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The Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health of Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review

Abderrahman m khalaf.

1 Psychiatry Department, Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, SAU

Abdullah A Alubied

Ahmed m khalaf.

2 College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU

Abdallah A Rifaey

3 College of Medicine, Almaarefa University, Riyadh, SAU

Adolescents increasingly find it difficult to picture their lives without social media. Practitioners need to be able to assess risk, and social media may be a new component to consider. Although there is limited empirical evidence to support the claim, the perception of the link between social media and mental health is heavily influenced by teenage and professional perspectives. Privacy concerns, cyberbullying, and bad effects on schooling and mental health are all risks associated with this population's usage of social media. However, ethical social media use can expand opportunities for connection and conversation, as well as boost self-esteem, promote health, and gain access to critical medical information. Despite mounting evidence of social media's negative effects on adolescent mental health, there is still a scarcity of empirical research on how teens comprehend social media, particularly as a body of wisdom, or how they might employ wider modern media discourses to express themselves. Youth use cell phones and other forms of media in large numbers, resulting in chronic sleep loss, which has a negative influence on cognitive ability, school performance, and socio-emotional functioning. According to data from several cross-sectional, longitudinal, and empirical research, smartphone and social media use among teenagers relates to an increase in mental distress, self-harming behaviors, and suicidality. Clinicians can work with young people and their families to reduce the hazards of social media and smartphone usage by using open, nonjudgmental, and developmentally appropriate tactics, including education and practical problem-solving.

Introduction and background

Humans are naturally social species that depend on the companionship of others to thrive in life. Thus, while being socially linked with others helps alleviate stress, worry, and melancholy, a lack of social connection can pose major threats to one's mental health [ 1 ]. Over the past 10 years, the rapid emergence of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others has led to some significant changes in how people connect and communicate (Table 1 ). Over one billion people are currently active users of Facebook, the largest social networking website, and it is anticipated that this number will grow significantly over time, especially in developing countries. Facebook is used for both personal and professional interaction, and its deployment has had a number of positive effects on connectivity, idea sharing, and online learning [ 2 ]. Furthermore, the number of social media users globally in 2019 was 3.484 billion, a 9% increase year on year [ 3 ].

Mental health is represented as a state of well-being in which individuals recognize their potential, successfully navigate daily challenges, perform effectively at work, and make a substantial difference in the lives of others [ 4 ]. There is currently debate over the benefits and drawbacks of social media on mental health [ 5 ]. Social networking is an important part of safeguarding our mental health. Mental health, health behavior, physical health, and mortality risk are all affected by the quantity and quality of social contacts [ 5 ].

Social media use and mental health may be related, and the displaced behavior theory could assist in clarifying why. The displaced behavior hypothesis is a psychology theory that suggests people have limited self-control and, when confronted with a challenging or stressful situation, may engage in behaviors that bring instant gratification but are not in accordance with their long-term objectives [ 6 ]. In addition, when people are unable to deal with stress in a healthy way, they may act out in ways that temporarily make them feel better but ultimately harm their long-term goals and wellness [ 7 , 8 ]. In the 1990s, social psychologist Roy Baumeister initially suggested the displaced behavior theory [ 9 ]. Baumeister suggested that self-control is a limited resource that can be drained over time and that when self-control resources are low, people are more likely to engage in impulsive or self-destructive conduct [ 9 ]. This can lead to a cycle of bad behaviors and outcomes, as individuals may engage in behaviors that bring short respite but eventually add to their stress and difficulties [ 9 ]. According to the hypothetical terms, those who participate in sedentary behaviors, including social media, engage in fewer opportunities for in-person social interaction, both of which have been demonstrated to be protective against mental illnesses [ 10 ]. Social theories, on the other hand, discovered that social media use influences mental health by affecting how people interpret, maintain, and interact with their social network [ 4 ].

Numerous studies on social media's effects have been conducted, and it has been proposed that prolonged use of social media sites like Facebook may be linked to negative manifestations and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress [ 11 ]. A distinct and important time in a person's life is adolescence. Additionally, risk factors such as family issues, bullying, and social isolation are readily available at this period, and it is crucial to preserve social and emotional growth. The growth of digital technology has affected numerous areas of adolescent lives. Nowadays, teenagers' use of social media is one of their most apparent characteristics. Being socially connected with other people is a typical phenomenon, whether at home, school, or a social gathering, and adolescents are constantly in touch with their classmates via social media accounts. Adolescents are drawn to social networking sites because they allow them to publish pictures, images, and videos on their platforms. It also allows teens to establish friends, discuss ideas, discover new interests, and try out new kinds of self-expression. Users of these platforms can freely like and comment on posts as well as share them without any restrictions. Teenagers now frequently post insulting remarks on social media platforms. Adolescents frequently engage in trolling for amusement without recognizing the potentially harmful consequences. Trolling on these platforms focuses on body shaming, individual abilities, language, and lifestyle, among other things. The effects that result from trolling might cause anxiety, depressive symptoms, stress, feelings of isolation, and suicidal thoughts. The authors explain the influence of social media on teenage well-being through a review of existing literature and provide intervention and preventative measures at the individual, family, and community levels [ 12 ].

