positive and negative effects of social media on students essay

The Pros and Cons of Social Media for Youth

A new review article looks at how social media affects well-being in youth...

Posted October 16, 2021 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma

• Social media has both positive and negative effects on well-being in youth.
• Social media impacts four distinct areas for youth: connections, identity, learning, and emotions.

More than 90 percent of teenagers in the U.S. have a smartphone. Access to this type of technology and social networking changes the playing field for young people who are simultaneously developing a sense of identity and new social relationships.

We have certainly heard about the downside of teens and smartphones: cyberbullying, anxiety , and a misrepresented sense of body image . Research demonstrates there are some benefits too, including the ability to keep in touch with friends and loved ones – especially when the COVID-19 pandemic limited in-person social interactions.

A new systematic review published in the journal Adolescent Research Review combines the evidence from qualitative studies that investigate adolescent social media use.

The authors found, in short, that the links between adolescent well-being and social media are complicated and depend on a broad range of factors.

“Adults have always been concerned about how the latest technology will harm children,” said Amanda Purington, director of evaluation and research for ACT for Youth in the BCTR and a doctoral candidate in Cornell’s Social Media Lab. “This goes back to radio programs, comic books, novels – you name it, adults were worried about it. The same is now true for social media. And yes, there are concerns – there are many potential risks and harms. But there are potential benefits, too.”

Reviewing 19 studies of young people ages 11 to 20, the authors identified four major themes related to social media and well-being that ultimately affected aspects of young people’s mental health and sense of self.

The first theme, connections, describes how social media either supports or hinders young people’s relationships with their peers, friends, and family. The studies in the review provided plenty of examples of ways that social media helped youth build connections with others. Participants reported that social media helped to create intimacy with friends and could improve popularity. Youth who said they were shy reported having an easier time making friends through social media. Studies also found social media was useful in keeping in touch with family and friends who live far away and allowing groups to communicate in masse. In seven papers, participants identified social media as a source of support and reassurance.

In 13 of the papers, youth reported that social media also harmed their connections with others. They provided examples of bullying and threats and an atmosphere of criticism and negativity during social media interactions. Youth cited the anonymity of social media as part of the problem, as well as miscommunication that can occur online.

Study participants also reported a feeling of disconnection associated with relationships on social media. Some youth felt rejected or left out when their social media posts did not receive the feedback they expected. Others reported feeling frustrated, lonely , or paranoid about being left out.

The second theme, identity, describes how adolescents are supported or frustrated on social media in trying to develop their identities.

Youth in many of the studies described how social media helped them to “come out of their shells” and express their true identities. They reported liking the ability to write and edit their thoughts and use images to express themselves. They reported that feedback they received on social media helped to bolster their self-confidence and they reported enjoying the ability to look back on memories to keep track of how their identity changed over time.

In eight studies, youth described ways that social media led to inauthentic representations of themselves. They felt suspicious that others would use photo editing to disguise their identities and complained about how easy it was to deliver communications slyly, rather than with the honesty required in face-to-face communication. They also felt self-conscious about posting selfies, and reported that the feedback they received would affect their feelings of self-worth .

The third theme, learning, describes how social media use supports or hinders education . In many studies, participants reported how social media helped to broaden their perspectives and expose them to new ideas and topics. Many youths specifically cited exposure to political and social movements, such as Black Lives Matter.

On the flip side, youth in five studies reported that social media interfered with their education. They said that phone notifications and the pressure to constantly check in on social media distracted them from their studies. Participants reported that they found it difficult to spend quiet time alone without checking their phones. Others said the 24-7 nature of social media kept them up too late at night, making it difficult to get up for school the next day.

The fourth theme, emotions, describes the ways that social media impacts young people’s emotional experiences in both positive and negative ways. In 11 papers, participants reported that social media had a positive effect on their emotions. Some reported it improved their mood, helped them to feel excited, and often prompted laughter . (Think funny animal videos.) Others reported that social media helped to alleviate negative moods, including annoyance, anger , and boredom . They described logging onto social media as a form of stress management .

But in nearly all of the papers included in the review, participants said social media was a source of worry and pressure. Participants expressed concern about judgment from their peers. They often felt embarrassed about how they looked in images. Many participants expressed worry that they were addicted to social media. Others fretted about leaving a digital footprint that would affect them later in life. Many participants reported experiencing pressure to constantly respond and stay connected on social media. And a smaller number of participants reported feeling disturbed by encountering troubling content, such as self-harm and seeing former partners in new relationships.

“As this review article highlights, social media provides spaces for adolescents to work on some of the central developmental tasks of their age, such as forming deeper connections with peers and exploring identity,” Purington said. “I believe the key is to help youth maximize these benefits while minimizing risks, and we can do this by educating youth about how to use social media in ways that are positive, safe, and prosocial.”

The take-home message: The body of evidence on social media and well-being paints a complicated picture of how this new technology is affecting youth. While there are certainly benefits when young people use social media, there is also a broad range of pressures and negative consequences.

The Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research at Cornell University is focused on using research findings to improve health and well-being of people at all stages of life.

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Feb 15, 2023

6 Example Essays on Social Media | Advantages, Effects, and Outlines

Got an essay assignment about the effects of social media we got you covered check out our examples and outlines below.

Social media has become one of our society's most prominent ways of communication and information sharing in a very short time. It has changed how we communicate and has given us a platform to express our views and opinions and connect with others. It keeps us informed about the world around us. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn have brought individuals from all over the world together, breaking down geographical borders and fostering a genuinely global community.

However, social media comes with its difficulties. With the rise of misinformation, cyberbullying, and privacy problems, it's critical to utilize these platforms properly and be aware of the risks. Students in the academic world are frequently assigned essays about the impact of social media on numerous elements of our lives, such as relationships, politics, and culture. These essays necessitate a thorough comprehension of the subject matter, critical thinking, and the ability to synthesize and convey information clearly and succinctly.

