Social Media Usage

Duolingo / PTE / IELTS writing task 2 – Outweigh essay

Discuss the merits and demerits of social media usage. Do the benefits of using social media outweigh the disadvantages?

Model answer by Lifestyle Training Centre:

In the contemporary digital landscape, social media has evolved into a pivotal mechanism of communication, information exchange, and cultural expression. Despite the legitimate concerns it raises, I contend that the benefits of social media—when harnessed with intentionality and discernment—far outweigh its disadvantages.

From a utilitarian perspective, social media platforms offer immense practical value. They enable real-time interaction across vast distances, dissolving traditional barriers to communication. This has proved especially vital in global academic collaboration, where scholars and researchers can co-author publications, participate in virtual symposia, and exchange insights via professional networks. Furthermore, social media has emerged as a platform for entrepreneurial innovation. Small businesses, artisans, and freelancers are now able to reach global audiences without the overheads of conventional marketing. Independent authors, educators, and developers, for instance, regularly use platforms like X, YouTube, and Facebook to monetise their expertise and engage directly with niche communities. Additionally, social media plays a critical role in educational equity and knowledge dissemination. Academic institutions and thought leaders share open-access content, lectures, and articles—narrowing the gap between elite education and the general public. This decentralisation of knowledge, particularly in disciplines like technology and public health, has had far-reaching societal impacts, as seen during global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conversely, the drawbacks of social media merit serious scrutiny. Excessive and unmoderated usage can contribute to cognitive overload and fragmented attention, leading to a decline in deep work and intellectual engagement. The design of these platforms—driven by algorithmic amplification—tends to favour sensationalism and polarising content, thereby eroding civil discourse and critical thinking. Privacy erosion is another grave concern; even well-informed users are vulnerable to data mining, surveillance, and breaches. More subtly, the aesthetic idealism perpetuated through curated feeds often distorts reality, fuelling unhealthy social comparisons and self-esteem issues—particularly in adolescents navigating identity formation. That said, these harms are largely the result of misuse or lack of digital literacy, rather than intrinsic flaws in the medium itself. With stronger ethical design practices, educational reforms, and user self-regulation, the adverse effects of social media can be mitigated without sacrificing its substantial benefits.

To conclude, although social media poses credible risks related to attention economy, misinformation, and digital wellbeing, its potential to enhance global dialogue, democratise opportunity, and stimulate intellectual exchange is indisputably greater. When approached with mindful engagement, social media transforms from a source of distraction into an instrument of empowerment.

List of vocabulary used

• digital landscape – the modern world shaped by technology and the internet
• pivotal mechanism – something very important that drives a system or process
• information exchange – sharing ideas, data, or knowledge between people
• cultural expression – the way people show their identity, beliefs, or traditions
• legitimate concerns – real and reasonable worries or issues
• harnessed with intentionality – used carefully and with a clear goal
• outweigh – to be more important or valuable than something else
• utilitarian perspective – a practical, usefulness-based way of looking at something
• immense practical value – great usefulness in real-life situations
• real-time interaction – communication happening instantly or live
• dissolving traditional barriers – removing old limits like distance or cost
• global academic collaboration – people from different countries working together in education
• virtual symposia – online academic events or conferences
• entrepreneurial innovation – new ideas in business created by entrepreneurs
• overheads of conventional marketing – the high costs of traditional advertising
• monetise their expertise – to earn money using one’s skills or knowledge
• niche communities – small, specific groups with shared interests
• educational equity – fair and equal access to education for all
• knowledge dissemination – spreading information to a wide audience
• decentralisation of knowledge – making learning available to everyone, not just the elite
• far-reaching societal impacts – effects that deeply influence society over time
• merit serious scrutiny – deserve to be looked at very carefully
• cognitive overload – having too much mental input to handle well
• fragmented attention – being distracted or unable to focus
• deep work – focused, high-quality work done without distractions

• algorithmic amplification – when social media systems push certain content more than others
• sensationalism – presenting stories in a dramatic or exaggerated way
• civil discourse – respectful and thoughtful public discussion
• critical thinking – logical and careful thinking before forming opinions
• privacy erosion – gradual loss of personal privacy online
• data mining – collecting personal information without permission
• aesthetic idealism – showing only perfect, unrealistic images
• curated feeds – social media content selected and arranged for effect
• unhealthy social comparisons – feeling bad when comparing yourself to others online
• identity formation – the process of developing a sense of who you are
• misuse – incorrect or harmful use of something
• digital literacy – the skill to use technology in a smart and safe way
• intrinsic flaws – problems that are built into something by nature
• ethical design practices – creating tech in a way that is morally responsible
• educational reforms – improvements made to education systems
• user self-regulation – people managing their own behaviour online
• credible risks – believable and serious threats
• attention economy – the competition for users’ focus and time
• intellectual exchange – sharing smart or academic ideas
• mindful engagement – using something with full awareness and care
• instrument of empowerment – a tool that gives people more power or control

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