Although there is a "generally correlated" link between teen social media use and depression, certain outcomes have been inconsistent (such as the association between time spent on social media and mental health issues), and the data quality is frequently poor [ 13 ]. Browsing social media could increase your risk of self-harm, loneliness, and empathy loss, according to a number of research studies. Other studies either concluded that there is no harm or that some people, such as those who are socially isolated or marginalized, may benefit from using social media [ 10 ]. Because of the rapid expansion of the technological landscape in recent years, social media has become increasingly important in the lives of young people. Social networking has created both enormous new challenges and interesting new opportunities. Research is beginning to indicate how specific social media interactions may impair young people's mental health [ 14 ]. Teenagers could communicate with one another on social media platforms, as well as produce, like, and share content. In most cases, these individuals are categorized as active users. On the other hand, teens can also use social media in a passive manner by "lurking" and focusing entirely on the content that is posted by others. The difference between active and passive social media usage is sometimes criticized as a false dichotomy because it does not necessarily reveal whether a certain activity is goal-oriented or indicative of procrastination [ 15 ]. However, the text provides no justification for why this distinction is wrong [ 16 ]. For instance, one definition of procrastination is engaging in conversation with other people to put off working on a task that is more important. The goal of seeing the information created by other people, as opposed to participating with those same individuals, may be to keep up with the lives of friends. One of the most important distinctions that can be made between the various sorts is whether the usage is social. When it comes to understanding and evaluating all these different applications of digital technology, there are a lot of obstacles to overcome. Combining all digital acts into a single predictor of pleasure would, from both a philosophical and an empirical one, invariably results in a reduction in accuracy [ 17 ].

Methodology

This systematic review was carried out and reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement and standard practices in the field. The purpose of this study was to identify studies on the influence of technology, primarily social media, on the psychosocial functioning, health, and well-being of adolescents and young adults.

The MEDLINE bibliographical database, PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), and Scopus were searched between 1 January 2000 and 30 May 2023. Social media AND mental health AND adolescents AND young adults were included in the search strategy (impact or relation or effect or influence).

Two researchers (AK and AR) separately conducted a literature search utilizing the search method and evaluated the inclusion eligibility of the discovered papers based on their titles and abstracts. Then, the full texts of possibly admissible publications were retrieved and evaluated for inclusion. Disagreements among the researchers were resolved by debate and consensus.

The researchers included studies that examined the impact of technology, primarily social media, on the psychosocial functioning, health, and well-being of adolescents and young adults. We only considered English publications, reviews, longitudinal surveys, and cross-sectional studies. We excluded studies that were not written in English, were not comparative, were case reports, did not report the results of interest, or did not list the authors' names. We also found additional articles by looking at the reference lists of the retrieved articles.

Using a uniform form, the two researchers (AK and AA) extracted the data individually and independently. The extracted data include the author, publication year, study design, sample size and age range, outcome measures, and the most important findings or conclusions.

A narrative synthesis of the findings was used to analyze the data, which required summarizing and presenting the results of the included research in a logical and intelligible manner. Each study's key findings or conclusions were summarized in a table.

Study Selection

A thorough search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, was done from 1 January 2000 to 20 May 2023. Initial research revealed 326 potentially relevant studies. After deleting duplicates and screening titles and abstracts, the eligibility of 34 full-text publications was evaluated. A total of 23 papers were removed for a variety of reasons, including non-comparative studies, case reports, and studies that did not report results of interest (Figure ​ (Figure1 1 ).

PRISMA: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.

This systematic review identified 11 studies that examined the connection between social media use and depression symptoms in children and adolescents. The research demonstrated a modest but statistically significant association between social media use and depression symptoms. However, this relationship's causality is unclear, and additional study is required to construct explanatory models and hypotheses for inferential studies [ 18 ].

Additional research studied the effects of technology on the psychosocial functioning, health, and well-being of adolescents and young adults. Higher levels of social media usage were connected with worse mental health outcomes [ 19 ], and higher levels of social media use were associated with an increased risk of internalizing and externalizing difficulties among adolescents, especially females [ 20 ]. The use of social media was also connected with body image problems and disordered eating, especially among young women [ 21 ], and social media may be a risk factor for alcohol consumption and associated consequences among adolescents and young adults [ 22 ].

