Adolescents are considered the highest users of social media. A survey done on teens revealed that at least 95% of teens with smartphones are active social media users. It is also estimated that 51% of adolescents within the age of 13 to 18 have at least one active social media platform (Ata, Ludden & Lally, 2007). Social media has helped adolescents connect with friends and share information. It has made the world of these teenagers into a small village-like world. However, the effect of social media among teenagers has been a constant cause of worry among parents.
From behavior changes, lack of concentration to other mind related effects, teenagers are at risk of long-term effects of using social media (Christensen, 2018). Even with the current modernized world marred by technological advancement, there are still no provisions drawn on how adolescents can effectively use social media without any harm. In order to delve into this issue, there are several scholars that have done research about the effect of social media on adolescents. This paper is an analysis of the effects of social media among adolescents. The analysis will encompass a literature review on the topic.
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Literature Review
Self-esteem is an important virtue in adolescence. One of the risks of using social media is losing one’s self esteem, which in turn can affect how often teenagers socialize with people. Teenagers tend to create an idolized image of their role models and want to be like them ( The Indian Express, 2018) . This can include starvation and distorted eating pattern in order to have a specific body image. In a bid to find out the likely effect of social media on the eating behaviors and their bodily image, a team of three researchers including Ata, Lally, and Ludden takes a look at the issues from both an adolescent and youth’s overview (Ata, Ludden & Lally, 2007). These writers show how most teens' eating habits and their body image has been ruined by social media.
Social media can also affect the relationship between adolescents and their parents or any other person close to them. It is also a constant cause of emotional changes. According to Christensen, at least 35% of teenagers using social media actively, are likely to have a bad relationship with their family members (Christensen, 2018). Most of the teens portray a high level of emotional imbalance, which results in being rebellion.
The Indian Express, on the other hand, on similar research, claims that the use of social media among teenagers will likely have effects on future relationships (The Indian Express, 2018). Teenagers will have difficulties in building and keeping relationships, especially spousal relationship. The research employs psychological concepts and survey data in justifying the claims.
According to Bonanno (2018), teens are using social media as a substitute for real interactions. The author terms social media as a virtual connection, and criticizes social media for the decline in real social interactions. When teens turn to social media and avoid real social connections, they are likely to become lonelier, and the lack of social support, according to the author, may cause adverse mental effects. Richard (2013) study also underpins Bonanno (2018) findings in regard to negative effects associated with social media use among teens. Adolescents with smartphones tend to spend a lot of time on their phones than talking to each other even when they are close (Richard, 2013). Therefore, the quality of communication is adversely affected, and the relationship among the teenagers may deteriorate because they talk less to each other and sometimes, they may not understand each other.
Methods
Survey plays a significant role in collecting the data used for all the three sources. The author surveys a population of teenagers that uses social media platform. Teenagers were given questionnaires that covered several issues on how social media affect their relationship with their peer (Christensen, 2018). The analysis also encompassed a review of psychological concepts and theories in order to connect to the effect of social media. An interview with psychologists also played a role in adding to the final data.
Conclusion
Data showed that social media affected adolescents’ relationships. The effects were characterized by symptoms of withdrawal, poor self-esteem and aggressive behaviors among other. Social media has an addiction among teenagers hence can have long term effects. It therefore warrants the need for more research on interventions against the issue.
Annotated Bibliography
Ata, R. N., Ludden, A. B., & Lally, M. M. (2007). The effects of gender and family, friend, and media influences on eating behaviors and body image during adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36(8), 1024-1037. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10964-006-9159-x
This article examines how youth are dissatisfied with their body image as a consequence of their exposure to social media. Young people meet the so-called role models on social media who are assumed to have an ideal body. This study is strong because the authors are prominent researchers, specialist in fields such as psychology, gender studies, and youth behavior.
Bonanno, S. G. (2018, October 8). Social Media's Impact on Relationships. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/lib/social-medias-impact-on-relationships/
This is an article on the effect of technology on different aspects of interpersonal communication. The page shows how technology has negatively affected personal relationships by creating lonely people spending most of their time on social media. Online relationships do not provide opportunities for deep and lasting emotional closeness, leading to many relationship breakups.
Christensen, S. P. (2018). Social Media Use and Its Impact on Relationships and Emotions. Retrieved from https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7927&context=etd
This is a study that was submitted for a Masters’ project. The author focused particularly on the emotional wellbeing of adolescents as a consequence of using social media. One of the effects mentioned is lack of concentration or feelings of anxiety. The study is a good qualitative review because the author used a quantitative approach to establish her findings.
Richard, J. (2013, May 12). How Does Social Media Affect Our Relationships?: Interpersonal Communication in the Digital Age - Communication in the Real World Blog. Retrieved from http://richardgjonesjr.squarespace.com/blog/2013/5/12/how-does-social-media-affect-our-relationships-interpersonal-9.html
This article has several subtopics discussing the effects of technology on adolescent relationships and interpersonal communication. According to the article, social media has transformed the way people communicate and interact, affecting relationships. Social media has played a role in influencing how the youth communicate and interact with each other, jeopardizing the quality and quantity of adolescent relationships.
The Indian Express. (2018, February 22). Social media use may affect teens' real life
Relationships: Study. Retrieved June 3, 2019, from
https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/social/social-media-use-may-affect-
teens-real-life-relationships-study-5074335/
This article is a review of a study conducted by a professor on the effects of social media use on teen relationships. Although “The Indian Express” in an online newspaper, whose articles may not be peer-reviewed, the article is written by a professor, who arguably, is a credible source. Therefore, the article’s rightful owner is Professor Candice from the University of California. The article gives facts and figures in relation to teen social media use, which are important for the study.
References
Ata, R. N., Ludden, A. B., & Lally, M. M. (2007). The effects of gender and family, friend, and media influences on eating behaviors and body image during adolescence. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 36(8), 1024-1037. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10964-006-9159-x
Bonanno, S. G. (2018, October 8). Social Media's Impact on Relationships. Retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/lib/social-medias-impact-on-relationships/
Christensen, S. P. (2018). Social Media Use and Its Impact on Relationships and Emotions.
https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/social/social-media-use-may-affect-
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7927&context=etd
Relationships: Study. Retrieved June 3, 2019, from
Richard, J. (2013, May 12). How Does Social Media Affect Our Relationships?: Interpersonal Communication in the Digital Age - Communication in the Real World Blog. Retrieved from http://richardgjonesjr.squarespace.com/blog/2013/5/12/how-does-social-media-affect-our-relationships-interpersonal-9.html
teens-real-life-relationships-study-5074335/
The Indian Express. (2018, February 22). Social media use may affect teens' real life
