PHI103
Does the use of social media tend to improve or harm a business?
The University of Arizona Global Campus
PHI103: Informal Logic
Introduction
A social media marketing report shows the top two benefits of social media marketing to
be increased exposure and increasing traffic (Kumar & Pradhan, 2015). It is important for a
business to keep an active online status to be able to dismiss any harsh rumors or misleading
information that may rise against them. Although using social media can come with its risks, it
provides significant advantage to businesses (Morales, Sosa-Fey & Farias, 2017), it is necessary
to keep in mind whether the use of social media improves or harms a business. This paper will
discuss whether or not studies justify that social media helps a business grow. It will offer a two-
sided argument, one showing that social media improves a business and an opposing argument of
the harm that the use of social media brings upon a business. Following that will be an
analyzation of each argument. Lastly, will be my personal argument, that social media can
benefit the growth of a business and an objection to that argument.
Argument that social media use improves a business
Social media is one of the biggest innovations of the 21st century and keeps evolving
(Tal, 2017). Previous studies have shown great support to the conclusion that the use of social
media improves a business. This argument is presented as follows:
Premise 1: There are many social media marketing platforms available for marketing
(Kumar & Pradhan, 2015).
Premise 2: Social media provides a way in which a business can listen to the needs of
their customers and with a captivated audience, they can entrust this group to promote their
products and services (Tal, 2017).
, Premise 3: Social media not only allows a business to advertise their products and
services among customers, but it can help in other forms of marketing, such as, Business to
business marketing, Business to consumer marketing, and Consumer to consumer marketing
(Kumar & Pradhan, 2015).
Premise 4: Social media marketing is considered to be less invasive than traditional
because it gives customers more control over their experience (Morales, Sosa-Fey, Farias, 2017).
Conclusion: The use of social media can improve a business’ growth.
Argument that social media use harms a business
“Some organizations are concerned about the risks involved in using social media and
choose to forgo utilizing it to its full capability (Morales, Sosa-Fey, Farias, 2017).” Contrarily,
studies have shown a minimum support to the claim that the use of social media harms a
business. The opposing argument is presented as follows:
Premise:1 Possibility of being a less popular site or go unnoticed by what can be potential
customers (Tal, 2017).
Premise 2: Negative comments reaches the ear of people quicker than positive ones, which can
result in loss of customers, damage to brand, and loss of market share (Morales, Sosa-Fey,
Farias, 2017).
Premise 3: Lacking in ability to prove trust can leave the use of social media to be ineffective
(Kumar & Pradhan, 2015).
Conclusion: Social media can harm a business.
Analysis of the arguments
Despite their differences, each argument has premises that are supported by research
done within scholarly sources. Both arguments present fairly strong support towards their
conclusions. Each side of the argument has premises that go hand -in-hand, which provide
support for each conclusion presented. Although neither appears to be a deductively valid
Does the use of social media tend to improve or harm a business?
The University of Arizona Global Campus
PHI103: Informal Logic
Introduction
A social media marketing report shows the top two benefits of social media marketing to
be increased exposure and increasing traffic (Kumar & Pradhan, 2015). It is important for a
business to keep an active online status to be able to dismiss any harsh rumors or misleading
information that may rise against them. Although using social media can come with its risks, it
provides significant advantage to businesses (Morales, Sosa-Fey & Farias, 2017), it is necessary
to keep in mind whether the use of social media improves or harms a business. This paper will
discuss whether or not studies justify that social media helps a business grow. It will offer a two-
sided argument, one showing that social media improves a business and an opposing argument of
the harm that the use of social media brings upon a business. Following that will be an
analyzation of each argument. Lastly, will be my personal argument, that social media can
benefit the growth of a business and an objection to that argument.
Argument that social media use improves a business
Social media is one of the biggest innovations of the 21st century and keeps evolving
(Tal, 2017). Previous studies have shown great support to the conclusion that the use of social
media improves a business. This argument is presented as follows:
Premise 1: There are many social media marketing platforms available for marketing
(Kumar & Pradhan, 2015).
Premise 2: Social media provides a way in which a business can listen to the needs of
their customers and with a captivated audience, they can entrust this group to promote their
products and services (Tal, 2017).
, Premise 3: Social media not only allows a business to advertise their products and
services among customers, but it can help in other forms of marketing, such as, Business to
business marketing, Business to consumer marketing, and Consumer to consumer marketing
(Kumar & Pradhan, 2015).
Premise 4: Social media marketing is considered to be less invasive than traditional
because it gives customers more control over their experience (Morales, Sosa-Fey, Farias, 2017).
Conclusion: The use of social media can improve a business’ growth.
Argument that social media use harms a business
“Some organizations are concerned about the risks involved in using social media and
choose to forgo utilizing it to its full capability (Morales, Sosa-Fey, Farias, 2017).” Contrarily,
studies have shown a minimum support to the claim that the use of social media harms a
business. The opposing argument is presented as follows:
Premise:1 Possibility of being a less popular site or go unnoticed by what can be potential
customers (Tal, 2017).
Premise 2: Negative comments reaches the ear of people quicker than positive ones, which can
result in loss of customers, damage to brand, and loss of market share (Morales, Sosa-Fey,
Farias, 2017).
Premise 3: Lacking in ability to prove trust can leave the use of social media to be ineffective
(Kumar & Pradhan, 2015).
Conclusion: Social media can harm a business.
Analysis of the arguments
Despite their differences, each argument has premises that are supported by research
done within scholarly sources. Both arguments present fairly strong support towards their
conclusions. Each side of the argument has premises that go hand -in-hand, which provide
support for each conclusion presented. Although neither appears to be a deductively valid