It was discovered that cyberbullying victimization is connected with poorer mental health outcomes in teenagers, including an increased risk of sadness and anxiety [ 23 ]. The use of social media was also connected with more depressive symptoms and excessive reassurance-seeking, but also with greater popularity and perceived social support [ 24 ], as well as appearance comparisons and body image worries, especially among young women [ 25 ]. Children and adolescents' bedtime media device use was substantially related to inadequate sleep quantity, poor sleep quality, and excessive daytime drowsiness [ 26 ].

Online friends can be a significant source of social support, but in-person social support appears to provide greater protection against persecution [ 27 ]. Digital and social media use offers both benefits and risks to the health of children and adolescents, and an individualized family media use plan can help strike a balance between screen time/online time and other activities, set boundaries for accessing content, promote digital literacy, and support open family communication and consistent media use rules (Tables ​ (Tables2, 2 , ​ ,3) 3 ) [ 28 ].

Does Social Media Have a Positive or Negative Impact on Adolescents and Young Adults?

Adults frequently blame the media for the problems that younger generations face, conceptually bundling different behaviors and patterns of use under a single term when it comes to using media to increase acceptance or a feeling of community [ 29 , 30 ]. The effects of social media on mental health are complex, as different goals are served by different behaviors and different outcomes are produced by distinct patterns of use [ 31 ]. The numerous ways that people use digital technology are often disregarded by policymakers and the general public, as they are seen as "generic activities" that do not have any specific impact [ 32 ]. Given this, it is crucial to acknowledge the complex nature of the effects that digital technology has on adolescents' mental health [ 19 ]. This empirical uncertainty is made worse by the fact that there are not many documented metrics of how technology is used. Self-reports are the most commonly used method for measuring technology use, but they can be prone to inaccuracy. This is because self-reports are based on people's own perceptions of their behavior, and these perceptions can be inaccurate [ 33 ]. At best, there is simply a weak correlation between self-reported smartphone usage patterns and levels that have been objectively verified [ 34 , 35 ].

When all different kinds of technological use are lumped together into a single behavioral category, not only does the measurement of that category contribute to a loss of precision, but the category also contributes to a loss of precision. To obtain precision, we need to investigate the repercussions of a wide variety of applications, ideally guided by the findings of scientific research [ 36 ]. The findings of this research have frequently been difficult to interpret, with many of them suggesting that using social media may have a somewhat negative but significantly damaging impact on one's mental health [ 36 ]. There is a growing corpus of research that is attempting to provide a more in-depth understanding of the elements that influence the development of mental health, social interaction, and emotional growth in adolescents [ 20 ].

It is challenging to provide a succinct explanation of the effects that social media has on young people because it makes use of a range of different digital approaches [ 37 , 38 ]. To utilize and respond to social media in either an adaptive or maladaptive manner, it is crucial to first have a solid understanding of personal qualities that some children may be more likely to exhibit than others [ 39 ]. In addition to this, the specific behaviors or experiences on social media that put teenagers in danger need to be recognized.

When a previous study particularly questioned teenagers in the United States, the authors found that 31% of them believe the consequences are predominantly good, 45% believe they are neither positive nor harmful, and 24% believe they are unfavorable [ 21 ]. Teens who considered social media beneficial reported that they were able to interact with friends, learn new things, and meet individuals who shared similar interests because of it. Social media is said to enhance the possibility of (i) bullying, (ii) ignoring face-to-face contact, and (iii) obtaining incorrect beliefs about the lives of other people, according to those who believe the ramifications are serious [ 21 ]. In addition, there is the possibility of avoiding depression and suicide by recognizing the warning signs and making use of the information [ 40 ]. A common topic that comes up in this area of research is the connection that should be made between traditional risks and those that can be encountered online. The concept that the digital age and its effects are too sophisticated, rapidly shifting, or nuanced for us to fully comprehend or properly shepherd young people through is being questioned, which challenges the traditional narrative that is sent to parents [ 41 ]. The last thing that needs to be looked at is potential mediators of the link between social factors and teenage depression and suicidality (for example, gender, age, and the participation of parents) [ 22 ].

