Social media has completely changed the way family and friends communicate with each other. What are the reasons for this? Is this a positive or negative development?

First introduced to the internet around twenty years ago, social
media
has since gone from strength to strength. Many critics have suggested that it is affecting the closeness of family relationships, arguing that
people
spend too much time staring at screens rather than actually talking to each other. I believe that it brings more advantages than disadvantages to our lives. One of the main reasons why social
media
has had
such
an effect is that it does not require a great deal of effort or planning to connect with friends and family. In the past,
people
were able to talk to each other on the phone, but they had to make sure that they were both at home to make or answer the call at an agreed time. Another reason is that it fulfils our basic need for human contact, even between
people
who are on the other side of the world to each other. Despite the fact that
people
need to communicate regularly with their loved ones in order to be happy, it appears that physical contact is not as vital as once thought. Evidence suggests that contentment in relationships can actually be achieved through social
media
. With
this
in mind, it seems logical to suggest that the positive sides of social
media
are more significant than the negative.
Although
it is possible to argue that it has created a society in which
people
spend less face-to-face time with friends and family, social
media
has revolutionised the way in which we relate to one another. It is easier than ever to keep in touch with old friends, to post pictures of exciting moments in our lives, or to send a quick message to parents. Most
people
would not welcome a return to an old-fashioned style of communication, being more accustomed now to
this
convenient new form of interaction. In conclusion, social
media
has proved to be a success because
people
greatly enjoy the benefits it brings, adapting their approach to friendships and family relationships in order to maintain and improve these bonds in new ways.
This
is clearly more of a positive than a negative development.
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task achievement
Ensure that each main point is expanded with a relevant, detailed example. The essay discusses the benefits of social media in broad terms. However, including specific, real-world examples would improve the task response score.
coherence cohesion
Though your essay has a clear overall structure, you can improve coherence by including more explicit linking words that illustrate contrast, concession, and consequence between ideas.

Fully explain your ideas

To get an excellent score in the IELTS Task 2 writing section, one of the easiest and most effective tips is structuring your writing in the most solid format. A great argument essay structure may be divided to four paragraphs, in which comprises of four sentences (excluding the conclusion paragraph, which comprises of three sentences).

For we to consider an essay structure a great one, it should be looking like this:

  • Paragraph 1 - Introduction
    • Sentence 1 - Background statement
    • Sentence 2 - Detailed background statement
    • Sentence 3 - Thesis
    • Sentence 4 - Outline sentence
  • Paragraph 2 - First supporting paragraph
    • Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
    • Sentence 2 - Example
    • Sentence 3 - Discussion
    • Sentence 4 - Conclusion
  • Paragraph 3 - Second supporting paragraph
    • Sentence 1 - Topic sentence
    • Sentence 2 - Example
    • Sentence 3 - Discussion
    • Sentence 4 - Conclusion
  • Paragraph 4 - Conclusion
    • Sentence 1 - Summary
    • Sentence 2 - Restatement of thesis
    • Sentence 3 - Prediction or recommendation

Our recommended essay structure above comprises of fifteen (15) sentences, which will make your essay approximately 250 to 275 words.

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Topic Vocabulary:
  • Accessibility
  • Instant messaging
  • Multimedia content
  • Constant updates
  • Long-distance communication
  • Reconnection
  • Milestones
  • Cyberbullying
  • Quality of interactions
  • Face-to-face communication
  • Over-reliance
  • Misunderstanding
  • Privacy concerns
  • Support systems
  • Community pages
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