Question

1 Social media has done a better job of bringing people together in the twenty-first century than nearly anything else has. It allows friends, relatives, and classmates to connect—or reconnect—with each other. Even total strangers living thousands of miles apart can engage in meaningful ways, all thanks to social media.
2 In 2023, about five billion people worldwide were using social media of some kind. This shows the power and influence that the medium has. It also demonstrates the connections that people have made on social media. After all, what are these five billion people doing if not engaging with one another?
3 Social media doesn’t just function as a means of casual conversation, though. It also allows people to bond over skills and interests. Whether someone is interested in dancing, photography, sports, or movies, they can find like-minded people to share ideas with and learn from. People can help each other improve and grow by exchanging information, photos, and videos and offering feedback to one another. Social media can also introduce people to new ideas or activities that they might not have otherwise discovered.
4 A frequent criticism of social media is that it isolates people, but imagine what the COVID-19 pandemic would have been like had we not had access to social media. In fact, use of social media sharply increased during the pandemic. Many people were unable to see each other in person, but they could still use social media to stay in touch with others. Being able to see and talk to friends and family, even virtually, helped people feel less alone during a very stressful time. How can this be isolating?
5 At this point, it’s hard to even envision what life would be like without social media. Would we all start spending more time in person with one another, or would we actually retreat from each other even more? My bet is on the latter, but I hope I never have to find out.

What is the author’s point of view in Selection 2?
A. Social media is mainly useful for introducing people to new activities.
B. Social media can help resolve world conflicts and other crises.
C. Social media is a great tool for helping people connect with one another.
D. Social media deserves to have a greater number of users than it does.

Answer 1

C. Social media is a great tool for helping people connect with one another.

Explanation: The passage repeatedly emphasizes social media’s role in connecting people—friends, relatives, classmates, and even strangers—and helping them bond over interests and stay in touch (especially during the pandemic). The other choices are not the main focus.