The Dangers That Come With Young Adults Utilizing Social Media

The experiences that adolescents have with their peers have a substantial impact on the onset and maintenance of psychopathology in those teenagers. Peer relationships in the world of social media can be more frequent, intense, and rapid than in real life [ 42 ]. Previous research [ 22 ] has identified a few distinct types of peer interactions that can take place online as potential risk factors for mental health. Being the target of cyberbullying, also known as cyber victimization, has been shown to relate to greater rates of self-inflicted damage, suicidal ideation, and a variety of other internalizing and externalizing issues [ 43 ]. Additionally, young people may be put in danger by the peer pressure that can be found on social networking platforms [ 44 ]. This can take the form of being rejected by peers, engaging in online fights, or being involved in drama or conflict [ 45 ]. Peer influence processes may also be amplified among teenagers who spend time online, where they have access to a wider diversity of their peers as well as content that could be damaging to them [ 46 ]. If young people are exposed to information on social media that depicts risky behavior, their likelihood of engaging in such behavior themselves (such as drinking or using other drugs) may increase [ 22 ]. It may be simple to gain access to online materials that deal with self-harm and suicide, which may result in an increase in the risk of self-harm among adolescents who are already at risk [ 22 ]. A recent study found that 14.8% of young people who were admitted to mental hospitals because they posed a risk to others or themselves had viewed internet sites that encouraged suicide in the two weeks leading up to their admission [ 24 ]. The research was conducted on young people who were referred to mental hospitals because they constituted a risk to others or themselves [ 24 ]. They prefer to publish pictures of themselves on social networking sites, which results in a steady flow of messages and pictures that are often and painstakingly modified to present people in a favorable light [ 24 ]. This influences certain young individuals, leading them to begin making unfavorable comparisons between themselves and others, whether about their achievements, their abilities, or their appearance [ 47 , 48 ].

There is a correlation between higher levels of social networking in comparison and depressed symptoms in adolescents, according to studies [ 25 ]. When determining how the use of technology impacts the mental health of adolescents, it is essential to consider the issue of displacement. This refers to the question of what other important activities are being replaced by time spent on social media [ 49 ]. It is a well-established fact that the circadian rhythms of children and adolescents have a substantial bearing on both their physical and mental development.

However, past studies have shown a consistent connection between using a mobile device before bed and poorer sleep quality results [ 50 ]. These results include shorter sleep lengths, decreased sleep quality, and daytime tiredness [ 50 ]. Notably, 36% of adolescents claim they wake up at least once over the course of the night to check their electronic devices, and 40% of adolescents say they use a mobile device within five minutes of going to bed [ 25 ]. Because of this, the impact of social media on the quality of sleep continues to be a substantial risk factor for subsequent mental health disorders in young people, making it an essential topic for the continuation of research in this area [ 44 ].

Most studies that have been conducted to investigate the link between using social media and experiencing depression symptoms have concentrated on how frequently and problematically people use social media [ 4 ]. Most of the research that was taken into consideration for this study found a positive and reciprocal link between the use of social media and feelings of depression and, on occasion, suicidal ideation [ 51 , 52 ]. Additionally, it is unknown to what extent the vulnerability of teenagers and the characteristics of substance use affect this connection [ 52 ]. It is also unknown whether other aspects of the environment, such as differences in cultural norms or the advice and support provided by parents, have any bearing on this connection [ 25 ]. Even if it is probable that moderate use relates to improved self-regulation, it is not apparent whether this is the result of intermediate users having naturally greater self-regulation [ 25 ].

Gains From Social Media

Even though most of the debate on young people and new media has centered on potential issues, the unique features of the social media ecosystem have made it feasible to support adolescent mental health in more ways than ever before [ 39 ]. Among other benefits, using social media may present opportunities for humor and entertainment, identity formation, and creative expression [ 53 ]. More mobile devices than ever before are in the hands of teenagers, and they are using social media at never-before-seen levels [ 27 ]. This may not come as a surprise given how strongly young people are drawn to digital devices and the affordances they offer, as well as their heightened craving for novelty, social acceptance, and affinity [ 27 ]. Teenagers are interacting with digital technology for longer periods of time, so it is critical to comprehend the effects of this usage and use new technologies to promote teens' mental health and well-being rather than hurt it [ 53 ]. Considering the ongoing public discussion, we should instead emphasize that digital technology is neither good nor bad in and of itself [ 27 ].

One of the most well-known benefits of social media is social connection; 81% of students say it boosts their sense of connectedness to others. Connecting with friends and family is usually cited by teenagers as the main benefit of social media, and prior research typically supports the notion that doing so improves people's well-being. Social media can be used to increase acceptance or a feeling of community by providing adolescents with opportunities to connect with others who share their interests, beliefs, and experiences [ 29 ]. Digital media has the potential to improve adolescent mental health in a variety of ways, including cutting-edge applications in medical screening, treatment, and prevention [ 28 ]. In terms of screening, past research has suggested that perusing social media pages for signs of melancholy or drug abuse may be viable. More advanced machine-learning approaches have been created to identify mental disease signs on social media, such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidality. Self-report measures are used in most studies currently conducted on adolescent media intake. It is impossible to draw firm conclusions on whether media use precedes and predicts negative effects on mental health because research has only been conducted once. Adults frequently blame the media for the problems that younger generations face [ 30 ]. Because they are cyclical, media panics should not just be attributed to the novel and the unknown. Teenagers' time management, worldview, and social interactions have quickly and dramatically changed as a result of technology. Social media offers a previously unheard-of opportunity to spread awareness of mental health difficulties, and social media-based health promotion programs have been tested for a range of cognitive and behavioral health conditions. Thanks to social media's instant accessibility, extensive possibilities, and ability to reach remote areas, young people with mental health issues have exciting therapy options [ 54 ]. Preliminary data indicate that youth-focused mental health mobile applications are acceptable, but further research is needed to assess their usefulness and effectiveness. Youth now face new opportunities and problems as a result of the growing significance of digital media in their life. An expanding corpus of research suggests that teenagers' use of social media may have an impact on their mental health. But more research is needed [ 18 ] considering how swiftly the digital media landscape is changing.

