Impact of Social Media Among Vulnerable Sections of Society and the Construction of Social Problems

Today’s world is growing fast in terms of technological development, which can be seen as new inventions and discoveries. The globe is utilizing these technological advancements in various ways to enjoy and simplify their lives, which has significantly altered our society and the way people live their daily lives. These advancements have affected every aspect of our life, consciously or unconsciously. There are around 4.59 billion social media users worldwide, including 57.5% of the total population, and the number of users has been significantly increasing every day. In the era of social media, it has become more accessible for people to make connections and access information quickly. People connect all over the world using different social media applications like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and various Dating Apps. Social media has both positive and negative impacts on our society. In this context, children have been strongly influenced by the use of social media. Similarly, social media has an effect on the women and older adults as well. This chapter focuses on how social media has impacted the vulnerable sections of society (Children, Women, and the Elderly) in India and all over the globe. Media are central actors in the social construction of social problems and can harm our society. Advocates for social concerns focus on the media as a critical channel for influencing public perception of potential social problems. New worries about media-related social issues, such as those centered on electronic surveillance and the digital divide, are growing due to the development of new digital and social media forms.