Introduction

            Social media has been around for quite awhile before it has taken off in its current form. As social media becomes more popular it has its growing pains to deal with. Some grow fast and die off, while others are replaced with new sites that offer different features. One of the main growing pains with social media has to deal with problems in the user’s experience. This could be many topics but I will be concentrating on three for now: Problems with personal relationship, Problems with school, and problems with work.

Social media is a great way to connect with family and friends around the world. With one look at your social media stream you can see pictures, find out how people are doing and tell everyone how you are. Everyone is connected at a moment’s notice, which can also cause problems. In a Pew study 26% of adults surveyed “experienced at least one of the bad outcomes that were queried” (Rainie L., Lenhart, A. and  Smith, A. (February 9, 2012). The tone of life on social networking sites. In Pew Internet Research Project. Retrieved 02/22/14, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/02/09/the-tone-of-life-on-social-networking-sites/).  This number grows to 41% in teens reporting at least one negative experience. From this information you can see below the percentages of the following: Friendships lost, face to face arguments, problems in the familiy, gotten into a physical fight, and gotten in trouble at work.

Rainie L., Lenhart, A. and  Smith, A. (February 9, 2012). The tone of life on social networking sites. In Pew Internet Research Project. Retrieved 02/22/14, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/02/09/the-tone-of-life-on-social-networking-sites/.

Rainie L., Lenhart, A. and  Smith, A. (February 9, 2012). The tone of life on social networking sites. In Pew Internet Research Project. Retrieved 02/22/14, from http://www.pewinternet.org/2012/02/09/the-tone-of-life-on-social-networking-sites/.

Work is another area that people are experiencing problems with the content of their social media pages. Employers have been asking for passwords and log in information for social media sites so they could look over what the person had been posting. As of  January 10, 2014 twelve states have made it illegal for employers to ask for the workers and potential employees. In an On Device Research poll from the United State, The Unite Kingdom, Brazil, China, India and Nigeria shows the percentage of people who have been declined because of comments or pictures on their profile. 

http://ondeviceresearch.com/blog/facebook-costing-16-34s-jobs-in-tough-economic-climate#sthash.qqKuIS4g.6UtNLnT8.dpbs).

China has the highest of 16% and 14% in the respective age groups. The United States are 8% for ages 16-24 and 7% for 25-34 (Quinn, S. (May 13, 2013). Facebook costing 16-34s jobs in tough economic climate . In On Device Research. Retrieved 02/22/14, from http://ondeviceresearch.com/blog/facebook-costing-16-34s-jobs-in-tough-economic-climate#sthash.qqKuIS4g.6UtNLnT8.dpbs). 

Higher Education is an area where you could find trouble with social media. According to Kaplan Test Prep’s 2013 study of college admissions officers “29 % have Googled an applicant and 31% have checked an applicant’s Facebook page to learn more about them”(Schaffer, R. (October 31, 2013). Kaplan Test Prep Survey: More College Admissions Officers Checking Applicants’ Digital Trails, But Most Students Unconcerned. In Kaplan Test Prep Online Pressroom. Retrieved 02/22/14, from http://press.kaptest.com/press-releases/kaplan-test-prep-survey-more-college-admissions-officers-checking-applicants-digital-trails-but-most-students-unconcerned.). This past year the admissions officers have seen a drop in the percentage of prospective students from 35% to 30% in the number of students who may be denied because of negative behavior. This is more likely to the fact that students are better able to hide themselves with using different names and not having themselves tagged in photographs. 

            Social Media is a great thing to have if you can utilize it responsibly. You have to be careful what you say and who you are “friends” with on the sites. Your decisions will have a lasting effect on your personal relationships, higher education and work. What you post does not go away. Avoid the drama and just have fun connecting with people you may not have been able to 20 years ago.