Conclusions

In the digital era, people efficiently employ technology; it does not "happen" to them. Studies show that the average kid will not be harmed by using digital technology, but that does not mean there are no situations where it could. In this study, we discovered a connection between social media use and adolescent depression. Since cross-sectional research represents the majority, longitudinal studies are required. The social and personal life of young people is heavily influenced by social media. Based on incomplete and contradictory knowledge on young people and digital technology, professional organizations provide guidance to parents, educators, and institutions. If new technologies are necessary to promote social interaction or develop digital and relational (digitally mediated) skills for growing economies, policies restricting teen access to them may be ineffective. The research on the impact of social media on mental health is still in its early stages, and more research is needed before we can make definitive recommendations for parents, educators, or institutions. Reaching young people during times of need and when assistance is required is crucial for their health. The availability of various friendships and services may improve the well-being of teenagers.

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Understanding Social Media: Misinformation, Attention, and Digital Advertising

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Modeling User Engagement on Online Social Platforms - A Context-Aware Machine Learning Approach

Peters, Heinrich

This dissertation examines the predictability of user engagement on online social platforms by integrating theoretical perspectives from the literature on media and technology habits with principles of context-aware computing. It presents three studies, each targeting a different facet of technology-mediated communication, from social media use in general to more granular behaviors like active and passive use and instant messaging. The first chapter proposes a novel approach to the study of social media habits through predictive modeling of sequential smartphone user behaviors. Using longitudinal smartphone app log data, it examines the predictability of app engagement as a way to capture a critical yet previously neglected aspect of media and technology habits: their embeddedness in repetitive behavioral sequences. The study employs Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and transformer neural networks to demonstrate that social media use follows predictable patterns over time and that its predictability varies substantially across individuals. T he second chapter shifts focus to the potential of context-aware modeling as a holistic yet parsimonious and privacy-preserving approach to predicting user engagement on online social platforms. Analyzing over 100 million Snapchat sessions from nearly 80,000 users via deep LSTM neural networks, the study demonstrates the predictability of active and passive use based on past behavior and a notable improvement in predictive performance upon integrating momentary context information. Features related to connectivity status, location, temporal context, and weather were found to capture non-redundant variance in user engagement relative to features derived from histories of in-app behaviors. The findings are consistent with the idea of context-contingent, habit-driven patterns of active and passive use, highlighting the utility of contextualized representations of user behavior for predicting user engagement on online social platforms. The third chapter investigates the predictability of attentiveness and responsiveness in instant messaging on a large online social platform. Utilizing metadata from over 19 million messages, the study examines the predictive power of a wide range of predictor groups, including message attributes, user attributes, and momentary context, as well as historical communication patterns within ego networks and dyadic relationships. The findings echo the overarching theme that habitual behaviors and contextual factors shape user engagement. However, in this case, dyad-specific messaging histories account for the overwhelming share of explained variance, underlining the socially interdependent nature of user engagement in instant messaging. Collectively, the three studies presented in this dissertation make a theoretical contribution by establishing media and technology habits as a suitable framework for the study of user engagement and by introducing a novel perspective that emphasizes the repetitive, predictable, and context-dependent nature of media and technology habits. The research makes an important empirical contribution through the use of novel, large-scale, objective behavioral data, enhancing the ecological validity and real-world applicability of its findings. Methodologically, it pioneers the use of context-aware sequential machine learning techniques for the study of media and technology habits. The insights garnered from this research have the potential to inform the design of engaging and ethical online social platforms and mobile technologies, highlighting its practical implications for the billions of users navigating these digital environments on a daily basis.

• Instant messaging
• Computer science
• Social media
• Machine learning
• Neural networks (Computer science)
• Longitudinal method
• Snapchat (Electronic resource)

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Dissertation Topics Focused on Social Media and Young People

Social media has become firmly rooted within the lives of young people and is now one of the core barometers of their sense of self-worth. Here we have five custom topics that examine various differing issues surrounding young people’s interaction with social networking.

