Essay: The damages of social media

O’Keeffe, G. S., Clarke-Pearson, K., & Council on Communications. (2011, April 01). The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families. Retrieved March 29, 2018, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/127/4/800

 

Gwenn Sturgeon O’Keeffe touches on the important topic of why social media sites like Facebook and Twitter can cause so much damage to adolescents if not monitored properly. Drawing from an extensive bank of previous research studies as well as from her position on the Council on Communications and Media for the American Academy of Pediatrics she explains why close monitoring can prevent young users from cyberbullying, sexting, “Facebook depression,” and vulnerability to unwanted content. O’Keeffe also explains the obsession users go through checking their accounts 10 plus times a day. Giving a deeper insight to the problems it can lead to later in life and discussing what parents should do if they find it difficult to use and participate on some of the social media sites. She also gives a rundown of the digital footprint young users can leave behind for their future selves. After all, she gives a clear and strong message about the dangers of social media and what parents can do to make sure their child doesn’t go down the wrong pathway. This article gives a deeper perspective on the dangers of social media and shines a light on what happens later on down the road. Reminding users that once you put it out there it will always be there to find. Encouraging parents to keep an eye out and become familiar with the social media sites their children are using. Providing great examples and insight on a pressing topic that is taking over people’s lives. This offers a better look into what parents and guardians can do to prevent their children from misusing social media and provides numerous reasons why social media is dangerous.

Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2011, August 29). Online Social Networking and Addiction-A Review of the Psychological Literature. Retrieved March 04, 2018, from http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/8/9/3528/htm?hc_location=ufi

Daria J. Kuss and Mark D. Griffiths cover a deep troubling topic about Social Network Site (SNS) Addiction Disorder. Drawing on the data from their own study, Kuss and Griffiths give insight on the addiction to social media and the damage it’s doing to society. Researchers from Nottingham Trent University, Kuss and Griffiths offer information about usage patterns, SNS motivation, negative consequences, and SNS addiction. They share the personal stories from participants and issues they’re experiencing with real life communication, relationship problems, academic problems and the risk for addiction truly revealing the mindset the participants are in and the hardship it’s creating for their lives. The authors believe that SNS addiction is real and taking a tremendous toll on users. Informing the readers of dangers that may come from becoming addicted to social media. They also point out that some users don’t even realize they have issues until they can’t put their phones down, and it has fully consumed their life. The authors could have made the participants stories more of an anchor for the real issues they face daily. However, the article provides adequate information regarding social media and the dangers it can cause to its users.

Santesteban-Echarri, O., Álvarez-Jiménez, M., Gleeson, J., & Rice, S. M. (1970, January 01). Social Media Interventions for Adolescents and Young People with Depression and Psychosis. Retrieved March 03, 2018

Olga Echarri and Mario Jimenez explain how the internet is universal among all ages especially the young. Honing in on the realness of how important it has become to so many people by becoming a popular place to go for support and communication though not always in the right ways. The authors discuss how, although they do provide some benefits, the majority of its existence is negative. It causes adolescents to use it excessively which results in them becoming heavily dependent on it which can cause distress, isolation, and depression. Gathering information from other researches to really support their point on the negative effects social media can cause, the authors provide important information and research about the quickly growing danger it’s becoming linking it to mental health problems. It also provides intervention tips to readers who may possibly be dealing with this. This article provides an abundance of key information regarding social media and creates a clear path to the problems and possible solutions it’s causing.

