The Impact of Social Media on Youth and Adults

Social media itself is a huge danger to society. It causes many suicides within the world because of the cyberbullying and spreading of rumors. “Recent studies have shown that one out of four teens have been the victims of cyberbullying and one out of six have admitted to having cyberbullied someone” (Trautner 1). The internet and social media is supposed to be used to communicate with friends and for searching information, “Kids use technology different than their parents do. Sometimes it is hard for adults to understand that this can even be a possibility” (Trautner 1). It is not supposed to be used to bully someone, especially not to the point where the victim would think about suicide. “One of the statistics that has been highlighted within this news coverage is the threefold increase in the suicide rate for girls ages 10 to 14. The rates for girls in this age group increased from 0.5 to 1.5 per 100,000 during this time period. The increases for boys in this age group were not as high, climbing from 1.9 per 100,000 during 1999 to 2.6 per 100,000 in 2014” (Olsen

Social networking sites (referred to more broadly as social media) are a collection of websites and applications that enable users to swap ideas, post updates and comments, and participate in activities and events while sharing their interests with other users. From general chit-chat to propagating breaking news, scheduling a date to following election results, gentle humor to serious research, social networking sites are used for a variety of reasons by various user communities. Nowadays, nearly every person who has access to a computer and Internet indulges in some kind of social networking on a daily basis. The introduction of social media has changed the entire dynamics of our lifestyles: the ways we live, work, and maintain our friendships. Despite its numerous advantages, social media does yield some negative effects. However, the benefits of social media greatly outweigh its negative effects.

Ellison, Steinfield and Lampe identify that social networking sites are among the main use of internet today. According to the authors, social networking sites are among the social media platforms that facilitate interaction in the computer environment. The writers identify the main motives for using social networking sites, for example, Facebook. One of the benefits is that Facebook improves the quality of life both social and at workplaces. According to the writers, social media has become common in the society that a majority cannot remember previous life without them. Social networking sites have become popular among college students who find it as a major platform for social interaction.

How often is social media used, and for what reasons? 94% of teens say they use social media every day, and when used in an unsecure setting it can be harsh (Lenhart). With the pressure to fit into the “norm” of society, kids can often be cruel. Many teens become the subject of online bullying. This makes teens become self-conscious and depressed. Overall, the world today exposes society to many different forms of social media, which can often lead to cyberbullying.

Social media plays an important role in the lives of teenagers and potentially young women. It can actually be a big influencer on their decisions being as it’s a place to express yourself in many ways even if those ways put off negative connotations to those around. Daily on social media you typically see a lot of ads, people who you might perceive as “beautiful” or “pretty”, along with statuses and pictures that talk about how the “perfect” relationship or person should be. As a teenager myself, I recognize that a lot of young girls struggle with finding themselves and wanting to be different. Females in general have a hard time This current generation of teenagers are more concerned with social media sites like facebook, instagram, twitter, and snapchat. More people are concerned with the number of likes or favorites they get rather than actual important or real world things. For a teen that struggles with self-esteem issues, it could be confusing to see a lot of “pretty” girls and not know why you don’t or can not look like them. Social media when used addictively has negative or harmful effects on young girls self-esteem.

As of 2016, suicide has replaced homicide as the second-leading cause of death among U.S. teenagers because of social media bullying. Social media has taken a significant toll on our society, one that affects millions of students around the globe. Every day, online platforms are gaining in popularity. So much that study now shows that the average person spends more time each day on their phone and computer than they do sleeping! While social media offers some benefits in regards to education and relationships, the risks of cyberbullying, social anxiety and identity theft far outweigh these advantages.

