Digital media can also facilitate greater understanding through the facilitation of contacts across economic, social and political, cultural, and religious divisions. In times of stress and emotional turmoil. There are many who use social platforms to show their empathy and receive support from their family and friends.
People connect in ways that were never ever before thought of due to the internet. It allows people to keep connections across space and time. It allows those who feel socially isolated from their physical community to make connections with people with similar interests.
This increases the quality of connections and the capacity to communicate. Also the ability of family and friends to be acknowledged and assist loved ones who are in the need. In the words of Muddasar, the use of social media can lead to a more diverse social circle.
Social networks for support
57% of teenagers have met someone new online. 83% of them say that social media helps them feel more connected to and aware of their peer’s life. A majority of teens using people who use social media have received help from these platforms. This suggests that social media has the potential to build relationships and help in the development of social networks. Based on Muddasar the teens who use social media platforms to manage social issues increase their social connections and their relationships. twitter
The people who make use of social networks online to deal with social tensions, on contrary are generally less content. Digital media is known to decrease anxiety for some users through the promotion of connections with others. Another Pew Research Center poll of 1,801 American adults in 2015 showed that people who utilize digital media are not more stressed than other people.
This is logical, particularly for those who do research and gain from having access to information and colleagues that digital media provides. Additionally, Pew researchers discovered that women who utilize Twitter as well as email and mobile photo-sharing on their phones to build relationships experience less stress as a result of their use of digital media as suggested in the study by Muddasar. But, the study found that using digital media can make some users more alert to stressful situations. That happen to other people’s lives which can lead to higher anxieties.
People’s support by Digital Media
Although traditional media has historically played a major role in educating the public and focusing the attention of the public on certain topics, digital media can now help to intensify the response to disasters that affect humanity and offering aid to those affected. As per Muddasar, during the 2011-2012 Arab Spring, digital media was utilized to gather resources as well as coordinate protests and raise international awareness of the happenings.
In just two days, people from all over the world raised $2 million for the victims of the 2015’s Nepal earthquake through digital media. Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war have acknowledged Google Maps and Facebook groups to assist them. Not only making their travel plans but also avoiding human traffickers. Digital media also has improved information sharing across the globe, which has given people greater access to facts and statistics, numbers, and other data, and allowing information to be shared rapidly. Event.ft
This allows individuals to express their opinions in real-time. The event unfolds but helps in the exposing of corruption in the government and unjust economic practices. The time a pharmaceutical company announced plans to raise the price of a certain medication to more than 55,000%. Criticism immediately circulated on social media, which caused the company to reverse course.
All over the world, people use social media to organize groups, plan actions, and make their opinions known across a range of subjects. Users all over the world are able to take action on subjects they are passionate about through online petitions and giving to charities. Muddasar stated that Change.org helps individuals in creating petitions and supporting their cause, has helped more than 123 million people achieve their goals in relation to nearly 15,000 issues in 196 nations.
Avaaz.org
Another platform is Avaaz.org. Which helps people engage in urgent global-local, regional, and national issues such as poverty and corruption, as in addition to conflict and climate change. Avaaz.org has helped thousands of activists and individuals around the world have been taught and urged to use video in a safe ethically and effectively to reveal human rights violations and to advocate for change via Witness.org. Witness.org. Websites and apps like refugees-welcome.net, refugee-action.org.uk, and workeer.de are assisting in the coordination of action among physically scattered individuals for refugees now arriving in Europe.
In the same way, digital media can assist individuals in helping their favorite causes. Online donations are growing according to research conducted by Black Baud, a nonprofit software, and services business according to Muddasar. This is particularly the case in the wake of the humanitarian crisis. Many people donate to causes they are passionate about via websites such as #Giving Tuesday YouCaring.com, JustGiving.com, and DonorsChoose.com. The eases the ability of organizations and individuals to produce and disseminate messages on many subjects and issues. This could lead to a loss of long-term trust. When people overload by requests for help with more issues than they are able to manage.
Evolving of the workplace by Digital Media
Digitalization of data and content along with the emergence of the development of new technologies. Digital communication unlocks new possibilities for what and when the work is complete. It is clear that the working relationship is changing due to this. Due to the accessibility of digital data, fast internet, and innovative audio, message, and video technology. Many tasks are now completable anytime, anywhere.
Muddasar said that according to an annual Pew Research Center survey of American adults 21 percent of full-time and part-time employees work outside their work all day or nearly every day, while 59% of them do it at least on occasion. Digitization is one of the main drivers in this direction. 50% of the respondents saying that smartphones and the web are “very significant” for allowing them to work remotely. 24% saying that they are “somewhat significant”. 46% of the employed internet users believe that their productivity has increased because of their use of email. While only 7 percent think their productivity has declined.
Users believe that they have seen an increase in the number of people they connect with outside their workplace. 39% of them say they have more flexibility when it comes to working hours. 35% believe they have increased the number of days they are working.