Dhir, A., Yossatorn, Y., Kaur, P., & Chen, S. (2018). Online social media fatigue and psychological wellbeing—A study of compulsive use, fear of missing out, fatigue, anxiety and depression. International Journal Of Information Management, 40141-152. doi:10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2018.01.012

Amandeep Dhir and Yossiri Yossatom both post doctoral researchers layout a very clear study on social medias affects causing fatigue and negatively effecting psychological wellbeing of its users. Focusing on their studies showed that compulsive social media use triggers social media fatigue. Social media fatigue in the future can cause anxiety and depression. Users also develop fear of missing out (FOMO) which makes it extremely hard to detach from their devices. FOMO can lead to compulsive social media use and increase the amount they’re on specific social media applications. The authors showcase a study they utilized to gather information regarding the use of social media fatigue causing depression, anxiety and point out key factual information on the issue at hand. This article is significant to the issues on social media and opens up readers minds about the dangers it causes.

Jehangir Bharucha, (2018) “Social network use and youth well-being: a study in India”, Safer Communities, Vol. 17 Issue: 2, pp.119-131, https://doi.org/10.1108/SC-07-2017-0029

Jehangir Bharucha focuses on social medias affect on youth and their well-being in India. Generating his study from his personal research and his position on faculty at Lincoln s2University College discusses how the world is changing around society and transforming the way technology is used. The point of the article is to point out at what extreme extent social media take part on users well-being, behaviors, and other toxic social attributes. The authors goes on to explain the experimental questionnaire sent out and comprehensive interviews taken place as well as research Bharucha did reading the youths posts on social media sites. The author touches on difficult subjects taken place in India and around the world regarding the use of social media. Some incidences end very unpleasantly. The author takes a firm stand on India’s acquiring taste on social media development and the issues they’re facing. This articles point out key reasons why the world should take action now and do something about the negative impact social media is bringing.

Patterson, K., & Lundmark, M. (n.d.). Internet paradox: A social technology that reduces social involvement and psychological well-being? Retrieved March 11, 2018, from

http://psycnet.apa.org/buy/1998-10886-001

Kruat Patterson and Michael Lundmark compare technology advances from the twentieth century to the twenty-first century questioning whether social media is improving or deeply effecting users. The article discusses the social and psychological impact using social media can cause on 169 people. Patterson and Lundmark closely monitor the effects taking place during their very impressionable time on social media for the first 1-2 years.The authors gathered their knowledge from observing participants and taking tremendous interest on the outcomes they saw revealed. After spending countless hours dedicated to their study they noticed a decline in participants communication with family and friends.The authors also noticed increased levels of loneliness and depression. Drawing the conclusion that social media can be addictive and heavy impact users social skills and lack of communication. This article provides heavily reasoning why social medias affect on
society is greater then anybody thinks.

Nass, P., Meheula, C., & Marcus, L. (2012, March). Media use, face-to-face communication, media multitasking, and social well-being among 8-to 12-year-old girls. Retrieved March 06, 2018, from http://psycnet.apa.org/buy/2012-02084-001

The authors who are apart of the American Psychological Association discuss an online survey that was performed on 3,461 girls from ages 8-12 in ‘Discovery Girls’ magazine. Inspecting the use of social media and the effects it can have on social well-being and face-to-face communication. The authors discuss how young girls association with social media use negatively affected their social well-being and communication with peers. The authors can to the conclusion that more research needs to be done in order to fully understand what society is dealing with. The authors also focused in on how televisions, computer, and cell-phones in ones room can cause serious distraction. This article outlined a very important survey about young girls and social media use as well as the complications that may come from it.

Moeller, S. (2014, July 07). Social Media Addiction: Genuine Disorder or Joke? Retrieved April 02, 2018, from https://bradfordhealth.com/social-media-addiction/

The author discusses how society is becoming more and more obsessed with technology. The author makes a standout point that some users are letting social media consume their lives and it’s effecting them in negatives ways. Causing some users to become dependent on popular social media sites. Also making it a clear point that some users find the topic of social media addiction hilarious and fail to realize what it’s really doing to society. Giving examples of the negative associations social media has offered and information regarding a study from Susan Moeller at the University of Maryland regarding social media and unplugging for 24 hours. This article provides loads of important information regarding social media and the crucial studies being performed to better understand the addiction.