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So, whether you're a student looking to better your essay writing skills or want to remain up to date on the latest social media advancements, Jenni.ai is here to help. Jenni.ai is the ideal tool for helping you write your finest essay ever, thanks to its simple design, an extensive database of example essays, and cutting-edge AI technology. So, why delay? Sign up for a free trial of Jenni.ai today and begin exploring the worlds of social networking and essay writing!

Want to learn how to write an argumentative essay? Check out these inspiring examples!

We will provide various examples of social media essays so you may get a feel for the genre.

6 Examples of Social Media Essays

Here are 6 examples of Social Media Essays:

The Impact of Social Media on Relationships and Communication

Introduction:.

The way we share information and build relationships has evolved as a direct result of the prevalence of social media in our daily lives. The influence of social media on interpersonal connections and conversation is a hot topic. Although social media has many positive effects, such as bringing people together regardless of physical proximity and making communication quicker and more accessible, it also has a dark side that can affect interpersonal connections and dialogue.

Positive Effects:

Connecting People Across Distances

One of social media's most significant benefits is its ability to connect individuals across long distances. People can use social media platforms to interact and stay in touch with friends and family far away. People can now maintain intimate relationships with those they care about, even when physically separated.

Improved Communication Speed and Efficiency

Additionally, the proliferation of social media sites has accelerated and simplified communication. Thanks to instant messaging, users can have short, timely conversations rather than lengthy ones via email. Furthermore, social media facilitates group communication, such as with classmates or employees, by providing a unified forum for such activities.

Negative Effects:

Decreased Face-to-Face Communication

The decline in in-person interaction is one of social media's most pernicious consequences on interpersonal connections and dialogue. People's reliance on digital communication over in-person contact has increased along with the popularity of social media. Face-to-face interaction has suffered as a result, which has adverse effects on interpersonal relationships and the development of social skills.

Decreased Emotional Intimacy

Another adverse effect of social media on relationships and communication is decreased emotional intimacy. Digital communication lacks the nonverbal cues and facial expressions critical in building emotional connections with others. This can make it more difficult for people to develop close and meaningful relationships, leading to increased loneliness and isolation.

Increased Conflict and Miscommunication

Finally, social media can also lead to increased conflict and miscommunication. The anonymity and distance provided by digital communication can lead to misunderstandings and hurtful comments that might not have been made face-to-face. Additionally, social media can provide a platform for cyberbullying , which can have severe consequences for the victim's mental health and well-being.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the impact of social media on relationships and communication is a complex issue with both positive and negative effects. While social media platforms offer many benefits, such as connecting people across distances and enabling faster and more accessible communication, they also have a dark side that can negatively affect relationships and communication. It is up to individuals to use social media responsibly and to prioritize in-person communication in their relationships and interactions with others.

The Role of Social Media in the Spread of Misinformation and Fake News

Social media has revolutionized the way information is shared and disseminated. However, the ease and speed at which data can be spread on social media also make it a powerful tool for spreading misinformation and fake news. Misinformation and fake news can seriously affect public opinion, influence political decisions, and even cause harm to individuals and communities.

The Pervasiveness of Misinformation and Fake News on Social Media

Misinformation and fake news are prevalent on social media platforms, where they can spread quickly and reach a large audience. This is partly due to the way social media algorithms work, which prioritizes content likely to generate engagement, such as sensational or controversial stories. As a result, false information can spread rapidly and be widely shared before it is fact-checked or debunked.

The Influence of Social Media on Public Opinion

Social media can significantly impact public opinion, as people are likelier to believe the information they see shared by their friends and followers. This can lead to a self-reinforcing cycle, where misinformation and fake news are spread and reinforced, even in the face of evidence to the contrary.

The Challenge of Correcting Misinformation and Fake News

Correcting misinformation and fake news on social media can be a challenging task. This is partly due to the speed at which false information can spread and the difficulty of reaching the same audience exposed to the wrong information in the first place. Additionally, some individuals may be resistant to accepting correction, primarily if the incorrect information supports their beliefs or biases.

In conclusion, the function of social media in disseminating misinformation and fake news is complex and urgent. While social media has revolutionized the sharing of information, it has also made it simpler for false information to propagate and be widely believed. Individuals must be accountable for the information they share and consume, and social media firms must take measures to prevent the spread of disinformation and fake news on their platforms.

The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health and Well-Being

Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of people around the world using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay connected with others and access information. However, while social media has many benefits, it can also negatively affect mental health and well-being.

Comparison and Low Self-Esteem

One of the key ways that social media can affect mental health is by promoting feelings of comparison and low self-esteem. People often present a curated version of their lives on social media, highlighting their successes and hiding their struggles. This can lead others to compare themselves unfavorably, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

Cyberbullying and Online Harassment

Another way that social media can negatively impact mental health is through cyberbullying and online harassment. Social media provides a platform for anonymous individuals to harass and abuse others, leading to feelings of anxiety, fear, and depression.

Social Isolation

Despite its name, social media can also contribute to feelings of isolation. At the same time, people may have many online friends but need more meaningful in-person connections and support. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression.

Addiction and Overuse

Finally, social media can be addictive, leading to overuse and negatively impacting mental health and well-being. People may spend hours each day scrolling through their feeds, neglecting other important areas of their lives, such as work, family, and self-care.

In sum, social media has positive and negative consequences on one's psychological and emotional well-being. Realizing this, and taking measures like reducing one's social media use, reaching out to loved ones for help, and prioritizing one's well-being, are crucial. In addition, it's vital that social media giants take ownership of their platforms and actively encourage excellent mental health and well-being.

The Use of Social Media in Political Activism and Social Movements

Social media has recently become increasingly crucial in political action and social movements. Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have given people new ways to express themselves, organize protests, and raise awareness about social and political issues.

