About ten years ago, the idea of ​​a social network was revolutionary. Fast forward ten years and it has become the norm; from the moment we wake up in the morning until we close our eyes at night, social media has become an important aspect of our daily lives. Social media is facilitating a platform for most events, parties and simply staying connected with people. When you stop to think about all the benefits that social media offers, you can't help but wonder if social media is having a negative impact on society. While there are many pros to social media, a person must ask themselves are the cons worth the pros? Or, as I like to put it, is it worth squeezing the juice out of it? To begin, I would like to explore some of the benefits of social media. First, social media allows you to make connections with other people you otherwise wouldn't have connected with. Secondly, it allows people to connect with old friends, especially friends abroad. There are many friends I grew up with that I would have nothing to do with if it weren't for social networks, like Facebook. Third, there are a lot of shy people out there who are socially awkward and not so good at making friends; but with the advent of social media, they now have a convenient way to communicate, allowing even people with disabilities to have a social life. Fourth, social media gives people a platform to broadcast messages to thousands and potentially millions of people with the push of a button. This allowed people and/or groups to get their message across immediately. For example, there was once an American graduate student named James Karl Buck, who was in Mahalla, Egypt, covering an anti-government protest when he was arrested. On the way to… middle of paper… teach their kids about the risks of social media and what to watch out for. For example, the use of privacy settings: explain to them the dangers of not paying attention to what people can see; think twice before posting comments, photos or videos. In other words, by being informed about the risks of social media, a person is able to make the right choices that will allow for an enjoyable experience while using social media. Therefore, if we use some precaution and common sense while using social media, the pros will outweigh the cons. Works cited Simon, Mallory. “Student 'Twitter' is getting out of Egyptian prison.” CNN. Cable News Network, April 25, 2008. Web. March 25, 2014."The Pros and Cons of Social Media." Reading Eagle Reading, Pennsylvania. Np, nd Web. March 25, 2014. “The Facts About Online Predators.” The facts about online predators. Np, nd Web. March 25. 2014.