Page 98 - Reclaim YOUR DIGITAL GOLD (without audio)

RECLAIM YOUR DIGITAL GOLD

Even though social media makes it easier to meet new
people and make new friends, it also allows some users
to be harsh and criticize others with little effort. For
example, bullies can conceal their identities behind the
anonymity provided by social media, gain their victim’s
trust, and then humiliate their victims in front of their
peers. For example, they may create a phony profile and
appear friendly toward another student, only to later
betray and shame that student online.

These online attacks on people frequently leave severe
psychological scars and, in some cases, even cause
people to harm themselves or take their own lives.
Adults, it turns out, are vulnerable to online bullying as
well. When adults use the Internet, they can also face
abuse and harassment. Because screens obscure our
faces, it is possible to become jerks on social networking
platforms and other websites without even realizing it.

16. The Fear of Missing Out
The term “fear of missing out” (FOMO) refers to a
phenomenon that became popular around the same
time that social media usage became more widespread.
Unsurprisingly, this is one of the most pervasive and
widespread negative effects of social media on society.
The fear of missing out (or FOMO) is exactly what it
sounds like: anxiety caused by the fear of missing out
on a great experience that someone else is having at
the same time. For example, you may have a habit of
frequently checking your messages to see if anyone has
invited you out, or you may spend the entire day checking
your Instagram feed to ensure that no one is having fun
without you. It’s also possible that you’ll see images of
something fun that your friends were able to do and feel

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