Social media has a major impact on todays world. Every platform affects the way people view both themselves, and others. Most people choose to make their lives look like they are more interesting than they are by posting every good or fun thing they do, but not any of the bad in their lives. The availability of photoshop, gives people the opportunity to alter their photos and make themselves appear more attractive. This results in their followers getting down on themselves, and thinking their friends lives are better than theirs, despite how much the other person is hiding behind the select few images/experiences they choose to show the world. These two articles, “Social Media’s Impact on Self Esteem” and “How Girls Use Social Media” show the other side of social media.
The first article, “Social Media’s Impact on Self Esteem,” is written by Clarissa Silva, a behavioral scientist. This article discusses how social media accounts are used as “highlight reels” of peoples lives. And how this has an affect on others. The author’s claim, “What is shared across our social networks only broadcasts the positive aspects of our lives-the highlight reels,” is seen throughout the entire article making her argument stronger. First, The article grabs your attention using logos to support her claim “Sixty percent of people using social media have reported that it has impacted their self esteem in a negative way.” Pathos and ethos is also seen when the author uses evidence from Dr. Jennifer Rhodes, a licensed psychologist and relationship expert, states “My clients that are a little obsessed with following dates on social media really do lack the skills to communicate effectively in person. This lack of security and communication skills most definitely increases anxiety and depression. I see so much anxiety related to dating and how to navigate texting & communication that I have started to use Social Fitness training to teach assertiveness skills with my clients”. The author uses other evidence to help the tone of her argument support her. However, the author fails to include a counter argument, but she implies one when saying “For some, projecting what they want people to see and getting likes, plusses, retweets, and shares helps them feel better about themselves and connected to others.” Social media users are lead to believe that they will never have a life as full as others because of the way they see others due to social media.
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The second article “How Girls Use Social Media” by Caroline Knorr, focuses more on the negative aspects and effects of social media on users emotions. The author has many points that argue her claim, “[Social Media] can start as a fun way to document and share experiences but can turn into an obsession about approval that can wreak havoc on self-image.” This claim is seen throughout the authors argument and supported by evidence. The article has multiple different uses of logos by giving multiple examples citing different statistics that measure feelings of girls self-worth. One example being, “Twenty-two percent of [teen girls] felt bad if their photos were ignored.” The author also uses a direct counter argument in order both the good and the bad sides of social media, “While they foster relationships and engagement -- and can even bolster self-esteem -- they can be both constructive and destructive.” The author uses pathos by including summaries of different social media platforms and how it's users 'get feedback’ on their posts, showing in what ways users can get satisfaction from posting. Ethos is seen by stating that celebrities and other influencers with a large following, use their authority to benefit others, creating movements for teens to follow (such as movements to make teens accept their own bodies). The author's tone throughout the article pieces the argument together and helps to make it feel like the argument does not shift to both extremes. The article does not have one set demographic it is trying to reach, the argument is supported in a way it could be for anybody.
Both articles attempted the use of ethos, pathos, and logos to persuade the audience, however, the second article “How Girls Use Social Media” had a better demonstrated argument that had the ability to relate to many readers because she included an explanation of different types of social media platforms that are heavily used in todays society and had arguments that related to different scenarios seen in these platforms. This author used points to support her argument but also included sections of counter arguments to help readers have a better understanding of the other side of the argument. The author used statistics, stories, and authority figures to persuade her audience through ethos, pathos, and logos. “How Girls Use Social Media” both showed how social media has its ups as well as its downs in our society and how it can break a person down, or build a person up. The article “Social Media Impact on Self Esteem” had a good argument, but struggled to show examples of the three types of persuasion because she only related her research to a single scenario instead of multiple. The author didn't explain how her claim would be supported in other situations and never directly stated a counterargument to show readers who may have been opposed to some of the ideas. “How Girls Use Social Media” was also written in a more simplistic way that made it easily understood and altogether made the argument seem more connected. Both authors wrote persuasive arguments about how self esteem is affected by the use of social media however, the first article was more persuasive because she used ethos, pathos, and logos more thoroughly and effectively.
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