Raising Awareness and Mobilizing Action

One of the most important uses of social media in political activity and social movements has been to raise awareness about important issues and mobilize action. Hashtags such as #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter, for example, have brought attention to sexual harassment and racial injustice, respectively. Similarly, social media has been used to organize protests and other political actions, allowing people to band together and express themselves on a bigger scale.

Connecting with like-minded individuals

A second method in that social media has been utilized in political activity and social movements is to unite like-minded individuals. Through social media, individuals can join online groups, share knowledge and resources, and work with others to accomplish shared objectives. This has been especially significant for geographically scattered individuals or those without access to traditional means of political organizing.

Challenges and Limitations

As a vehicle for political action and social movements, social media has faced many obstacles and restrictions despite its many advantages. For instance, the propagation of misinformation and fake news on social media can impede attempts to disseminate accurate and reliable information. In addition, social media corporations have been condemned for censorship and insufficient protection of user rights.

In conclusion, social media has emerged as a potent instrument for political activism and social movements, giving voice to previously unheard communities and galvanizing support for change. Social media presents many opportunities for communication and collaboration. Still, users and institutions must be conscious of the risks and limitations of these tools to promote their responsible and productive usage.

The Potential Privacy Concerns Raised by Social Media Use and Data Collection Practices

With billions of users each day on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, social media has ingrained itself into every aspect of our lives. While these platforms offer a straightforward method to communicate with others and exchange information, they also raise significant concerns over data collecting and privacy. This article will examine the possible privacy issues posed by social media use and data-gathering techniques.

Data Collection and Sharing

The gathering and sharing of personal data are significant privacy issues brought up by social media use. Social networking sites gather user data, including details about their relationships, hobbies, and routines. This information is made available to third-party businesses for various uses, such as marketing and advertising. This can lead to serious concerns about who has access to and uses our personal information.

Lack of Control Over Personal Information

The absence of user control over personal information is a significant privacy issue brought up by social media usage. Social media makes it challenging to limit who has access to and how data is utilized once it has been posted. Sensitive information may end up being extensively disseminated and may be used maliciously as a result.

Personalized Marketing

Social media companies utilize the information they gather about users to target them with adverts relevant to their interests and usage patterns. Although this could be useful, it might also cause consumers to worry about their privacy since they might feel that their personal information is being used without their permission. Furthermore, there are issues with the integrity of the data being used to target users and the possibility of prejudice based on individual traits.

Government Surveillance

Using social media might spark worries about government surveillance. There are significant concerns regarding privacy and free expression when governments in some nations utilize social media platforms to follow and monitor residents.

In conclusion, social media use raises significant concerns regarding data collecting and privacy. While these platforms make it easy to interact with people and exchange information, they also gather a lot of personal information, which raises questions about who may access it and how it will be used. Users should be aware of these privacy issues and take precautions to safeguard their personal information, such as exercising caution when choosing what details to disclose on social media and keeping their information sharing with other firms to a minimum.

The Ethical and Privacy Concerns Surrounding Social Media Use And Data Collection

Our use of social media to communicate with loved ones, acquire information, and even conduct business has become a crucial part of our everyday lives. The extensive use of social media does, however, raise some ethical and privacy issues that must be resolved. The influence of social media use and data collecting on user rights, the accountability of social media businesses, and the need for improved regulation are all topics that will be covered in this article.

Effect on Individual Privacy:

Social networking sites gather tons of personal data from their users, including delicate information like search history, location data, and even health data. Each user's detailed profile may be created with this data and sold to advertising or used for other reasons. Concerns regarding the privacy of personal information might arise because social media businesses can use this data to target users with customized adverts.

Additionally, individuals might need to know how much their personal information is being gathered and exploited. Data breaches or the unauthorized sharing of personal information with other parties may result in instances where sensitive information is exposed. Users should be aware of the privacy rules of social media firms and take precautions to secure their data.

Responsibility of Social Media Companies:

Social media firms should ensure that they responsibly and ethically gather and use user information. This entails establishing strong security measures to safeguard sensitive information and ensuring users are informed of what information is being collected and how it is used.

Many social media businesses, nevertheless, have come under fire for not upholding these obligations. For instance, the Cambridge Analytica incident highlighted how Facebook users' personal information was exploited for political objectives without their knowledge. This demonstrates the necessity of social media corporations being held responsible for their deeds and ensuring that they are safeguarding the security and privacy of their users.

Better Regulation Is Needed

There is a need for tighter regulation in this field, given the effect, social media has on individual privacy as well as the obligations of social media firms. The creation of laws and regulations that ensure social media companies are gathering and using user information ethically and responsibly, as well as making sure users are aware of their rights and have the ability to control the information that is being collected about them, are all part of this.

Additionally, legislation should ensure that social media businesses are held responsible for their behavior, for example, by levying fines for data breaches or the unauthorized use of personal data. This will provide social media businesses with a significant incentive to prioritize their users' privacy and security and ensure they are upholding their obligations.

In conclusion, social media has fundamentally changed how we engage and communicate with one another, but this increased convenience also raises several ethical and privacy issues. Essential concerns that need to be addressed include the effect of social media on individual privacy, the accountability of social media businesses, and the requirement for greater regulation to safeguard user rights. We can make everyone's online experience safer and more secure by looking more closely at these issues.

In conclusion, social media is a complex and multifaceted topic that has recently captured the world's attention. With its ever-growing influence on our lives, it's no surprise that it has become a popular subject for students to explore in their writing. Whether you are writing an argumentative essay on the impact of social media on privacy, a persuasive essay on the role of social media in politics, or a descriptive essay on the changes social media has brought to the way we communicate, there are countless angles to approach this subject.