Compared to the affects associated with the bully, cyberbullying has a greater impact on the victim. Victims try to withstand the online harassment, so their parents will not take away their means of socialization (Klein 21). According to the National Crime Prevention Center, more than 40 percent of all teenagers with Internet access have been reported being bullied online (99). As technology develops, the younger generation is inclined to stay connected through social media. Many students have different accounts and applications on their smartphones to socialize. Although social media can be a useful way to be in contact with peers, it also is

Hi Vy, looking at the article “Influence of Social Media on Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Young Adults” by Megan A. Moreno, I thought the article was strong in showing how social media can have a negative influence on young adults. I really agree with the authors that alcohol advertisements on social media could be “of particular concern because it can easily reach adolescents and young adults under the legal drinking age”. I think that this quote is a great choice in showing the negative impacts of social media on young adults. I liked how you paraphrased it as “In Influence of Social Media on Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Young Adults, Megan and Jennifer cite through their study about the popular use of social media, that adolescents and

A study conducted by the Pew Research Center in which they discuss teens and their acts on social media, they state that, “…95% of all teens ages 12-17 are now online and 80% of those online teens are users of social media sites” (Pew Research Center). With there being over seven billion people in the world, just think about how many teenagers there are. Information from these teens is being transferred all over the world through multiple forms of social media including: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google+, Snapchat, Pinterest, and hundreds more. When you use social media, you are using, “forms of electronic communication through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content” (Merriam Webster). Social media can be a good thing, but there seems to be more of a bad influence than good when it comes to teenagers and their social media use.

Online social media has gained worldwide growth and popularity through the use of teenagers and young adults which has led to attracting attention from a different variety of researchers throughout the world. Although with time, every generation has come to terms with the changes social network has brought to the world, teenagers and young adults use social media the most. According to multiple research studies in the field of online social networks, they have come to the conclusion that these sites are having a big but negative impact on the lives of the youth.

Social media, at times, is used to fill a void in one's life. A simple log in and you are instantly connected with hundreds of friends at any time of the day. Unfortunately, people compare themselves to others on social media, which can have a negative impact on one's overall self. Youth are even more susceptible to being more self conscious. Seeing images that are usually altered in some way can make an adolescent feel inadequate. The biggest downfall of social media is that it opens up a plethora of ways to fall victim to cyber bullying. Not only is cyber bullying becoming even more prevalent and problematic, it is affecting children even younger than teenagers. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat among others have an minimum age requirement of 13, yet children younger than this have fallen victim to cyber-bullying. This issue is also common in other countries as well.

Social networks have impacted the lives of teens and adults everywhere. This new trend has become the basis for sharing and receiving information. Businesses have been able to attract many clients through advertisements on social networks. Social media is a tool used to connect with people from all over the world and allow the user to share experiences or ideas with others.  Journalists have been able to broadcast political and pop culture news not only on television, but also through social media. Because of social networks, fans are able to keep up with their favorite celebrities and are able to connect with them. Social media has affected political campaigns. Now it has become essential for the candidate to take part in social media cites in order to catch the eye of potential voters and reach a broader audience. The social network phenomenon is beneficial to American society as the best tool for publicity and for self-expression.

How does social media usage by teenagers and young adults affect academic performance, attitude towards school, and concept of identity?

Social media has transformed the way people send and receive information, such as the lasts news articles and alerts, updates from non-profit organizations, miscellaneous causes, and of course—selfies. Social media has paved the way for many good-natured aspects of communication and indirect-socialization, and most people will either take a positive of negative stance, but what kind of effects does social media really have on our teens? While social media has brought an effective means of communication to everyday people, it has also made way for a wave of low self-esteem, lack of good communication skills, and a false outlook on reality for teenagers who use it excessively.

In today’s technological era, internet has engulfed each and every area of the world. Due to rapid changes in technology, people are becoming addicted toward social network and have tremendous affects and influence over the lives of many people. The debate about social networking has emerged all over the world. There are some who are against it but there are also a lot of people who are in favor of it. Since the advent of social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, there has been much debate on their benefits and detriments. While social networking sites are a useful tool in our increasingly connected world, they can also adversely affect our development and the nature of our social interactions. Hence, it is important to first identify their advantages and disadvantages to effectively use them.