Experiences and Feelings About the Uses of Social Media Networks, Including Facebook
People commonly share their sentimental feelings, rewarding ideas, insightful opinions, inspiring life achievements, heartfelt family events, and exciting social participation or celebrations on social media. Some people share information to accomplish their social responsibilities or achieve business and political objectives. Some people have used these media platforms to enhance engagement and even boost personal credibility with professional groups. In my feeling, despite expecting good outcomes, some people often share information without deeply considering potential adverse implications for their own lives, families, and societies. Sharing some information can have significant intended and unintended consequences for both the individuals sharing it and their audiences, affecting them on both personal and social levels. Owners, therefore, have socially and legally loosely defined rights to share such information on their personal media pages or posts to regulate adverse consequences. In this article, I have attempted to share my feelings and experiences about the use, misuse, unused, and abuse of social media networks, including Facebook.
- USE
I use the social media mostly similar to many other people. I have experienced that social media serves as a tool and online forum or venue for staying connected with friends and family at physically distant locations, sharing life updates, fostering meaningful relationships, and providing leisure or recreation. It requires using responsibly. These platforms have provided me with opportunities to spread knowledge, promote social causes, raise awareness, and empower individuals about important issues. I have noticed that some agencies and individuals have successfully reached a large number of their customers or interest groups—something that would otherwise be too costly—and achieved their goals of business growth, social accountability, or political engagement.
I also participate in media networks with professional social groups, such as agriculturalists and environmentalists, as well as community groups in Nepal, where I frequently share news from media sources and express my opinions to foster civic engagement and deepen involvement in my fields of interest. These networks have also kept me updated about my communities and national issues while alleviating my homesickness.
When giving wishes or expressing sympathy, I try to write in words that are different from others. I feel that using shortcut phrases such as “congratulations” or “heartfelt condolences” shows mere formality rather than a sincere, dedicated message. Short phrases make sense to those who value the number of responses more than the depth of dedication. I mostly use the Nepali language and fonts to convey my message more meaningfully and easily, with deeply expressive words and sentiments. I often notice from the wording that some people seek help from others to write their wishes or expressions of sympathy. They wouldn’t depend on others to write their thoughts and wishes if they practiced using Nepali fonts. I believe the Nepali language makes my message more appealing, especially to readers from the Nepali community.
I believe sharing my experiences, knowledge, and information may benefit people on the other end—my audience. They often provide me with feedback and suggestions. I generally respond to questions and requests for support made through my social media networks. I consider responding to their queries and exposing socially undesirable issues a form of social service.
I dare to write about social problems on most occasions that many people hesitate to raise concerns on social media about social problems created by certain individuals or groups, and some even avoid replying to others' queries. I believe that not sharing these problems makes the problematic groups happy, allowing perpetrators to continue their harmful actions while victims suffer for a long time. I have also experienced that sharing socially undesirable issues on social media discourages such behavior. Sometimes, victims and their supporters have been encouraged to respond against undesirable activities when I raise these issues publicly.
Some people reacted negatively to my posts, and others have suggested that I avoid writing about such issues on social media. However, I continue to write, believing that I should not be discouraged from contributing to social good just because of the bad reactions of a few immature or selfish individuals. I like to read and share entertaining materials and thoughts with like-minded friends for entertainment. However, I often gave up such forums when people used them for other purposes that I did not like.
Some social groups advised me to address such issues privately instead of posting them on social media. However, when I followed this advice, they filtered or barely acted on my suggestions. I have found that sharing certain information through social networks creates more effective and lasting impacts than conventional sharing methods. Some targeted audiences—especially stubborn individuals—give less importance to or ignore my suggestions, ideas, or other information when communicating personally. They tend to feel more pressure to respond to information shared on social media than to messages delivered through traditional means.
- UNUSE
The perception of whether to use or not use social media depends on individual judgment, with no clear black-and-white measure. People’s judgments are shaped by their upbringing, exposure, understanding, attitudes, values, and sense of gain and loss. Some effects may benefit certain groups or individuals while harming others. However, some individuals choose not to use social media at all, either due to privacy concerns, personal preferences, or the desire to avoid distractions and negativity. Some people lack confidence in sharing their information, while others judge non-users as having a backward personality. While unusing social media helps maintain personal security, it may also limit access to beneficial information and opportunities for social engagement.
I have not used many social media platforms, such as Twitter and Instagram, at all, and I have limited my use of others, such as LinkedIn and TikTok. I made these choices based on perceived limited benefits and greater disadvantages. I did not open my Facebook account as early as my family and friends did because I consciously assumed that engaging in it would be a waste of time. I also believed social media was a negative space and a source of privacy invasion.
However, I later experienced problems due to the digital divide. People with Facebook access had better communication with distant friends and family and greater access to information. I also felt like a laggard in modern technology and services, and not using Facebook gave me a sense of low self-confidence.
I have seen people who still avoid social media due to the tediousness of handling technology, concerns about data privacy and surveillance, or the negative effects of excessive engagement, such as time management issues and mental health problems. However, they miss out on many opportunities for connection, learning, and skill-building. My experience has shown me that unusing social media means missing opportunities to build social capital, which can bring significant benefits to one’s life.
Many people often share posts on social media for occasions like their birthdays, wedding anniversary, or to express sympathy. I rarely create such posts unless the message is helpful to others because I do not want to waste their valuable time responding to matters of my importance. I believe sharing such posts with photos is valuable for those who lack other resources or skills to store these materials. This practice may also benefit individuals with low self-confidence who seek attention and support from others.
- MISUSE
Misuse refers to the use of social media in ways that result in unintended adverse consequences for the users themselves, others, or society. Examples include sharing sensitive information, oversharing personal details, and excessive engagement. People with malicious intent can exploit such information immediately or in the future. Overuse of social media can harm work productivity, and mental health, and even alter life courses with long-term impacts.
Misuse can also damage family and social relationships. For example, in Nepali society, there is a growing trend of parents writing birthday blessings for their children on Facebook instead of giving verbal blessings in person. This may lead children to believe that social media is the standard way to receive birthday wishes, eroding traditional practices. Similarly, some people post surprise birthday wishes for their partners, who only see them after arriving at work. While posting such messages is a personal right, this habit gradually replaces meaningful customs like hugging or placing a blessing hand on a child’s head. The way people share messages often reflects their awareness of consequences. Personally, blessing someone before sharing a post with close family and friends is not considered a misuse.
Misuse is subjective—what some consider misuse, others may not. For example, sharing social-interest content in a messenger group meant for a different purpose may entertain some members but annoy others.
- ABUSE
Abuse involves intentionally using social media for illegal gains or serious harm. Examples include collecting personal information without consent, hate speech, manipulation, exploitation, spreading harmful propaganda, cyberbullying, harassment, inciting violence, and defaming others.
I was nearly a victim of social media abuse. In my free time, I often watch videos for entertainment. Once, I came across a video about online investments, not realizing it was a fake AI-generated interview. The video featured a newsreader from TV One interviewing former Prime Minister Jacinda, who promoted a high-return investment site. Trusting it, I opened an account and submitted an investment form. Shortly after, an Asian woman called, urging me to transfer $399 to a Cyprus-based bank account. My wife and I quickly recognized the scam and unsubscribed immediately.
- CONCLUSION
In essence, I believe social media is a powerful tool that offers immense benefits, but responsible use is essential to prevent misuse and harm. Mindful engagement allows us to maximize its advantages while minimizing risks. Since posted information can reach many people and may even be stored in foreign databases, it has the potential to be used against us. Therefore, before creating and sharing a message on social media, it is wise to carefully consider its potential consequences from different perspectives for both one and others.
