Like it or not, social media is here to stay. We’re all become attached to our smartphones.
For many people, it’s impossible to imagine being disconnected for an extended period of time, let alone a few hours.Â
Been getting a lot of flak lately about your iPhone addiction lately? Thinking maybe you need to put down your Android device?Â
While it’s always a good idea to consider a social media detox from time to time, you shouldn’t feel guilty for spending time on your favorite platform.
Here are 9 reasons why you stop apologizing for your social media addition right now.Â
1. Job Opportunities
Up to 60% of employers admit they screen job candidates online. Many companies advertise vacancies on their social media accounts. Therefore, your social media presence can help you snag (or lose) career opportunities.
Overall, social media is a great way to show off your personality, professional interests and industry experience to potential employers. Â
2. Networking
You’ve probably had the “How many of those 1,000 Facebook friends are your real friends?” question leveled at you a few times.
And while those asking may have a point society has (and likely always will) place value on how popular you are through the contacts you have. It’s certainly something that companies will value, so long as the rest of your profile doesn’t derail the same.
Not that this should be the motivation to add or follow someone, but you never know when those distant contacts may come in handy.
I’m sure we’ve all had situations where social media has united an old colleague or even high-school friend that you would’ve otherwise forgotten about entirely.Â
3. Consuming News
Two years ago, journalism.org reported that 61% of web-using Millenials admitted to reading political news through Facebook compared to any other medium.
Ask yourself this question: what percentage of news articles that you read online, did you come across on social media? Or how quickly do you check Twitter when there’s breaking news?
Getting the younger generation to actually read global news has been a huge win for social media platforms.Â
4. Education
Social media has played a vital role in building the “Knowledge Era” we live in today.
Just think about our grandparents. If they wanted to learn something they had to take a trip down to their nearest library or bookstore – and even those options were limited.
With the power of social media, we can have that information delivered straight to us through subscriptions. (Like when you subscribed to our channels, right?)
5. Entertainment
This should be justification enough.
When you follow your friends, celebrities or strangers on Instagram social media is starting to become a form of entertainment. It’s no different than playing a video game, going to see a movie or meeting friends for coffee.Â
So, don’t feel guilty about taking some time out to look for #outfitinspo or videos of cute animals on Instagram, when you need a break or feel bored.
6. It Holds Brands Accountable
All brands love and respect word of mouth marketing. And that’s exactly what social media facilitates when it comes to sharing information about particular products and/or services.Â
Why do you think beauty bloggers and fashionistas are sent so many products to unbox on Instagram? Â
7. Insta-Novels
Millennials have a shorter attention span than a goldfish – and it has been scientifically proven.
A study by Microsoft revealed that the average human attention span is down to eight seconds, which is less than a goldfish’s attention span (nine seconds). This means none of us can actually focus enough to read. #shocking
But lucky for us, we can now listen (and watch) books on social media. On Aug. 22nd Instagram launched Insta Novels by the New York Public Library.
It’s actually a fun way to “read” (or, rather listen) to your favorite classics like Alice in Wonderland. Let’s be real, with that eight-second attention span, no one has time to read blocks and blocks of text.
8. Expose Your Hidden Talent
Got talent? Forget about the scouts and put it on social media.
If you’ve got a serious set of pipes or are good at photography, consider creating an account to showcase talents.
 If you just want to express yourself, YouTube might be a good platform since you can Tag your videos making them accessible to more viewers. This might be a long shot but if Justin Bieber made it, then you sure can too.
9. Raise Awareness For A Cause
Whether you care about political, environmental, or social issues, you might want to voice your concern and help make it better.
Social media has the power to change the world and sometimes all it takes is one person. You can take a #nomakeupselfie and raise money for cancer awareness or #Endangeredemoji to raise funds for endangered animals.Â
What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
This web story was originally written by Ethan Zach. It was updated on Sept. 23, 2018 by Doa’a El Khouly. Image credit: Shutterstock.