However, writing a comprehensive and well-researched essay on social media can be daunting. It requires a thorough understanding of the topic and the ability to articulate your ideas clearly and concisely. This is where Jenni.ai comes in. Our AI-powered tool is designed to help students like you save time and energy and focus on what truly matters - your education. With Jenni.ai , you'll have access to a wealth of examples and receive personalized writing suggestions and feedback.

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The Impact of Social Media on Student Life

Article 03 Feb 2024 4013 0

In today's digital age, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, significantly influencing various aspects of student life. This comprehensive analysis aims to delve into how social media platforms shape the experiences of students, affecting their academic performance, mental health, social interactions, and participation in extracurricular activities. Drawing on the latest research, expert opinions, and case studies, this article provides insights into the dual-edged impact of social media on students, offering guidance for educators, parents, mental health professionals, and students themselves to navigate this complex landscape.

Understanding the Influence of Social Media

Social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, offer vast opportunities for learning, connection, and entertainment. However, they also present challenges and risks that can significantly impact students' lives. The key to managing social media's influence lies in understanding its multifaceted effects.

Social media platforms not only serve as conduits for information and communication but also as arenas where cultural norms and values are contested and disseminated. For students, these platforms can significantly influence their understanding of global issues, political movements, and social justice, encouraging active participation and civic engagement. However, they can also be battlegrounds for misinformation, polarizing debates, and the spread of unverified information, challenging students' critical thinking and discernment skills.

The omnipresence of social media in students' lives means that their social identities and self-perceptions are increasingly tied to their online personas. This intertwining of online and offline selves necessitates a nuanced understanding of how virtual interactions affect self-esteem, body image, and personal development. The pressure to curate a desirable online image can lead to a constant pursuit of validation through likes and comments, potentially skewing self-perception and exacerbating feelings of inadequacy.

Moreover, social media's influence transcends individual experiences, affecting the dynamics of group interactions and community engagement. It has the power to unite students with common interests, facilitating collaboration and support networks, yet it can also foster exclusion and divisiveness. Navigating these complexities requires a critical, informed approach to social media use, emphasizing the development of digital literacy skills that empower students to engage with social media mindfully and constructively.

Academic Performance and Learning

Social media's impact on academic performance is a topic of ongoing research and debate. While these platforms can facilitate learning through educational content, group discussions, and networking opportunities, excessive use may lead to distraction, reduced study time, and poor academic outcomes. Surveys indicate a correlation between high social media usage and lower grades among students, suggesting a need for balance.

Case Studies and Expert Opinions : Several case studies highlight both positive and negative outcomes. For instance, educators have successfully integrated social media into their teaching methodologies to enhance engagement and learning. Conversely, other studies demonstrate how social media distractions have led to decreased concentration and academic performance. Experts suggest setting boundaries and using social media as a tool for academic enrichment rather than a source of distraction.

Mental Health Considerations

The psychological effects of social media on students are profound. While these platforms can foster a sense of belonging and provide support networks, they can also contribute to anxiety, depression, and feelings of inadequacy, stemming from comparison, cyberbullying, and the pressure to maintain a certain online image.

Psychological Research : Research indicates that excessive social media use can exacerbate mental health issues, including stress and social anxiety. Students, parents, and educators must recognize signs of social media-induced stress and implement strategies to mitigate these effects.

Social Interactions and Peer Relationships

Social media significantly influences how students interact with peers. It offers platforms for connecting with friends, sharing experiences, and meeting new people with similar interests. However, it can also lead to isolation, cyberbullying, and distorted perceptions of social norms and relationships.

Guidelines for Healthy Social Media Habits : Encouraging positive online behavior, promoting digital literacy, and fostering environments where students can share their experiences and concerns about social media are vital steps in nurturing healthy social interactions.

Extracurricular Activities and Personal Development

Social media can be a double-edged sword in the context of extracurricular activities. On one hand, it provides opportunities for students to explore interests, showcase talents, and engage in community initiatives. On the other hand, it can detract from real-world engagements and contribute to a sedentary lifestyle.

Balancing Online and Offline Lives : Experts recommend balancing online interactions with offline activities, encouraging students to participate in sports, arts, and social events that contribute to their personal and social development.

Strategies for Managing Social Media's Impact

• Set Clear Boundaries : Establishing specific times for social media use can help minimize distractions and prioritize academic and personal commitments.
• Promote Digital Literacy : Educating students about the responsible use of social media, including privacy settings, online etiquette, and the importance of critical thinking online, is crucial.
• Encourage Open Dialogue : Open discussions between students, parents, and educators about the benefits and challenges of social media can foster understanding and support.
• Implement Support Systems : Schools and families should provide resources for students struggling with social media-related issues, including counseling and mental health support.

List of Impact of Social Media on Student Life:

Here is a list of 20 impacts of Social Media on Students Life :

• Enhanced learning opportunities through access to educational content and online resources.
• Increased distractions and reduced concentration, impacting study habits and academic performance.
• Exposure to cyberbullying and online harassment, leading to psychological distress.
• Development of a global perspective by connecting with diverse cultures and ideas.
• Risk of social media addiction, leading to excessive screen time and negative impacts on physical health.
• Opportunities for peer support and networking, fostering relationships beyond geographical boundaries.
• Feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem due to comparison with idealized online personas.
• Facilitation of group study and collaborative projects via social networking sites.
• Interruption of sleep patterns due to late-night screen time, affecting overall well-being.
• Access to misinformation and fake news, challenging critical thinking and discernment abilities.
• Encouragement of civic engagement and political activism among the youth.
• Privacy concerns and the risk of personal information being misused or exposed.
• Improved communication skills through diverse modes of online interaction.
• Isolation from real-life social interactions, leading to loneliness and social anxiety.
• Enhancement of creative expression through sharing art, music, and writing.
• Pressure to maintain a certain online image, leading to stress and anxiety.
• Exposure to inappropriate content, posing risks to young users' development and safety.
• Decreased participation in physical activities, contributing to a sedentary lifestyle.
• Development of digital literacy skills, critical for navigating today's technology-driven world.
• Opportunities for professional development and career exploration through LinkedIn and other platforms.

