The Impact of Social Media on Society as a Whole

Ellis grew up in a society in which there was no social media or widespread Internet, so he is uniquely qualified to make observations about the way the Internet has changed society. Ellis argues that there is less satisfaction in purchases because there is no longer the investment needed to make a purchase. He also indicates that social media has made people crave positive feedback, leading to a sort of herd mentality. Instead of encouraging free speech, the way Ellis believes social media should, he notes that social media has in reality made people more likely to hide their true selves.

Ellis indicates that the widespread use of the Internet and social media has made experiences ranging from shopping to a teen’s first encounter with sexual images less satisfying because it makes everything so easy. Ellis describes the...