Unit 2 Portfolio

 

Unit 2 Final Portfolio

In today’s digital age, social media has become a dominant force in how people communicate and connect with one another. From sharing life updates to staying in touch with distant friends and family, platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok have reshaped how relationships function. For many, social media offers convenience, connection, and even community—allowing users to build networks that stretch across cities, countries, and continents. At the same time, this shift toward online interaction has raised important questions about authenticity, emotional well-being, and the quality of our relationships.

This essay argues that social media has had a profound impact on the way people in modern society interact within relationships—whether those are with close friends, family members, or complete strangers online. It has fundamentally altered how we form, maintain, and even perceive our social connections. While these platforms have made it easier than ever to stay connected, they have also introduced new challenges: the pressure to present a perfect version of one’s life, the decline of face-to-face communication, and the growing influence of validation through likes and comments.

By looking at sources such as The Social Network, the short film A Social Life, and Linda C. Ashar’s article “How Social Media Sites Affect Society,” this essay will explore both the positive and negative ways social media influences human relationships. Together, these perspectives help paint a clearer picture of how digital platforms are shaping the way we connect—and what that means for our sense of self, our communication habits, and the future of our relationships.

Source 1 – Film – The Social Network

My first source is the 2010 film The Social Network, directed by David Fincher. It follows a young Mark Zuckerberg as he creates Facebook—reshaping not only the internet but also human relationships. The film highlights how social media transformed the way we interact, shifting from personal blogs and face-to-face communication to friend requests, status updates, and online validation.

Initially designed as a college networking tool, Facebook quickly became a global phenomenon, redefining friendships and social norms. While it helped people stay connected, it also complicated relationships—introducing new social pressures, fostering curated online personas, and fueling conflicts. The film illustrates this through Zuckerberg’s strained friendships, particularly his betrayal of co-founder Eduardo Saverin, showing how digital connections can both unite and divide.

Beyond friendships, social media has altered family dynamics and interactions with strangers, blurring the line between real and virtual relationships. The Social Network ultimately serves as a cautionary tale, urging us to consider whether social media strengthens our relationships or simply changes them—sometimes for the worse.

Source 2 – Short Film – A Social Life

A Social Life by Kerith Lemon Pictures is a short film that explores the subtler effects of social media on personal identity and relationships. The story follows Meredith, a career-driven woman who appears to be living a perfectly balanced life. She posts regularly about her morning runs and healthy meals, presenting herself online as someone who has it all together. Her social media is filled with aesthetic pictures that suggest productivity, wellness, and strong social ties.

However, as the film progresses, it becomes clear that Meredith’s online presence is more curated than authentic. In one scene, she takes a photo of her running shoes as if she’s about to go for a jog but skips the run entirely. In another, she cuts vegetables for a homemade dinner, only to leave the meal untouched. These moments show how her digital identity is built more around perception than reality. Her “social life” exists more on screens than in genuine human interaction.

Eventually, Meredith starts to question whether the life she presents online truly reflects who she is. The film ends with her confronting the emptiness behind the likes and comments, realizing that her sense of self has become tied to a brand she created rather than the life she’s actually living.

A Social Life critiques the pressure to maintain a perfect online persona and shows how social media blurs the line between real experiences and manufactured ones. It adds a powerful, emotional angle to the conversation about how social media affects self-image, authenticity, and relationships.

Source 3 – Article – “How Social Media Sites Affect Society” by Linda C. Ashar, J.D.

In her article How Social Media Sites Affect Society, Linda C. Ashar takes a research-based approach to explain how social media has changed human interaction. Unlike narrative-driven sources, her article presents both benefits and downsides, offering a balanced view supported by data.

Ashar points out that social media has made it easier than ever to stay connected. Friends and family can stay in touch across long distances, share updates instantly, and feel involved in each other’s lives—even without constant direct communication. This ongoing digital presence can help relationships stay strong, especially when in-person interaction isn’t possible. Social media also offers platforms for community-building and raising awareness, especially for marginalized groups.

However, Ashar also dives into the costs of this constant connectivity. One concern is the shift in communication habits. As more interactions happen through texts, emojis, and short-form content, people—especially younger users—are becoming less comfortable with face-to-face conversations. This can lead to weaker social bonds and more frequent misunderstandings in real-world relationships.

The article also highlights mental health concerns. Ashar references studies linking heavy social media use to anxiety, depression, and loneliness. A 2017 study by the Royal Society for Public Health found that Instagram was associated with negative body image, disrupted sleep, and FOMO (fear of missing out). These emotional stressors can spill over into relationships, changing how people see themselves and others.

Another issue is how social media promotes curated versions of people’s lives. When users only post highlights, it can create unrealistic expectations that lead to comparison, jealousy, or self-doubt. In romantic or family relationships, this might lead to insecurity, arguments, or trust issues—especially when likes or comments are misinterpreted.

Still, Ashar makes it clear that social media isn’t inherently bad. Its impact depends on how it's used. With boundaries and intention, it can be a tool for connection instead of conflict. This reinforces the central argument of this essay: social media has deeply reshaped relationships, and it’s up to us to use it in ways that help rather than hurt.

Overall, Ashar’s article provides a valuable, data-driven foundation to support the conversation. It explains why social media can both strengthen and strain relationships, depending on how we engage with it.

Conclusion

Social media has undoubtedly transformed the way people interact, bringing lasting changes to relationships of all kinds—between friends, family members, and even strangers. As explored throughout this essay, platforms like Facebook and Instagram have made it easier to stay connected, share life moments, and maintain relationships across distances. These tools support real-time communication, community-building, and a sense of closeness, even in a fast-paced, globalized world.

At the same time, these platforms introduce new challenges. As seen in The Social Network, social media can lead to fractured friendships, competition, and the prioritization of digital validation over real connection. In A Social Life, the pursuit of a perfect online image creates emotional distance and a loss of genuine identity. Ashar’s article backs this up with research showing links between social media and mental health issues, reduced face-to-face interaction, and relationship stress.

In the end, social media is a tool. It reflects and amplifies how we choose to use it. The future of relationships depends on our ability to balance the benefits of digital connection with the need for authenticity and human connection. By being mindful of how we engage with these platforms, we can ensure that our digital lives support—not replace—our real-world relationships.

Appendix:

Ashar, Linda C. Social Media Impact: How Social Media Sites Affect Society. American Public University, https://www.apu.apus.edu/area-of-study/business-and-management/resources/how-social-media-sites-affect-society/. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Fincher, David, director. The Social Network. Performance by Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield, Columbia Pictures, 2010.

Lemon, Kerith, director. A Social Life. Kerith Lemon Pictures, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXdVPLj_pIk. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.