The statement “Social media is a net negative to society” is partially true and partially false. Social media has both positive and negative impacts on society.
Positive impacts:
Connecting people with friends and family from distant locations
Allowing for the easy spread of information and news
Providing a platform for underrepresented communities to raise their voices
Facilitating communication and collaboration for businesses, organizations, and individuals
Negative impacts:
The spread of false information and propaganda
Addiction and decreased attention span
Decreased face-to-face communication and increased feelings of isolation
Cyberbullying and online harassment
Addiction and decreased productivity
Negative impact on mental health (e.g. anxiety, depression)
Reinforcing societal biases and division
Overall, it can be said that social media has both positive and negative impacts on society, and the net impact ultimately depends on how it is used.