Impact of Social Media in Youths

Impacts of Social Media in Youths

Safiul Islam, M.A, B.ED in History, 
Aliah University
Kolkata

Social media is a big part of many youths' lives. A 2018 Pew Research Center survey of nearly 750 13- to 17-year-olds found that 45% are online almost constantly and 97% use a social media platform, such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat¹. But what impact does social media use have on youths? Is it good or bad for their well-being?

The answer is not simple. Social media has both positive and negative effects on youths, depending on how they use it, how much they use it, and what they use it for. In this blog post, we will explore some of the main themes related to social media and well-being in youths, based on a new systematic review published in the journal Adolescent Research Review².

• Connections

One of the main themes is connections, which describes how social media either supports or hinders youths' relationships with their peers, friends, and family. Social media can help youths build connections with others, especially those who experience exclusion or have disabilities or chronic illnesses. Social media can also provide youths with valuable support, reassurance, and intimacy with their friends. Youths who are shy or introverted may find it easier to make friends through social media. Social media can also help youths keep in touch with their loved ones who live far away and communicate with large groups of people.

However, social media can also harm youths' connections with others. Social media can expose youths to bullying, threats, criticism, and negativity. Social media can also create unrealistic expectations and comparisons with others' lives, which can lower youths' self-esteem and satisfaction. Social media can also interfere with youths' face-to-face interactions and reduce their social skills and empathy.

• Identity

Another theme is identity, which refers to how social media affects youths' sense of who they are and how they fit in the world. Social media can provide a forum for youths to practice skills related to identity development, such as self-presentation and self-disclosure. Youths can express their opinions, beliefs, preferences, and emotions through social media. They can also explore different aspects of their identity and experiment with different roles and styles.

However, social media can also challenge youths' identity development. Social media can pressure youths to conform to certain norms and standards that may not reflect their true selves. Social media can also influence youths' values and attitudes in ways that may conflict with their family or culture. Social media can also make youths vulnerable to identity theft, fraud, or manipulation by others.

•  Learning

A third theme is learning, which encompasses how social media influences youths' education and acquisition of knowledge. Social media can enhance youths' learning by exposing them to current events, diverse perspectives, and various topics of interest. Social media can also facilitate youths' collaboration and communication with their classmates and teachers. Social media can also help youths develop digital literacy and critical thinking skills.

However, social media can also hinder youths' learning by distracting them from their academic tasks and goals. Social media can also provide inaccurate or misleading information that may confuse or misinform youths. Social media can also expose youths to inappropriate or harmful content that may affect their cognitive and emotional development.

• Emotions

The last theme is emotions, which relates to how social media influences youths' mood and mental health. Social media can improve youths' emotional well-being by providing them with entertainment, humor, inspiration, and positive feedback. Social media can also help youths cope with stress, anxiety, depression, or loneliness by connecting them with supportive people or resources.

However, social media can also worsen youths' emotional well-being by causing them to feel envy, jealousy, anger, sadness, or fear. Social media can also trigger or exacerbate mental health problems such as anxiety disorders, mood disorders, eating disorders, or addiction. Social media can also affect youths' sleep quality and quantity, which can have negative consequences for their physical and mental health.

• Conclusion

As we have seen, social media has both pros and cons for youths' well-being. The impact of social media depends on many factors, such as the type of platform, the frequency of use, the purpose of use, the content of use, and the individual characteristics of the user. Therefore, it is important for youths to be aware of the potential benefits and risks of social media use and to use it in a balanced and responsible way.

References:

¹: Teens and social media use: What's the impact? - Mayo Clinic

²: The Pros and Cons of Social Media for Youth | Psychology Today

Source:-

(1) Teens and social media use: What's the impact? - Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teens-and-social-media-use/art-20474437.

(2) The Pros and Cons of Social Media for Youth | Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evidence-based-living/202110/the-pros-and-cons-social-media-youth.

(3) Effects of social media on teenagers - Imphal Free Press. https://www.ifp.co.in/opinion/effects-of-social-media-on-teenagers.