Social media's impact on student life is complex and multifaceted, influencing academic performance, mental health, social interactions, and extracurricular engagement. By understanding these impacts and implementing strategies to manage social media use, students can harness the benefits of these platforms while mitigating their risks. The educational community needs to work together to guide students in navigating the digital world, ensuring that social media serves as a tool for positive growth and development.

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• Published: 06 July 2023

Pros & cons: impacts of social media on mental health

• Ágnes Zsila 1 , 2 &
• Marc Eric S. Reyes   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5280-1315 3  

BMC Psychology volume  11 , Article number:  201 ( 2023 ) Cite this article

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The use of social media significantly impacts mental health. It can enhance connection, increase self-esteem, and improve a sense of belonging. But it can also lead to tremendous stress, pressure to compare oneself to others, and increased sadness and isolation. Mindful use is essential to social media consumption.

Social media has become integral to our daily routines: we interact with family members and friends, accept invitations to public events, and join online communities to meet people who share similar preferences using these platforms. Social media has opened a new avenue for social experiences since the early 2000s, extending the possibilities for communication. According to recent research [ 1 ], people spend 2.3 h daily on social media. YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat have become increasingly popular among youth in 2022, and one-third think they spend too much time on these platforms [ 2 ]. The considerable time people spend on social media worldwide has directed researchers’ attention toward the potential benefits and risks. Research shows excessive use is mainly associated with lower psychological well-being [ 3 ]. However, findings also suggest that the quality rather than the quantity of social media use can determine whether the experience will enhance or deteriorate the user’s mental health [ 4 ]. In this collection, we will explore the impact of social media use on mental health by providing comprehensive research perspectives on positive and negative effects.

Social media can provide opportunities to enhance the mental health of users by facilitating social connections and peer support [ 5 ]. Indeed, online communities can provide a space for discussions regarding health conditions, adverse life events, or everyday challenges, which may decrease the sense of stigmatization and increase belongingness and perceived emotional support. Mutual friendships, rewarding social interactions, and humor on social media also reduced stress during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 4 ].

On the other hand, several studies have pointed out the potentially detrimental effects of social media use on mental health. Concerns have been raised that social media may lead to body image dissatisfaction [ 6 ], increase the risk of addiction and cyberbullying involvement [ 5 ], contribute to phubbing behaviors [ 7 ], and negatively affects mood [ 8 ]. Excessive use has increased loneliness, fear of missing out, and decreased subjective well-being and life satisfaction [ 8 ]. Users at risk of social media addiction often report depressive symptoms and lower self-esteem [ 9 ].

Overall, findings regarding the impact of social media on mental health pointed out some essential resources for psychological well-being through rewarding online social interactions. However, there is a need to raise awareness about the possible risks associated with excessive use, which can negatively affect mental health and everyday functioning [ 9 ]. There is neither a negative nor positive consensus regarding the effects of social media on people. However, by teaching people social media literacy, we can maximize their chances of having balanced, safe, and meaningful experiences on these platforms [ 10 ].

We encourage researchers to submit their research articles and contribute to a more differentiated overview of the impact of social media on mental health. BMC Psychology welcomes submissions to its new collection, which promises to present the latest findings in the emerging field of social media research. We seek research papers using qualitative and quantitative methods, focusing on social media users’ positive and negative aspects. We believe this collection will provide a more comprehensive picture of social media’s positive and negative effects on users’ mental health.

Data Availability

Not applicable.

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Ágnes Zsila was supported by the ÚNKP-22-4 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund.

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Essay on Impact of Social Media on Teenager

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The effect of social media on the development of students’ affective variables

1 Science and Technology Department, Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Nanjing, China

2 School of Marxism, Hohai University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

3 Government Enterprise Customer Center, China Mobile Group Jiangsu Co., Ltd., Nanjing, China

The use of social media is incomparably on the rise among students, influenced by the globalized forms of communication and the post-pandemic rush to use multiple social media platforms for education in different fields of study. Though social media has created tremendous chances for sharing ideas and emotions, the kind of social support it provides might fail to meet students’ emotional needs, or the alleged positive effects might be short-lasting. In recent years, several studies have been conducted to explore the potential effects of social media on students’ affective traits, such as stress, anxiety, depression, and so on. The present paper reviews the findings of the exemplary published works of research to shed light on the positive and negative potential effects of the massive use of social media on students’ emotional well-being. This review can be insightful for teachers who tend to take the potential psychological effects of social media for granted. They may want to know more about the actual effects of the over-reliance on and the excessive (and actually obsessive) use of social media on students’ developing certain images of self and certain emotions which are not necessarily positive. There will be implications for pre- and in-service teacher training and professional development programs and all those involved in student affairs.

Introduction

Social media has turned into an essential element of individuals’ lives including students in today’s world of communication. Its use is growing significantly more than ever before especially in the post-pandemic era, marked by a great revolution happening to the educational systems. Recent investigations of using social media show that approximately 3 billion individuals worldwide are now communicating via social media ( Iwamoto and Chun, 2020 ). This growing population of social media users is spending more and more time on social network groupings, as facts and figures show that individuals spend 2 h a day, on average, on a variety of social media applications, exchanging pictures and messages, updating status, tweeting, favoring, and commenting on many updated socially shared information ( Abbott, 2017 ).

