɪtiz
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ ˈænti-ˈsəʊʃəl ˈɪmpʌlsɪz
kənˈspɪrəsi ˈθɪəriz ˈɒnˌlaɪn ɒn ə ˈdeɪli ˈbeɪsɪs
ˈəʊvə taɪm
fiːl ˈaɪsəleɪtɪd frɒm ˈmeɪnstriːm səˈsaɪəti
əˈpɪə ˈdjʊərɪŋ rɪəl-wɜːld ɪˈvɛnts sʌʧ æz
ˈʤænjʊəri siks ˌɪnsəˈrɛkʃən
ˈɒkjʊpaɪ wɔːl striːt ˈmuːvmənt
ˈækʃ(ə)nz
ɪnˈtɜːprɪtɪd æz ˈprəʊtɛsts
ˈvjuːpɔɪnts
ɪksˈprɛst
tuː ɪksˈtriːm tuː liːd tuː dɪˈfɛnsəbl
prægˈmætɪk ˌriːˈfɔːm
ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋ ˈnɛgətɪv fɔː
ˈnɔːməl ˈsɪtɪznz
ɪnˈtaɪəti ɒv
əˈvɜːs tuː ˌrɛgjʊˈleɪʃən
əˈbændən ðiːz ˈplætfɔːmz
Vocabulary Practice
Many today argue that s_____________________________________________________________________n and s__________________________________y. I_____________________________________________n as individuals are l___________________m an u_____________________n and social media can c_________________s in society.
T________________________________f social media is on the m_________________h of individual users. Most people on social media have become to v__________________________o the s__________________s that come from s___________________________d, f_______________________________s, r__________________s, and m___________________________s. Each person is likely to g___________________________________e but all these s_______________________s are u__________________________________________________d. I____________________s, individuals r______________m the real world i____________________________________e where the s______________________________r and i____________s are s____________________d.
A________________y, the d________________s of social media are e_________________t society. There are n_____________________________________________s on Facebook that e_____________________________________s. For instance, many people post and read about c_________________________________________________s. O_______e, these individuals begin to f___________________________________y and the effects of this can a_____________________________________s the J__________________________________n and the O_______________________________t. Although these a_________s can be i_____________________s, the v_______________s being e___________d are often t________________________________e and p______________m.
In conclusion, social media is an o_____________________________r both n________________s and the e________________f society. Since governments are a__________________________n, it is important for individuals to a_______________________s.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://time.com/6240981/social-media-addiction-app/
Speaking Practice
Mobile Phones and Smartphones
- What are the advantages of smartphones?
- Should children be allowed to own smartphones?
- Do you thinks have a major or minor impact on mental health?
- Where in your country is it not appropriate to use a phone?
- Do you think smartphone usage may decline in the future?
Writing Practice
Many people believe that social networking sites (such as Facebook) have a huge negative impact on both individuals and society.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Nice wori
Nowadays, many people argue that social media platforms affects enormous effect on individual and society. I completely agree with this opinion and will show some light for the same in this essay.
Social media platforms such as Instagram, facebook, whatsapp impacts an average person in such a malicious manner which he leads to be more fugitive, annoying and anxious about his likes , dislikes on his profile on these platforms among other. Recently my cousin was so into his IG profile that any new post he makes he makes sure the likes and comment he gets more than previous one. This is making our generation very sceptical about their image in society being dependend on likes and comment on their post.
Moreover our society too is getting impacted by this addiction majorly the young generation of the country. They think being more tech savvy on these platforms make them feel more important and cool. However, in society it has led to no celebrations, no group activities, or no social gatherings like earlier it used to takes place to commemorate enthusiastically festivals or birthdays. For instance, earlier in my neighbourhood there used to be annual gatherings for annul meet, this year it was conducted online via Video call. By this it states that we are being more reticent and reserved from jocund and light hearted.
By this I can conclude that an individual must quit the online platform addiction and focus more on outdoor activities and be more convivial and jolly rather being more in the virtual world.
Hi, could you/anyone mention the country where this questions were published??
When students mention that in their reports I will, but typically I think the country doesn’t really matter…
Actually I am from India