Social media has become a major part of our society today. We can say that every aspect of daily life is influenced by some form of mass communication. There are various forms of social media, which include pictures, video, texting, television, and social networking websites. These outlets of communication are able to reach a vast audience in split seconds, allowing diverse cultures to interact with each other. Because of this almost immediate reaction, it allows for major pitfalls, such as, the saturation of our youth with bad examples of sexual behavior and violence, which can lead to an increasing acceptance of violence in society. Researchers have shown that such behaviors are carried out by mimicking the actions seen and heard on media outlets. Proponents of social media argue of its benefits in providing teens with a supportive environment for people with similar issues. They also argue that social media provides information to teens on medical topics and health concerns. When it comes to social media the bad influences outweigh the good. Therefore, social media has an adverse affect on adolescence’s social behaviors.
Social media can be very taxing on a teen’s emotional state. According to the American
Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), researchers have proposed a new phenomenon called “facebook depression”, defined as depression that develops where preteens spend a great deal of time on social media sites, and then exhibit classic symptoms of depression (AAP 2011). Depression can be predicted by two factors, which include rejection by peers and isolated teens with little or no friends (Hartup, 1996). The depression starts when teens are offline and the need for acceptance and social contact are n...
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...sitive virtues to combat the negative effects. We must reach the adolescents in the places they dwell on social media, to giv e them the tools to cope with the predators, the depraved, and bullies that trove these mediums.
Despite the obvious evidence of negative behavior influenced by social media, the voices of change are few. The many proponents of its benefits can be an ally in providing a supportive environment for vulnerable adolescents. Detractors and proponents must use the social media outlets to provide information to reach a common goal of safety for our youth. Come together to find ways to use the outlet to identify negative influences, and lend support to its users. Again, we know social media has an adverse affect on adolescence’s social behaviors. It must become our purpose to ensure that social media’s good influences outweigh bad.
There has always been controversy on whether or not social media is healthy for teenagers. In the article, “Antisocial Networking?” by Hilary Stout from the New York Times dated April 30, 2010, Stout explicates why she dislikes social networking sites. She claims that social media eliminates the opportunity for adolescents to develop empathy for others, understand different emotions, and recognize the meaning of facial expressions and body language. However, Melissa Healy clarifies how social media is beneficial for teens in her article, “Teenage Social Media Butterflies May Not Be Such a Bad Idea” from the Los Angeles Times dated May 18, 2010. I disagree with Hilary Stout because social media is an efficient way of communicating with friends, helps teens develop social skills, and creates opportunities for adolescents.
Most people encounter multiple problems in their daily lives, so it is important to be capable of handling them. An adolescent’s obstacles are all the more crucial; this is the age one develops key social and communicative characteristics; therefore, the approach and solution to the issue are imperative. Consequently, the greatest problem of adolescence is the fear of isolation. This is because teenagers will create escapes to hide from reality, change themselves to fit in, and will always attempt to stay socially connected.
All in all, adolescents can severely be harmed when they use social media. The negative impacts of social media include causing children to lack face-to-face communications, be absent from indispensable experiences, and undergo emotional suffering. All of these effects of social media would make the lives of children difficult. Since using social media is such an unhealthy activity, we all should reduce our time using it and spend more time in the real world. If we do so, we may have a brighter
Social media has been negatively affecting teenagers in numerous ways such as sleeping habits, cyberbullying, and lowering their self-esteem. Teenagers are at a vulnerable age where maintaining a balanced sleep schedule can be critical especially when it comes to their education. Social media is easily accessible in today's society giving these young adolescents a faster/easier way to bully, cyberbullying. Bullying alone could potentially hurt someone, however, now that technology has progressed tremendously it is giving teens a way to bully others in more ways than one. This can cause teens to feel useless or not good enough for themselves or the public eye. No one especially teenagers, being at such a vulnerable sate, should face self-esteem
In today’s time, one would believe that every teenager is always connected and constantly checking his phone for updates on social media. About 90 percent have used social media and around 75 percent have a social networking site(Teens’ use of social media: Positive or Negative? 1). This constant connection can be very harmful to a person’s mental and social health. According to Aurelie Krakowsky, social media can draw teens away from real world relationships and cause them to focus on trying to keep up with the rest of the world(1). Teenagers are easily caught up in trying to keep up with everyone else. Before they know it, he is not spending time with friends, barely
The influence of the media on adolescence can be both beneficial and or deferential. It is here where ones interact with peers, views world news and issues, views and partakes in school gossip, and post about one’s own life and reads about others’ lives. It is often from the media that one’s gain an idea of what one self should look or act like. Eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia can be a result of these ideas or images. Social media is also the leading cause and use for bulling. According to Lauran A. Spies Shaprio and Gayla Margolin, authors of the US National Library of Medicine and National Institute of Heaths journal, Growing Up Wired; Social Networking Sites and Adolescent Physical Development, “the vast majority of adolescents encounter some degree of negative experience through social networking sites, the viciousness of on-line bullying is exacerbated due to the depersonalized yet public nature of technology-based postings coupled with the pervasiveness of social networking sites” (Shaprio and Margolin, 2013). Social media may also affect parent-child relationships. It is sites such as twitter, Facebook, and other various social networking sites and apps that take priority over family activities. These sites also interfere with peer relationships and some social skills and social development are also being affected. Sleep deprivation amongst adolescents is not uncommon and
"Teens' use of Social Media: Positive Or Negative?" Curriculum Review 52.2 (2012): 10. ProQuest. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.