Researchers have begun to investigate the psychological effects of using social media on students’ lives. Chukwuere and Chukwuere (2017) maintained that social media platforms can be considered the most important source of changing individuals’ mood, because when someone is passively using a social media platform seemingly with no special purpose, s/he can finally feel that his/her mood has changed as a function of the nature of content overviewed. Therefore, positive and negative moods can easily be transferred among the population using social media networks ( Chukwuere and Chukwuere, 2017 ). This may become increasingly important as students are seen to be using social media platforms more than before and social networking is becoming an integral aspect of their lives. As described by Iwamoto and Chun (2020) , when students are affected by social media posts, especially due to the increasing reliance on social media use in life, they may be encouraged to begin comparing themselves to others or develop great unrealistic expectations of themselves or others, which can have several affective consequences.

Considering the increasing influence of social media on education, the present paper aims to focus on the affective variables such as depression, stress, and anxiety, and how social media can possibly increase or decrease these emotions in student life. The exemplary works of research on this topic in recent years will be reviewed here, hoping to shed light on the positive and negative effects of these ever-growing influential platforms on the psychology of students.

Significance of the study

Though social media, as the name suggests, is expected to keep people connected, probably this social connection is only superficial, and not adequately deep and meaningful to help individuals feel emotionally attached to others. The psychological effects of social media on student life need to be studied in more depth to see whether social media really acts as a social support for students and whether students can use social media to cope with negative emotions and develop positive feelings or not. In other words, knowledge of the potential effects of the growing use of social media on students’ emotional well-being can bridge the gap between the alleged promises of social media and what it actually has to offer to students in terms of self-concept, self-respect, social role, and coping strategies (for stress, anxiety, etc.).

Exemplary general literature on psychological effects of social media

Before getting down to the effects of social media on students’ emotional well-being, some exemplary works of research in recent years on the topic among general populations are reviewed. For one, Aalbers et al. (2018) reported that individuals who spent more time passively working with social media suffered from more intense levels of hopelessness, loneliness, depression, and perceived inferiority. For another, Tang et al. (2013) observed that the procedures of sharing information, commenting, showing likes and dislikes, posting messages, and doing other common activities on social media are correlated with higher stress. Similarly, Ley et al. (2014) described that people who spend 2 h, on average, on social media applications will face many tragic news, posts, and stories which can raise the total intensity of their stress. This stress-provoking effect of social media has been also pinpointed by Weng and Menczer (2015) , who contended that social media becomes a main source of stress because people often share all kinds of posts, comments, and stories ranging from politics and economics, to personal and social affairs. According to Iwamoto and Chun (2020) , anxiety and depression are the negative emotions that an individual may develop when some source of stress is present. In other words, when social media sources become stress-inducing, there are high chances that anxiety and depression also develop.

Charoensukmongkol (2018) reckoned that the mental health and well-being of the global population can be at a great risk through the uncontrolled massive use of social media. These researchers also showed that social media sources can exert negative affective impacts on teenagers, as they can induce more envy and social comparison. According to Fleck and Johnson-Migalski (2015) , though social media, at first, plays the role of a stress-coping strategy, when individuals continue to see stressful conditions (probably experienced and shared by others in media), they begin to develop stress through the passage of time. Chukwuere and Chukwuere (2017) maintained that social media platforms continue to be the major source of changing mood among general populations. For example, someone might be passively using a social media sphere, and s/he may finally find him/herself with a changed mood depending on the nature of the content faced. Then, this good or bad mood is easily shared with others in a flash through the social media. Finally, as Alahmar (2016) described, social media exposes people especially the young generation to new exciting activities and events that may attract them and keep them engaged in different media contexts for hours just passing their time. It usually leads to reduced productivity, reduced academic achievement, and addiction to constant media use ( Alahmar, 2016 ).

The number of studies on the potential psychological effects of social media on people in general is higher than those selectively addressed here. For further insights into this issue, some other suggested works of research include Chang (2012) , Sriwilai and Charoensukmongkol (2016) , and Zareen et al. (2016) . Now, we move to the studies that more specifically explored the effects of social media on students’ affective states.

Review of the affective influences of social media on students

Vygotsky’s mediational theory (see Fernyhough, 2008 ) can be regarded as a main theoretical background for the support of social media on learners’ affective states. Based on this theory, social media can play the role of a mediational means between learners and the real environment. Learners’ understanding of this environment can be mediated by the image shaped via social media. This image can be either close to or different from the reality. In the case of the former, learners can develop their self-image and self-esteem. In the case of the latter, learners might develop unrealistic expectations of themselves by comparing themselves to others. As it will be reviewed below among the affective variables increased or decreased in students under the influence of the massive use of social media are anxiety, stress, depression, distress, rumination, and self-esteem. These effects have been explored more among school students in the age range of 13–18 than university students (above 18), but some studies were investigated among college students as well. Exemplary works of research on these affective variables are reviewed here.

In a cross-sectional study, O’Dea and Campbell (2011) explored the impact of online interactions of social networks on the psychological distress of adolescent students. These researchers found a negative correlation between the time spent on social networking and mental distress. Dumitrache et al. (2012) explored the relations between depression and the identity associated with the use of the popular social media, the Facebook. This study showed significant associations between depression and the number of identity-related information pieces shared on this social network. Neira and Barber (2014) explored the relationship between students’ social media use and depressed mood at teenage. No significant correlation was found between these two variables. In the same year, Tsitsika et al. (2014) explored the associations between excessive use of social media and internalizing emotions. These researchers found a positive correlation between more than 2-h a day use of social media and anxiety and depression.

Hanprathet et al. (2015) reported a statistically significant positive correlation between addiction to Facebook and depression among about a thousand high school students in wealthy populations of Thailand and warned against this psychological threat. Sampasa-Kanyinga and Lewis (2015) examined the relationship between social media use and psychological distress. These researchers found that the use of social media for more than 2 h a day was correlated with a higher intensity of psychological distress. Banjanin et al. (2015) tested the relationship between too much use of social networking and depression, yet found no statistically significant correlation between these two variables. Frison and Eggermont (2016) examined the relationships between different forms of Facebook use, perceived social support of social media, and male and female students’ depressed mood. These researchers found a positive association between the passive use of the Facebook and depression and also between the active use of the social media and depression. Furthermore, the perceived social support of the social media was found to mediate this association. Besides, gender was found as the other factor to mediate this relationship.

