Social Theories and Social Media

The founder of the functionalist perspective is Emile Durkheim. Functionalism explains the concept of stability and social order are maintained in a society. According to Durkheim, the society is much bigger compared to the sum of all its parts. The interaction between these parts may become disorganized and thus dysfunctional.
The main question that guides this perspective is how dysfunctionalism in the community comes about. Sociologists have argued that disequilibrium is a result of deviant behavior. Deviant behavior for example in social media can affect the mental state of young people, especially children. Cyberbullying for example on Facebook or Twitter leads to socially withdrawn victims who may not achieve their potential because they do not have a conducive environment to do so.
Karl Marxs theory of conflict has remained relevant till date. Marx was concerned about the distribution of power, wealth and political influence in a capitalist community. In his attempt to find answers as to why the society is dysfunctional, Marx suggested that social stratification needed reviewing. He explained that the owners of the means of production were few and controlling while the working class had to work hard. The conflict theory emphasizes that the only way of solving the problems of a capitalist community is through the emergence of an elite middle class. Today, social media is a big part of peoples lives. Social media has helped in a capitalist world since it has given equal opportunities for everyone to have a voice. The rich and the poor now use the same forum without social inequality, racial, and ethnic discrimination
Based on the insensitive idea that men are superior to women, the society has reinforced complex standards that have in turn strengthened this opinion. The theory seeks to explain what causes gender inequality in a community. Sociologists have examined the role of patriarchy in sustaining the oppressed state of women. Gender stratification has affected so many people throughout the world because men are prioritized over women no matter a womans ability. Social media has helped encourage and even strengthen women and help them reach their potential. Though social media has been used more often than not as a tool to intimidate women, the tremendous benefits that it has brought to the world and particularly women cannot do unnoticed. Women have an opportunity to acknowledge that they are just as good as the men by engaging in social forums online and educating themselves. For example, there are countless forums on Facebook and Twitter where single mothers can share what they go through and what they can do to better themselves and their families.
Max Weber explained the theory of symbolic interaction as the meanings people give places, behavior, and objects. Weber attempted to analyze why people behave the way they do. He explained behavior through “definition of situation”. This means that how an individual interprets an object or event influences their behavior. Social constructs such as race are influenced by our ideas and not on their objective meaning. An object or event may have different meanings in different communities depending on the meaning they assert to the event or object. Social media has led to the spread of trends all over the world. Words from different cultures have been assimilated far away from home. Social media has affected trending fashion designs allowing more and more people to accept them. The integration of cultures as a result of social media cannot go unmentioned.