Debate Outline

Introduction

Mark Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook and Social Media Network Pioneer, stated that

Facebook or “The Facebook” as it was previously known, was created to allow Harvard students

to use their “.edu” email addresses and photos to connect with other students at the school.

According to Dollarhide (2020), social media is computer based technology that facilitates the

sharing of ideas, thoughts and information. Social media is also defined as being websites and

applications that allow users to create and share content or to participate in social networking

(Malloy, 2016). In addressing the moot “Social Media makes people feel lonely and self-

obsessed; the effects are ominous at best”, one must first define the terms lonely, self-obsessed

and ominous.

To be lonely is a sociological phenomenon that is defined as a distressing feeling that

accompanies the perception that one’s social needs are not being met by the quantity or

especially the quality of one’s social relationships (What is Loneliness? Defining a Model,

2006). Self-obsessed is deemed as being unreasonably preoccupied with one’s own life and

circumstances; thinking only about oneself (Narcissism and self-care: Theorizing America’s

obsession with mundane health behaviour 2004). Finally, ominous is simply defined as giving

the worrying impression that something bad is going to happen. This then means that the moot is

stating that websites and applications that allow users to create and share content as well as

participate in social networking cause users to feel that their social needs are not being met by

the quantity and quality of their social relationships as well as it allows for the users to be

unreasonably preoccupied with their own life and circumstances. The effects of social media
give the worrying impression that something bad is about to happen. Fellow classmates, this

group opposes this moot vehemently and our supporting arguments will rubbish this ludicrous

allegation.

As stated earlier, social media networks were built on Zuckerberg’s desire to bring the

existing social experience of college onto the internet by creating a place that could aid his

fellow students in connecting with each other. Spaces such as Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik

Tok and even Tinder, provide their users with the means to connect and foster social bonds

despite geographic location. With the emergence of online social networking, social relationships

are increasingly established and sustained in a digital domain. As the Internet is used as a way

station on the road to improving existing relationships and forging new social ties, it is a valuable

tool for reducing isolation. The internet never sleeps, which means that at any time users will be

able to find someone to interact with thus eliminating feelings of isolation and despondence.

Social media has proven to be a positive influence in the lives of its users. Virtual

communities have been created to assist persons from at risk groups to feel heard, supported and

connected. As the world currently battles with COVID-19, families and friends are unable to

physically see each other however, social media has provided the means through which bonds

are maintained.

With the emergence of Facebook over a decade ago, there has not been a development

that has shaped mass culture as much as Facebook has (Valkenburg, 2017). Recent psychological

research, demonstrating a relationship between self-promotional social media behavior and

narcissistic traits, found that narcissists behave online the same way that they behave offline.

While there is no direct evidence that social media use can cause self-obsessive behaviour, social
media can give self-obsessed individuals a platform for their behavior (Schwartz, 2020). It is not

the cause of their self-obsessive behavior but is merely the vehicle.

Social media is a primary mode of communication for a new generation growing up

connected. Their connection is shown through movements such as “Black Lives Matter”, “Me

Too”, “Dress Like a Woman”, “Stop Funding Hate” and “Women’s March”, to name a few.

These movements are global citizen campaigns that show the power and influence social media

has over the masses and how social media has forced individuals to think about more than

themselves. Through social media, individuals have been able to bring awareness to issues such

as gender inequality, injustice, racism, poverty, climate change and civilians suffering in conflict.

Change.org and GoFundMe are examples of social media websites that highlight people’s

ability to think more about helping others and less about promoting themselves. Change.org

allows users to start campaigns, mobilize supporters and work with decision makers to drive

solutions. Persons have used GoFundMe to raise money for the less fortunate, victims of

inequality and events ranging from life events such as celebrations and graduations to

challenging circumstances like accidents and illnesses (Social media, social justice and social

change 2019).

Mister Moderator, it is evident that social media does not make people feel lonely and

self-obsessed. We can clearly see all of the positive impacts that social media has on people. It is

also disingenuous to state that the effects of social media are ominous at best when social media

has been shown to be a positive force for many individuals and has been used to spark many

social and political movements. In fact, social media was used in the United States and even in

our island home, to mobilize the voting population. Mister Moderator, we rest our case by
reaffirming our full disapproval of the moot “Social Media makes people feel lonely and self-

obsessed; the effects are ominous at best”. We thank you.

References:

Malloy, J. (2016). Expanding on “what is the social in Social Media?”: A conversation with
Geert Lovink. Social Media Archeology and Poetics.
https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/9780262034654.003.0028

Narcissism and self-care: Theorizing America’s obsession with mundane health behaviour.
(2004). Self-Care, 119–132. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203633977-12

Schwartz, S. (2020, November 20). Link Between Social Media and Narcissism? Not Always for
Younger Generation. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/technology/link-between-
social-media-and-narcissism-not-always-for-younger-generation/2017/02.

Social media, social justice and social change. (2019). Social Media in Social Work Practice,
133–146. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781529714555.n8

Valkenburg, P. M. (2017). Understanding Self-Effects in Social Media. Human Communication

What is Loneliness? Defining a Model. (2006). Loneliness, Stress and Well-Being, 14–22.
https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203136263-9