Vernon et al. (2017) explored change in negative investment in social networking in relation to change in depression and externalizing behavior. These researchers found that increased investment in social media predicted higher depression in adolescent students, which was a function of the effect of higher levels of disrupted sleep. Barry et al. (2017) explored the associations between the use of social media by adolescents and their psychosocial adjustment. Social media activity showed to be positively and moderately associated with depression and anxiety. Another investigation was focused on secondary school students in China conducted by Li et al. (2017) . The findings showed a mediating role of insomnia on the significant correlation between depression and addiction to social media. In the same year, Yan et al. (2017) aimed to explore the time spent on social networks and its correlation with anxiety among middle school students. They found a significant positive correlation between more than 2-h use of social networks and the intensity of anxiety.

Also in China, Wang et al. (2018) showed that addiction to social networking sites was correlated positively with depression, and this correlation was mediated by rumination. These researchers also found that this mediating effect was moderated by self-esteem. It means that the effect of addiction on depression was compounded by low self-esteem through rumination. In another work of research, Drouin et al. (2018) showed that though social media is expected to act as a form of social support for the majority of university students, it can adversely affect students’ mental well-being, especially for those who already have high levels of anxiety and depression. In their research, the social media resources were found to be stress-inducing for half of the participants, all university students. The higher education population was also studied by Iwamoto and Chun (2020) . These researchers investigated the emotional effects of social media in higher education and found that the socially supportive role of social media was overshadowed in the long run in university students’ lives and, instead, fed into their perceived depression, anxiety, and stress.

Keles et al. (2020) provided a systematic review of the effect of social media on young and teenage students’ depression, psychological distress, and anxiety. They found that depression acted as the most frequent affective variable measured. The most salient risk factors of psychological distress, anxiety, and depression based on the systematic review were activities such as repeated checking for messages, personal investment, the time spent on social media, and problematic or addictive use. Similarly, Mathewson (2020) investigated the effect of using social media on college students’ mental health. The participants stated the experience of anxiety, depression, and suicidality (thoughts of suicide or attempts to suicide). The findings showed that the types and frequency of using social media and the students’ perceived mental health were significantly correlated with each other.

The body of research on the effect of social media on students’ affective and emotional states has led to mixed results. The existing literature shows that there are some positive and some negative affective impacts. Yet, it seems that the latter is pre-dominant. Mathewson (2020) attributed these divergent positive and negative effects to the different theoretical frameworks adopted in different studies and also the different contexts (different countries with whole different educational systems). According to Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions ( Fredrickson, 2001 ), the mental repertoires of learners can be built and broadened by how they feel. For instance, some external stimuli might provoke negative emotions such as anxiety and depression in learners. Having experienced these negative emotions, students might repeatedly check their messages on social media or get addicted to them. As a result, their cognitive repertoire and mental capacity might become limited and they might lose their concentration during their learning process. On the other hand, it should be noted that by feeling positive, learners might take full advantage of the affordances of the social media and; thus, be able to follow their learning goals strategically. This point should be highlighted that the link between the use of social media and affective states is bi-directional. Therefore, strategic use of social media or its addictive use by students can direct them toward either positive experiences like enjoyment or negative ones such as anxiety and depression. Also, these mixed positive and negative effects are similar to the findings of several other relevant studies on general populations’ psychological and emotional health. A number of studies (with general research populations not necessarily students) showed that social networks have facilitated the way of staying in touch with family and friends living far away as well as an increased social support ( Zhang, 2017 ). Given the positive and negative emotional effects of social media, social media can either scaffold the emotional repertoire of students, which can develop positive emotions in learners, or induce negative provokers in them, based on which learners might feel negative emotions such as anxiety and depression. However, admittedly, social media has also generated a domain that encourages the act of comparing lives, and striving for approval; therefore, it establishes and internalizes unrealistic perceptions ( Virden et al., 2014 ; Radovic et al., 2017 ).

It should be mentioned that the susceptibility of affective variables to social media should be interpreted from a dynamic lens. This means that the ecology of the social media can make changes in the emotional experiences of learners. More specifically, students’ affective variables might self-organize into different states under the influence of social media. As for the positive correlation found in many studies between the use of social media and such negative effects as anxiety, depression, and stress, it can be hypothesized that this correlation is induced by the continuous comparison the individual makes and the perception that others are doing better than him/her influenced by the posts that appear on social media. Using social media can play a major role in university students’ psychological well-being than expected. Though most of these studies were correlational, and correlation is not the same as causation, as the studies show that the number of participants experiencing these negative emotions under the influence of social media is significantly high, more extensive research is highly suggested to explore causal effects ( Mathewson, 2020 ).

As the review of exemplary studies showed, some believed that social media increased comparisons that students made between themselves and others. This finding ratifies the relevance of the Interpretation Comparison Model ( Stapel and Koomen, 2000 ; Stapel, 2007 ) and Festinger’s (1954) Social Comparison Theory. Concerning the negative effects of social media on students’ psychology, it can be argued that individuals may fail to understand that the content presented in social media is usually changed to only represent the attractive aspects of people’s lives, showing an unrealistic image of things. We can add that this argument also supports the relevance of the Social Comparison Theory and the Interpretation Comparison Model ( Stapel and Koomen, 2000 ; Stapel, 2007 ), because social media sets standards that students think they should compare themselves with. A constant observation of how other students or peers are showing their instances of achievement leads to higher self-evaluation ( Stapel and Koomen, 2000 ). It is conjectured that the ubiquitous role of social media in student life establishes unrealistic expectations and promotes continuous comparison as also pinpointed in the Interpretation Comparison Model ( Stapel and Koomen, 2000 ; Stapel, 2007 ).

