Social Networking: The recent study revealed that more and more people of all age groups are facing depression due to social networking. For e.g. someone enjoying outing/get together with friends or getting more likes or comments makes one feel jealous and/or left out. Most children and young people are experiencing loneliness due this.
With the social media sites we have seen a rise in cyber-bullying, a CBS News report showed over 42% of people have been a victim of cyber-bullying (Jung). These sites have also given us a false sense of connection, it is increasingly more difficult to distinguish between ‘real’ life and what is online (Jung). Social media has also impacted our politics and businesses. From politicians and business on social media trying to reach a larger audience, it has become so commonplace we hardly notice the ads that have begun popping up on Instagram
Cyberbullying is a growing global problem due to the aspect of anonymity on social media. Not only does the inability to control social media introduces online harassment, it also reduces the ability to recognize the hate crimes because it is difficult to identify the situation and abuser. Studies show up to 53% of adolescents experience cyberbullying (Chibbaro 65). The opportunities to manipulate false identities and the inability to monitor anonymous users makes one virtually invisible on social media, thus, allows many people to behave in such a way that lacks personal responsibility. The wide social media networks allow for a greater ease for bullies to engage in oppressive conversations at any place and anytime. The number of individuals affected by cyberbullying through the use of social media emphasize social networks as the greatest contributor to violations of laws, such as those about hate crimes,
To begin, it is proven that social media makes people feel more depressed. For example, people tend to check their social media websites when bored. This boredom soon becomes sadness. As they look through their social media site, they realize that everyone else is having more fun. They notice people are out at dinners, parties, etc, whereas you were not invited to any of these occasions. This makes you quickly ask yourself, “Why am I not having as much fun as them?” As you ponder this question, it essentially makes you feel—lonely and unloved.
About 90% of young adults use social media and majority of user’s check-in at least once a day. (Lin, Liu, 2016). Social media can have positive impacts in our lives when it comes to communication, and research show that it is changing young adults and our youth for the worst in a negative way. So, how does social media cause depression? Social media can lead to poor mental and physical health: cyberbullying and social isolation can cause depression; this depression leads to alcohol use.
Every year, "over 25 percent of adolescents and teens [are] bullied repeatedly through their cell phones or the Internet." (cyber bullying stats) and "Cyber-bullying [is] becoming more and more rampant in school and after school among teens and children." (Bullying stats). Social media can be a great thing that can open doors to new opportunities and discoveries, however, when used incorrectly, the digital footprint left behind may greatly affect future opportunities. To prevent a negative digital footprint, children and teens must be educated about internet uses.
While the social media field gets larger with each generation, depression becomes more and more popular. This forms the question, “Does social media play a role in causing depression?” Because of social media’s large influence, I personally believe it is one of the many factors of depression and other mental illnesses. This is important because without more awareness of this problem, there will be more mental illness victims.
Social media creates emotional responses, whether it’s feeling ignored, dissatisfied, comparison or loneliness. From not getting enough likes to the amount of friends one has acquired, people have their status quo right on a convenient site for all to see. With such easy access to these negative responses, there is no benefit from these sites for individuals who are already having a hard time to fit in. Seth Greenberg, an experienced journalist for, How the World Changed Social Media, backs up my claim of these negative emotions social media can create. He explains, “In the last five years, several popular news outlets like Times, Forbes, and New Yorker have cited psychological studies that social media may increase depression, dissatisfaction,
The popularity of social media giants such as Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook are on the rise and so is our nation's overall poor mental health status (The State of Mental Health in America). Studies have shown that there is a direct link between our social media obsession and our poor mental health (Walton). Social media can lead to feelings of comparison, jealousy and even delusional behavior. Another effect that social media has on our mental health is that it often leads to feelings of sadness and loneliness. Lastly, social media addiction is one of the many things that affects our mental health. Studies show that social media is often the cause of poor mental health, it can cause comparison, jealousy, loneliness and lastly addiction.
As social media gets popular and provides an easier access to the Internet, the more difficult it gets to control people’s outburst. Many people wonder, “What is the difference between traditional bullying and cyber bullying?” “What is cyber bullying?” Traditional bullying is when a person is bullying another person face to face. However, with cyber bullying is different. Cyber bullying occurs through out social media and on the Internet. Once in a while I overhear a person questioning about how teens and young kids use social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and etc. Social media has its pros and cons, pro because it gives us an easier to access to sources when we need it right away. Social media also has its cons because social media is very powerful tools, which can be taken advantage of like for example, making shanky comments on pictures or post inappropriate information about another person. Therefore, how fast is cyberbullying expending? How can we use the Internet in a positive way? Two great essays by Jesse Fleck, Leigh Johnson-Migalski, Jemica Carter, and Feleta Wilson explain these reasoning’s.
Facebook and other social media platforms have brought communication across the world to a whole new level. The rise of social media has created a place for children to communicate with others in both a positive and negative manner. Although it has made a positive impact on American youth, it has also contributed and exacerbated bullying in our schools. This new form of bullying, often referred to as cyberbullying, has created an around-the-clock atmosphere where bullying can occur even when school is not in session. Many professionals have sought to address the negative aspects of social media and have worked to develop a solution to bring cyberbullying to an end.
Technology and its applications have influenced the means of communication among humans in today’s society. One of technology’s most powerful applications, social media, allows people to express their feelings and share their thoughts without having to speak to others in person. National Anthem (2011) and Fifteen Million Credits (2011) from the television show, Black Mirror, by Charlie Brooker show how social media affects the interactions between people, whether that be due to sharing fascinating news or enjoying comical relief. While the two scenarios shown were completely different, each revealed similar depictions of media and its significance in setting societal norms. National Anthem and Fifteen Million Credits both portray the effect of social media on the normal, everyday life of an individual by emphasizing the hidden prominence and presence of sexual stimulation, mental distraction, and entertainment values found within the changing lifestyle choices of society.
For the baseline week, time spent on social media is 25 hours and 12 minutes, average 3 hours and 36 minutes per day. I spent more time on social media on weekends compared to weekdays where I would have university.
Despite the positives, there are many negatives associated with social media. Using social media can make a person more vulnerable to predators and cyber bullying. In this age, “Cyber bulling is quite common, can occur to any young person online, and can cause profound psychosocial outcomes including depression, anxiety, severe isolation, and tragically suicide” (“American Academy of Pediatrics”). Cyber bullying impacts society in a negative way because it is harming young teenagers’ minds. Bullies, torment, threat, harass, and even embarrass their victims by using different forms of social media. Using social media can also decrease privacy for an individual. People often give out their personal information not knowing who can see it. To average internet users, “A false sense of security may leave social networking site users vulnerable to security attacks such as hacking, leaking sensitive information, and sending viruses” (“ProCon”). Furthermore, Social media can also lead to brain disorders and can cause people to have a hard time interacting with people face to face. “Social networking entices people to spend more time online and less time talking to a person face to face.” (“ProCon”)
Bullying has always been a prevalent issue among society, especially within adolescence. However, cyberbullying in specific, is becoming more intense and harmful as the use technology increases. Unfortunately, bullies target those who are different among society, such as individuals who are different in race, religion, language, and sexual orientation. Bullying is no longer stemmed from school and left there, kids are bringing these unnecessary things home with them through the use of social media. These behaviors from bullies are preventing the victims to exceed their full potential in school, extra-circular activities, and being who they are in general. Now that most individuals use social media, they are able to see who is being