1) The interconnected social lives of social-media-savvy teens

Social media has never been so diverse in its offer to young people – there is now a greater variety of platforms open to young people than ever before. What functions do these differing platforms play in the social lives of teens, and do different platforms serve different social functions? Reference: Boyd, D., 2014. It’s complicated: The social lives of networked teens. Yale University Press.

2) Online ‘thinspiration’ and ‘pro-ana’ groups – social media and mental illness

Social networking – especially visual platforms such as Instagram or Snapchat – can significantly influence young people’s sense of body image and body dissatisfaction. Online groups which use ‘thinspiration’ to encourage the use of extreme dieting behaviours have been linked to increased severity of eating disorders. Pro-anorexia groups also encourage those already suffering from an eating disorder to not seek help and to actively become more ill. How and why are these groups accessed and how do members interact with each other in them? Reference: Homewood, J. and Melkonian, M., 2015. ‘What factors account for internalisation of the content of pro-ana websites’. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry, 86(9), pp.e3-e3.

3) 5 more minutes…is social media addictive and what are the effects of this?

Young people turn to, and become strongly invested in any platform that enables them to link with peers and fit in with their sub-group. It is widely accepted that social networking can be an arena in which young people are compulsively checking in on, and interacting with. At what stage does this compulsion become addiction, how does this addiction manifest itself and what are the effects? Reference: Hawi, N.S. and Samaha, M., 2016. ‘The relations among social media addiction, self-esteem, and life satisfaction in university students’. Social Science Computer Review, p.0894439316660340.

4) What does young people’s use of social media tell us about their politics?

Increasingly political parties are becoming more aware of the importance of engaging young adults (18+) with their policies through social networking. In the UK 2017 general election, for example, the mobilisation of the youth vote via social media channels was attributed to the surprise result. How, then, do young people engage in politics through the channels of social media and what effect does this engagement have on voting behaviours? Reference: Loader, B.D., Vromen, A. and Xenos, M.A., 2014. The networked young citizen: social media, political participation and civic engagement. Routledge.

5) Building resilience in young people – the surprising protective role of social media

Despite the plethora of negative attention paid to the dangers of young people’s use of social media, there is a view that moderate use of social networking can help build resilience and wellbeing in young people. However – what does ‘moderate use’ constitute, and how is this achieved? Moreover, are their certain populations of young people – those with mental health problems, LGBT individuals, for example – who are more likely to benefit from moderate social networking use? Reference: Chong, E.S., Zhang, Y., Mak, W.W. and Pang, I.H., 2015. ‘Social Media as Social Capital of LGB Individuals in Hong Kong: Its Relations with Group Membership, Stigma, and Mental Well‐Being’. American journal of community psychology, 55(1-2), pp.228-238.

6) Connective journalism: how social media can cause problems.

Connective journalism is concerned with how problems arise through social networking where young people learn of different opinions to their own immediate experiences. The news arises increasingly from interactions on social media and networking rather than being produced and edited by a team of professionals. Can this process cause problems? Reference: Clark, L. S., and Marchi, R., 2017. Young People and the Future of News: Social Media and the Rise of Connective Journalism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

7) Is the student/teacher relationship changing due to social media?

The question as to whether it is appropriate for teachers to communicate through social media with their students and if so, what are the boundaries are questions that arise during this investigation of social media. Who and how are these interactions monitored by and are there any feedback systems for either the teachers or the students? Reference: Miller, D., Costa, E., Haynes, N., McDonald, T., Nicolescu, R., Sinanan, J., Spyer, J., Venkatraman, S., and Wang, X., 2016. How the World Changed Social Media. London: UCL Press.

8) How citizenship education can positively embrace social media.

This topic involves an exploration of national identity and roots, through social networking, with regards to citizenship education and young people. Such areas as individuals in poorer countries possibly being disadvantaged by the lack of access to social media technology could be considered, along with an examination of citizenship education itself. Reference: Elinor L., Brown,Anna Krasteva, and Maria Ranieri, (eds). 2016. ELearning and Social Media: Education and Citizenship for the Digital 21st Century. Charlotte, N.C: Information Age Publishing.

9) Collaborative learning through social media connections.

This topic investigates the ways in which social media could be examined so as to understand the growth of collaborative learning and cultures within a community. It acknowledges the constant information seeking from learners together with the possibility of sharing information and that they should be considered more as possible co-producers of content rather than simply consumers. Reference: Sharratt, L., and Planche, B., 2016. Leading Collaborative Learning: Empowering Excellence. Corwin: Thousand Oaks, California.

10) Youth education and social media’s conveyance of true stories.

The effects of social media as an educational tool to convey real life stories and events to young people needs to be carefully examined, in that there are both advantages and disadvantages in the actions of social media. What is truth? What is a true story? Who decides it is true and is it helpful? Are all questions that could arise from studying this topic. Reference: Pickard, V., and Yang, G., (eds)., 2017. Media Activism in the Digital Age. London: Routledge.

