1.0 Introduction
In 21st century, social media have achieved astounding growth and popularity. Most of the teenagers nowadays are constantly connected to social media. Teenagers have made social media a part of their daily work and the majority of their time was spent on social media. The consequences of social media on the youth are significant and they are growing up surrounded by social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and others. Social media has made a vital side of the teenagers’ life. The conducted surveys showed that 73% of American teenagers use social networking sites (Lenhart, Purcell, Smith & Zickuhr, 2010). Another information proved that 22% of the teens which exceeded ten times per day, and half of them used social networks more than one time in a day (Common Sense Media, 2009). Most teenagers engage with social media without thinking what the positive and negative effects are on their lives. There are many positive aspects but there are many dangers that come with the use of social media on teenagers at the same time.
2.0 Positives effects of social media on teenagers
2.1 Socialization and communication
Social networking sites permit teenagers to achieve online missions that are relevant and important to them offline (Ito. Et al., 2008). Social networking sites enables the teens to remain in touch with their beloved friends and family, gain new friends as companions, sharing pictures as well as alternating different perspectives. (O’Keeffe, 2011). The youth can be instilled with profound interests to discover their self-opinion, community and the world by using social medias. (Boyd, 2007). Teenagers can search for chances in community engagement through funding money for charitable activities and join political and philanthropic activities voluntarily. Teenagers are capable to boost the personal and collective creativity through the development and sharing of artistic and musical work. Social media helps teenagers to develop conceptions in the creativity of blogs, podcasts, videos and gaming sites. Teenagers can share interests to include others from different backgrounds and make the expansion of online connections. This type of communication helps teenagers to afford the chance for respect, compromise, and discussion related to individual and worldwide affairs.
2.2 Approaching health information
Health resources are increasing profusely to teenagers on a sort of topics of interest, which includes sexually transmitted infections, stress reduction, and symptoms of depression (O'Keeffe, 2011). Seventeen percent of teenagers use social media to assemble data about health topics, for example, drug abuse and sexual health (Lenhart et al., 2010). Studies of Latino high school teenagers have found that teenagers are almost universally used in social media and believe that social media is an important means of communication in public health programs (Vyas AN, 2012). Social media platforms such as PatientsLikeMe.com, Crohnology.com, SmartPatients.com provides chances for more engagement and user-centered experiences which patients are able to manage how they are acknowledged with health informations. (Wheeler S, 2007). Health institutions and individual providers are conscious that social platforms are influential to teenagers to learn more about health education, as it has the capacity to disseminate widely tailored information (Chou WY, 2013). Some hospitals use social media such as Facebook and Twitter for public health messaging. Social media identities are also being established to expand the coverage of their health educational work.
2.3 Improved teenagers’ learning
Social media also plays a part as an educational instrument. (O’Keeffe, 2011). Research on teenagers revealed that teens tend to write on social networking sites, blogs, emails etc. (Otuteye, 2005). Some schools teach through blogs which can boost students’ English skills, prounciation and creativity (Borja, 2005). Ethnographic studies have found that teenagers use social technology to probe into interest-driven communities and activities (Ito et al., 2009). Apart from that, social networking sites offer supplementary links to students through mechanism of academic engagement which can be defined in behavioural, emotional and cognitive terms. Behavioural engagement describes the participation in academic, social or extra activities. Moreover, emotional engagement refers to the good and bad feelings of students towards teachers and school community. Cognitive engagement describes that students are eager in learning new skills. Teenagers are suggested to interact more with social network to improve their relationship with others. The teenagers can strengthen their relations with teachers and peers by involving in extra-curricular activities. (Templeton, 2002). Their connectedness related to a lower possibility to withdraw from school (Fredericks et al., 2004).
3.0 Negative effects of social media on teenagers
3.1 Cyberbullying on social media
The definition of cyberbullying is a kind of torment related to the use of online or computer-mediated communication, such as Facebook, Twitter, instant messaging, or text messaging (Smith et al., 2008). The common types of cyberbullying on social media include exclusion, cyberstalking, gossip, trickery, harassment, impersonation, cyber threats and flaming. Cyberbullying can affect teenagers and the consequences included are anxiety, depression, severe isolation and suicide (Patchin J, 2006). Additionally, sending offensive and threating messages, diffusing rumours, displacing embarrassing pictures are also associated to cyberbullying. Monash University found in their study that 72.4 per cent of the interviewed middle school students said they received unpleasant contacts from strangers through their social networking. According to Megan Meier foundation, 90% of the actively social networking users have witnessed cyberbullying. Meanwhile, 72% of them disclosed of being the victim once or twice during school years and 42% in the past year. It is also proved that “hyper-networking” teens who consume 3 or more hours per day on social medias have higher chances to be cyberbullied.
3.2 Facebook depression
Facebook Depression can be described as a depression which will develop and classic symptoms of depression starts to appear when teens have been using social media sites for a long time. (Davila et al., 2009). Teenagers with Facebook depression are at risk of social isolation and sometimes turn to risky Internet sites and blogs to get "help" that may promote drug abuse, unsafe sex, or self-destructive behaviours (O'Keeffe et al., 2011). Kraut et al. published the first study in 1998, stating that Internet will have a profound influence on social relations and participation in the community life (Scherlis W, 1998). The authors found that increased online time is associated with reduced communication between family members and reductions in Internet users' conversations, which may further cause increased depression and loneliness. Social medias has also led to further decrease in interpersonal communication and in the broader social context.
4.0 Conclusion
Based on the studies of this research, social media plays an important role on teenagers’ life. Social media benefits the teenagers by improving socialization and communication skills, approaching health information and enhancing teenagers’ learning. On the other hand, teenagers are on the edge of risk of cyberbullying on social platforms and Facebook depression. It is necessary to build the awareness of teachers and parents on the risks encountered by teenagers. Parents and teachers should discuss the risks of social media with teenagers and encourage teenagers using social media on right way.
Annotated Bibliography
The Pros and Cons of Social Networking & Adolescents/Developmental Psychology Assessment, Dec 1 2014, Youtube, Retrieved July 8, 2017.
Sophie Thompson, the creator of this video shows her understanding on social media and describes the relationship between effects of social networking and adolescents. She presents what she views as the effects of social media and analyses the possibilities that arise when using social media. Both effects of social media on teenagers in different aspects such as sexual, privacy, social, education and self-development have been discussed. The conclusion of the creator is that social networking can cause adverse effects such as cyberbullying, sexual abuse and fake accounts and profiles. On the other hand, social networking assists teenagers on socializing, improving education, sharing content and self-esteem.
Parvathy J., November 2015, Impact of Usage of Social Networking Sites on Youth, Retrieved May29, 2017, <http://www.ijcaonline.org/research/volume129/number3/parvathy- 2015-ijca-906792.pdf>.
In this journal, Parvathy J. and Suchithra R. present an insight into the impact of social networking sites usage on the mind of youth. From these information, they have make their detailed study of positive impacts and negative impacts of social networking sites among the youth. Their conclusion is that social networking sites bring benefits and risks to youth at the same times. Social media has provided the youth the opportunity in exchanging knowledge, finding employment and social quotient among them. On the other side social media has created new issues such as health risk, mental concentration, identity theft, depression and rumour spreading.