The advent of social media has seen more people connected than ever before; this is done through social media chats on the Internet. Ironically, social psychologists argue that in this virtual connection people are much lonelier and even more isolated. Psychologists further explain that people have chosen to hide behind social media instead of interacting physically in real time. Some of the situations in which social media creates isolation include: a social media networking is a distraction from real life; social media has actually managed to shift people's ability to focus on the immediate things happening in their surroundings as very often you will find people too immersed in their phones to know what is going on around them (Boyd, 2015) Say no to plagiarism . Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Second, social media creates isolation by providing an illusion of companionship; an illusion of emotional attachment and intimacy is created through social media through the sharing of texts and images even though the people involved may be worlds apart (Butcher, 2015). This type of illusion has literally replaced family and friendship. Third, social media can reduce self-esteem and create a negative self-image that leads to isolation. This happens when others post idealized and unrealistic images of themselves, their pets, or even their locations, thus portraying a fabulous and fantastical life that may be far from the truth. Seeing these images, their friends may think that they have raised social standards, thus feeling unfit to be in their company. And finally, social media creates isolation by reducing intimacy where people tend to pay more attention to those they are chatting with through these forums than the real people in their company. While social media has so many situations that lead to isolation among users, it is crucial to note that, when used positively, it can reduce isolation and create real, lasting relationships between users. Some of the situations where social media can be used to reduce isolation include; one is its ability to connect people by providing a social forum where colleagues can find groups with similar interests, learn and share their experiences. By helping you stay in touch with old friends such as former classmates and even extended family, social media creates a situation that reduces isolation, but this would mean keeping a small group of friends and being focused on not being influenced by the drama surrounding it. follows. .Remember: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Social media also creates platforms where people can share their problems with other users and get help on issues that would otherwise affect them emotionally and psychologically thus isolating them from society. Through sharing experiences, people are able to overcome their problems in the knowledge that there are other people who have also faced the same problems and emerged victorious. Finally, social media can reduce real loneliness by creating a platform through which those who are lonely can interact with the world. There are many interesting stories that people share in the form of writings or videos that can make people smile and forget their tribulations and loneliness for a moment. Positive use of social media can reduce 2015)