Mobile phones used to be for a simple call, the occasional text or a game of the well-loved snake.

However, in the present day, phones have become much more involved in our everyday lives. We can order a meal, book a holiday or check our bank account all from the gadget in our pocket. But the thing that everyone knows about, talks about and uses is social media. There are 2.34 billion users of social networks worldwide and internet users have an average of 5.54 social media accounts. So, we can see that this creation is a huge part of our lives. But do we depend on it too much? Personally, I love social media. I enjoy seeing what my friends are getting up to, whilst having that freedom of being able to keep in contact with them wherever they are or whatever they're doing. With a passion for photography I find it greatly entertaining to Instagram my own photos and share them with my followers and I always look forward to seeing what new filters have been added on Snapchat. Social media is a way of keeping up to date, sharing expertise and learning about our rapidly changing world.

But social media also has it's downsides. Many argue that it leads to addiction. We spent countless hours on various sites which diverts our attention from the real world. People can be enchanted by their mobile phones, living in the bubble of their phone and leaving the outside redundant. Fresh air is forgotten and one struggles to have a face to face conversation. When a phone isn't in hand, some may feel lost and unsure of what to do with themselves - they rely on their electronic best friend to guide their way.

What are your views on the different sides of social media? Does this generation rely on it too much? Tell us in the comments section below.