11) Young people and social media-Are young people shunning the mainstream media?

The rise of social media has completely transformed the way that people get their news. Social networking creates a more fluid concept of information and a horizontal distribution of knowledge about the world. Are young people are shunning the mainstream media, preferring instead to get the news about the world from social networking? How is this phenomenon impacting on the lives of young people? Reference: Humphreys, A. (2016) Social Media-Enduring Principles, Oxford University Press, Oxford

12) Does the spread of “fake news” affect usage of social media by young people?

In recent times, social networking has been blamed for the spread of “fake news.” Social networking enables people to say what they want. This means that there is a lot of information that circulates on the social networking that cannot possibly be verified. Has the use of social networking by young people been affected by the spread of “fake news”? Is this a phenomenon that worries young people? Reference: Brake, D. (2016) Sharing our Lives Online: Risks and Exposure in Social Media, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke and New York

13) Has social media become a learning tool for young people in the Western world?

Social scientists argue that social networking has the potential to become a valuable learning tool. What is the rate of adoption of this methodology amongst young people? Have young people have adopted social networking as a learning tool? Has adoption of social networking become a learning tool that enhances the learning experience for young people? Reference: Wu, T. (2011) The Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information Empires, Vintage, London

14) Is social media responsible for the rise in mental illness amongst young people?

In recent times, there has been a significant increase in mental illness amongst young people, particularly in North America and Western Europe. Is there an established a link between the rise in mental illness amongst young people and the increased use of social networking? In which way is the increased use of social networking impacting on the mental health of young people? Reference: O’Reilly, T. (2017) WTF?: What’s the Future and Why It’s Up to Us, Harper Business, London

15) Has social media been a factor for a renewed interest in politics amongst young people?

The recent elections that took place in the United States and Western Europe show the importance of social networking as an instrument for political debate. However, is social networking a medium for polarisation in the political realm? How is this phenomenon affecting young people? Has social networking become an instrument for the renewed interest in politics amongst young people, as seen in the wave of support for progressive movements across Western Europe and North America? Reference: Greenfield, A. (2017) Radical Technologies: The Design of Everyday Life, Verso, London

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Moshe Karabelnik Defends His Dissertation “THE VISUAL SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVISM PRACTICE OF OPPONENTS TO COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES”

Congratulations to Moshe Karabelnik for passing his dissertation defense on Monday, April 15th, 2024!

Title of Dissertation:

THE VISUAL SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVISM PRACTICE OF OPPONENTS TO COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES

In recent years, digital images from smartphones and other networked cameras shared on social media have largely replaced video recording devices which social activists commonly used to document protest practices. Networked cameras’ ubiquity has fundamentally changed the practices of political protest, activism, and social movements. This research brings to light how visual social media activism overlaps with practices of protest and social movements such as solidarity, cop-watching, mobilization, and information sharing. In this dissertation, I explore visual social media activism as practice, using various social media accounts of opponents to the COVID-19 vaccine mandates. I then connect these online practices to offline protest practices related to visual social media performed by activists in Hawai‘i and Israel.

Following the practice approach to cultural studies, and the practice approach to media studies, I reveal and unpack the ways in which practices of protest are connected to the practice of Visual Social Media Activism (VSMA) used by vaccination mandate opponents. My research poses the question: What do COVID-19 vaccine mandate opponents  do  in relation to visual social media, and how do these practices contribute to the production of symbolic power and the battle for control over public discourse against state and media institutions?

For this purpose, I use a practice-oriented methodology in two ways: first, by using Visual Cross-Platform Analysis (Pearce et al.,2018) to analyze visual social media shared by vaccination mandate opponents across different social media platforms. I complicate this analysis by observing visual social media activism online and offline, followed by interviews with the creators and audiences of anti-vaccination visual social media. By combining these methods, I will show how visual social media activism functions in the everyday making of the social discourse around COVID-19 and civil liberties.

Committee Members:

Dr. Jenifer Winter  – Chairperson Dr. Colin Moore Dr. Elizabeth Davidson Dr. Wayne Buente Dr. Seungoh Paek – University representative.

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Honor-filled decade at uci.

Veronica Valencia Gonzalez recently won the Outstanding Social Justice Activist Award from UCI’s Womxn Center of Success and the Graduate Student Excellence Award from the campus Latinx Resource Center.

Ph.D. candidate preps for dissertation defense and South Carolina move

Veronica Valencia Gonzalez, who uses the pronouns they/them/their, is on track to finish writing their social ecology doctorate dissertation soon so they may defend the required essay at the end of the quarter and then participate in June’s commencement, which would cap a storied, decade-long academic career at UC Irvine that began as a transfer student.

