Opinions are divided on whether the benefits of using social media platforms to replace daily in-person interactions are more significant than the drawbacks. Personally, I lean towards the latter viewpoint.

Admittedly, there are some undeniable advantages associated with people switching to social media for their social interactions. One of these is that online platforms allow instant contact among users; they can send and receive messages or calls without delay. This is particularly convenient for those who do not have much spare time to arrange real-life gatherings. Another advantage is that social media platforms like Facebook Messenger help eliminate geographical barriers, enabling individuals in long-distance relationships to maintain and strengthen their bonds. This is in stark contrast to the past when contacts were mainly maintained through mail, which was more time-consuming and lacked the vivid images and sounds that social media provides.

However, I am of the opinion that the disadvantages of over-reliance on social media platforms for daily communications far outweigh the aforementioned benefits. One notable problem is the potential decrease in bonding if interactions are solely conducted online over the long term. The fact is that social interactions between humans have evolved over millions of years through both verbal and non-verbal interactions in face-to-face conversations, which cannot be ensured when screens are the only medium for dialogue. Another serious issue is the adverse impact on the communication skills of users. By getting accustomed to using texts or icons to express their thoughts and feelings online, many people may end up struggling to communicate with others in real-life situations, which could possibly place them at a disadvantage in many professional and social contexts.

In conclusion, although using social media enables instant and long-distance communication, I firmly believe that excessive reliance on such means can pose serious problems for most users, such as decreased bonding and impaired communication skills. (308 words)

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