Thirty percent of Americans use social media websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, to acquire news and information (Pew Research Center). Examples of this are breaking news, trending news, pseudo-news, learning to twerk, and a plethora of information about some of our favorite celebrities. Irrelevant concerns, like Justin Bieber's latest arrest or videos doing "it for the grapevine," seem to take precedence over current, more important issues like unemployment and homelessness. Although there are a number of disadvantages to using social media, it also has some positive benefits. Based on personal observations and authoritative sources, social media will likely continue to have a primary importance, both positive and negative, in how we communicate. For more than a decade, social media has become a tool in the lives of Americans today. Social hobnobbing or surveillance is used for a number of reasons. This allows people to improve their relationships, make new friends, and reunite with family members. It is also used in product and company advertisements and to raise awareness of crucial issues and charities. It can also be used negatively to bully others, provoke arguments, or break up relationships. As CNN's Maggie Overfelt reports, Facebook is the largest social network and is best used by businesses to generate relationships with potential customers and advertising. It is also used to “share content and conversations, create events, and deploy targeted advertising.” Other examples of productive use of social media are Instagram, Twitter and Linkedin. Linkedin is the world's largest resume pool and is used to hire promising employees and build networks to reach potential centers...... middle of paper ...... fifth grade and years following. Bullying can lead to depression, low self-esteem, lower academic performance, in some cases cause psychological and emotional damage, and in the worst cases, suicide (American Psychological Association). I am convinced that no matter how good or bad views on social media are, we will all continue to use them as a lifeline. Social media has provided so many opportunities for others. Finding and connecting with lost family members, simply staying in touch, or catching up with old friends can be very therapeutic for some. Others enjoy using social media as a source of information, whether simply for entertainment purposes or for more credible reasons. Generally speaking, it is plausible to assume that social media is and will continue to be a primary source of information and influence in our daily lives..