“Finishing my dissertation is bittersweet,” Gonzalez says. “I am happy to share my dissertation findings with folks, but this will mark the end of my time at UCI. I’ve been at UCI since 2014 when I transferred from Allan Hancock Community College. UCI has been my home for so long, it’s where I found my passion for research and advocacy.”

This is where “Vero” received Bachelor of Arts degrees in criminology, law & society and psychology & social behavior—the latter having since been renamed psychological science. It’s where community-based research in partnership with the Orange County Family Justice Foundation led to intimate partner violence (IPV) becoming their research focus. Gonzalez explores the help-seeking behavior of Latine undocumented survivors of IPV in the current tumultuous anti-immigrant political climate.

This important work has led to a slew of awards, fellowships and other distinctions. Thanks to a grant from the UCI Center for Global Peace and Conflict Studies, Gonzalez is scheduled to present a portion of their dissertation at the annual CGPCS Graduate Student Conference on April 30. They were also recently awarded the Outstanding Social Justice Activist Award from UCI’s Womxn Center of Success and the Graduate Student Excellence Award from the campus Latinx Resource Center.

During this academic year, Gonzalez received a National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Law and Science Dissertation Grant from Arizona State University New College, a Justice Fellowship from theNorthwestern Prison Education Program and a Graduate Student Fellowship from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education.

Oh, they were also elected student representative to the Latin American Studies Association’s Executive Council.

As previously reported in this space, Gonzalez’s paper “The Role of California’s Sanctuary Policies in the Formal Help-seeking of Latina Immigrant Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence” received awards from the American Society of Criminology, the Western Society of Criminology, the Latin American Studies Association and Mexico’s Secretariat of External Relations.

They are a 2023-24 UC President’s Pre-Professoriate Fellow and were a 2022-23 UCI Public Impact Fellow and 2019 NSF Graduate Research Fellow.

“UCI’s Social Ecology program and its people nurtured my academic interests allowing me to explore these passions which ultimately led to the recognitions I have received,” says Gonzalez, who in the fall is set to become an assistant professor in the University of South Carolina’s criminology department through the campus Bridge to Faculty program.

“I’m leaving to the University of South Carolina with some sadness, but the knowledge that I have the training and skills from UCI which will allow me to thrive in my new home,” says Gonzalez, who at least is not going alone.

“Of course, Luna will be by my side as we embark on this new journey together,” Gonzalez says of the black pooch who has been by their side at UCI, “and I even ordered Luna her own regalia since she’s been part of the dissertation process.”

— Matt Coker

Winner's circle

Gonzalez wins Graduate Student Paper Award

Doctoral Students Land NSF Fellowships

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Mariana mazer, phd candidate in spanish, 1 of 15 clas graduate students awarded prestigious fellowships to support their research and creative work, marcus bach fellowship .

The Marcus Bach Fellowship , named for the 1942 University of Iowa graduate of the same name, is awarded to graduate students in the humanities to support the completion of an MFA project or doctoral dissertation. The fellowship’s goal is to foster intercultural communication and the understanding of diverse philosophies and religious perspectives.  

Each fellow receives a semester of support including a $10,700 salary, a tuition scholarship for 2 semester hours credit, and more. 

The five recipients for the 2024-25 school year are: 

• Caelainn Barr , Department of English (Nonfiction Writing Program), "Written in the Land"  Barr’s project is a memoir grounded in archival research and interviews that explores the intersection of religion, spirituality in nature and family history. The work is set against the backdrop of conflict in in Northern Ireland. 
• Nathan Chaplin , Department of History, "Surveying the Tropics, Constructing the Heartland: Identify Formation in Nicaragua and the Midwest"  Chaplin’s project investigates the alliances formed between Nicaraguan and Midwestern elites as they attempted to manage public health crises, state policy, and capital investment during the 19th and 20th centuries. 
• Spencer Jones , Department of English (Nonfiction Writing Program), “All Skillful in the Wars”  Jones’s thesis explores political and theological tensions in the lives of radical-revolutionary schoolteachers Harriet Wheeldon and Simone Weil. 
• Xiaoyan Kang , Department of Theatre Arts, “The Words of Ants"  Kang’s thesis takes the form of a play drawing inspiration from the 1983 script Nüshu, or the script of women. Through it, the playwright intends to explore how individual experiences are interpreted to serve a particular narrative. 
• Mariana Mazer , Department of Spanish and Portuguese, “The book as an object and container of multiple stories"  Mazer’s dissertation explores the relationship between the book as a physical object and the narratives it contains, ultimately printing and binding eight copies of the finished thesis. 

NOTICE: The University of Iowa Center for Advancement is an operational name for the State University of Iowa Foundation, an independent, Iowa nonprofit corporation organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, publicly supported charitable entity working to advance the University of Iowa. Please review its full disclosure statement.