“Kids are more isolated online than when they’re interacting in real life situations, which can lead to anxiety and depression.” Bartels agrees. Social media has been around for decades, and has been affecting kids for many ages. Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and more are different social media sites that demoralizing people relationships with family members. 92 percent of people check social media daily, and half never post anything. Social media does have a negative influence on middle school students, because it causes anxiety and depression, low self-esteem, and can lead to cyberbullying.
Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are only a few of the most common words used in today’s language among children, teens and adults. Such words can be described as popular terms related to what many of us know as social media. In today’s culture, many teenagers rely so heavily on the usage of social media that issues once thought to be revolutionary are now taking place offline and online. In fact, several cases of mental addictions, depression and even suicide have all stemmed from the initial usage of sites such as Facebook, which are otherwise socially accepted as a simple means of communicating with “friends.” While social media does have its advantages, it can also be held responsible for several negative events in the lives of today’s teenagers.
Besides cyberbullying, there are many other negative outcomes for American youth in the use of social media websites like Facebook. For example, many teens are using shorthand and abbreviations when writing or communicating online. Additionally, teens lose themselves in social media, ignore their surroundings and even become addicted to social media. Consequences of this include a rise in obesity, devaluation in family, lack of exercise and decrease in focus on school and homework. Adolescents that use social media more often than others are more prone to “narcissistic tendencies,” “anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders” (Protalinski, 2011). American youth that share more online also display manic, aggressive and antisocial behaviors.
Social media is such an integral part of teens lives. It has also influence the way teens drink or use drugs. “According
Recent advancements in technology have created a new form of communication. We call this new type of communication social media. Some of the big names in social media are Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram. Most people today use some form of social media on a daily basis. Social media is most popular amongst adolescents. According to a poll conducted by Infographic, nine out of ten teenagers have used social media. Whenever a new technological advancement occurs there is concern over how it will affect society. In the case of social media, the concern is greatest for adolescents. So, how does social media effect adolescents? Social media can have both negative and positive effects. Some of the effects of using social media can be depression, addiction, cyberbullying and exposure to inappropriate content.
The correlation between the development of youth and social media has become blatant. Although few of the consequences are favorable, the majority have displayed a negative impact. The drive social media can implement on youth is exceptional. The pressure and strain social media can place on our youth is an enduring force which leads individuals to question themselves as a person and feel inclined to fit a norm expressed in media and social media of our society. The underlying force social media can play in the lives of the youth is astonishing and is a force that must be dealt with and controlled, for it not only holds the power to give an individual strength, but also to break them down.
We live in a world that has become addicted and dedicated toward social media and it is driving America’s youth into the ground. Teenagers and adults are so wrapped up in social media that is runs their lives every day. Constantly people are checking their phones for the latest on social networks. They have to see pictures, tweets, statuses, comments, likes, and the list goes on and on. Social media is becoming the focus point in the modern American society that it is beginning to control people’s social skills, communication skills, and their livelihood.
Social media is a controversy topic in today’s society. Some people think that social media destroys human interaction and real life human relationships. While others think that social media is a bless to humanity. Social media makes human interaction much more convenient and much faster than real life human interaction, it makes globalization a reality, it gives a chance for introverted people to express themselves, and it also benefit develop international relationships whether its business or social.