Social Media In Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury

“The more social media we have, the more we think we’re connecting, yet we are really disconnecting from each other,” (René, Jean). These words by Jean René support the same message Ray Bradbury was sending in his novel, Fahrenheit 451. Bradbury knew in 1951 what we are just now beginning to understand. Letting the media dictate what information we take in lures us into believing that social media is positive. But because today’s social media is distracting, spreads inaccurate information, and uses manipulative tactics in advertising, it has a negative effect on our society. One reason social media has a negative impact is because it is distracting. In a 2013 article from NBC News, a study is referenced indicating a 20 percent lower score

As reported by media researchers, including Craig Silverman, who led the research project, a lot of news-based organizations do not verify the information they are putting out as true. As a result the false news goes viral through social media sources. Silverman said, “Rather than acting as a source of accurate information, online media frequently promote misinformation in an attempt to drive traffic and social engagement,” (Lever, Rob). Silverman is saying that online media sources are more concerned with the volume of traffic on their sites rather than the accuracy of the information they are reporting. This inaccurate information has a negative effect on society because people do not know what is true

One reason for their argument is that social media provide entertainment. In a 2011 Edelman Value, Engagement and Trust in the Era of Social Entertainment Survey, it states that over half of the respondents believe that social media is a form of entertainment. Author Helen Leggatt says, “More people are using the Internet as a source of entertainment instead of watching television or movies,” (Leggatt,Helen). This quote means that social media is playing a bigger role in people’s entertainment lives. Another argument in favor of social media is that it can disperse information quickly. Robert Riggs observes in his article, Breaking News at the Speed of Light, that the Internet allows messages and events to be shared almost instantaneously. He states, “…anyone can be an ‘on the spot’ news breaker.” What he means is that because of the accessibility of social media, anyone, at any time, can post, share, tweet, and spread what they believe to be newsworthy information. Those who think that social media is good also support this belief by noting that it makes it easier for businesses to advertise. An article from 2015 notes that advertising through social media makes it easier for businesses to find new customers by using their shared information to identify interests. The article says, “Social networks are a good option for advertisers because of the advanced targeting options, reliable conversion