Implications of the study

The use of social media is ever increasing among students, both at school and university, which is partly because of the promises of technological advances in communication services and partly because of the increased use of social networks for educational purposes in recent years after the pandemic. This consistent use of social media is not expected to leave students’ psychological, affective and emotional states untouched. Thus, it is necessary to know how the growing usage of social networks is associated with students’ affective health on different aspects. Therefore, we found it useful to summarize the research findings in recent years in this respect. If those somehow in charge of student affairs in educational settings are aware of the potential positive or negative effects of social media usage on students, they can better understand the complexities of students’ needs and are better capable of meeting them.

Psychological counseling programs can be initiated at schools or universities to check upon the latest state of students’ mental and emotional health influenced by the pervasive use of social media. The counselors can be made aware of the potential adverse effects of social networking and can adapt the content of their inquiries accordingly. Knowledge of the potential reasons for student anxiety, depression, and stress can help school or university counselors to find individualized coping strategies when they diagnose any symptom of distress in students influenced by an excessive use of social networking.

Admittedly, it is neither possible to discard the use of social media in today’s academic life, nor to keep students’ use of social networks fully controlled. Certainly, the educational space in today’s world cannot do without the social media, which has turned into an integral part of everybody’s life. Yet, probably students need to be instructed on how to take advantage of the media and to be the least affected negatively by its occasional superficial and unrepresentative content. Compensatory programs might be needed at schools or universities to encourage students to avoid making unrealistic and impartial comparisons of themselves and the flamboyant images of others displayed on social media. Students can be taught to develop self-appreciation and self-care while continuing to use the media to their benefit.

The teachers’ role as well as the curriculum developers’ role are becoming more important than ever, as they can significantly help to moderate the adverse effects of the pervasive social media use on students’ mental and emotional health. The kind of groupings formed for instructional purposes, for example, in social media can be done with greater care by teachers to make sure that the members of the groups are homogeneous and the tasks and activities shared in the groups are quite relevant and realistic. The teachers cannot always be in a full control of students’ use of social media, and the other fact is that students do not always and only use social media for educational purposes. They spend more time on social media for communicating with friends or strangers or possibly they just passively receive the content produced out of any educational scope just for entertainment. This uncontrolled and unrealistic content may give them a false image of life events and can threaten their mental and emotional health. Thus, teachers can try to make students aware of the potential hazards of investing too much of their time on following pages or people that publish false and misleading information about their personal or social identities. As students, logically expected, spend more time with their teachers than counselors, they may be better and more receptive to the advice given by the former than the latter.

Teachers may not be in full control of their students’ use of social media, but they have always played an active role in motivating or demotivating students to take particular measures in their academic lives. If teachers are informed of the recent research findings about the potential effects of massively using social media on students, they may find ways to reduce students’ distraction or confusion in class due to the excessive or over-reliant use of these networks. Educators may more often be mesmerized by the promises of technology-, computer- and mobile-assisted learning. They may tend to encourage the use of social media hoping to benefit students’ social and interpersonal skills, self-confidence, stress-managing and the like. Yet, they may be unaware of the potential adverse effects on students’ emotional well-being and, thus, may find the review of the recent relevant research findings insightful. Also, teachers can mediate between learners and social media to manipulate the time learners spend on social media. Research has mainly indicated that students’ emotional experiences are mainly dependent on teachers’ pedagogical approach. They should refrain learners from excessive use of, or overreliance on, social media. Raising learners’ awareness of this fact that individuals should develop their own path of development for learning, and not build their development based on unrealistic comparison of their competences with those of others, can help them consider positive values for their activities on social media and, thus, experience positive emotions.

At higher education, students’ needs are more life-like. For example, their employment-seeking spirits might lead them to create accounts in many social networks, hoping for a better future. However, membership in many of these networks may end in the mere waste of the time that could otherwise be spent on actual on-campus cooperative projects. Universities can provide more on-campus resources both for research and work experience purposes from which the students can benefit more than the cyberspace that can be tricky on many occasions. Two main theories underlying some negative emotions like boredom and anxiety are over-stimulation and under-stimulation. Thus, what learners feel out of their involvement in social media might be directed toward negative emotions due to the stimulating environment of social media. This stimulating environment makes learners rely too much, and spend too much time, on social media or use them obsessively. As a result, they might feel anxious or depressed. Given the ubiquity of social media, these negative emotions can be replaced with positive emotions if learners become aware of the psychological effects of social media. Regarding the affordances of social media for learners, they can take advantage of the potential affordances of these media such as improving their literacy, broadening their communication skills, or enhancing their distance learning opportunities.

A review of the research findings on the relationship between social media and students’ affective traits revealed both positive and negative findings. Yet, the instances of the latter were more salient and the negative psychological symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and stress have been far from negligible. These findings were discussed in relation to some more relevant theories such as the social comparison theory, which predicted that most of the potential issues with the young generation’s excessive use of social media were induced by the unfair comparisons they made between their own lives and the unrealistic portrayal of others’ on social media. Teachers, education policymakers, curriculum developers, and all those in charge of the student affairs at schools and universities should be made aware of the psychological effects of the pervasive use of social media on students, and the potential threats.

It should be reminded that the alleged socially supportive and communicative promises of the prevalent use of social networking in student life might not be fully realized in practice. Students may lose self-appreciation and gratitude when they compare their current state of life with the snapshots of others’ or peers’. A depressed or stressed-out mood can follow. Students at schools or universities need to learn self-worth to resist the adverse effects of the superficial support they receive from social media. Along this way, they should be assisted by the family and those in charge at schools or universities, most importantly the teachers. As already suggested, counseling programs might help with raising students’ awareness of the potential psychological threats of social media to their health. Considering the ubiquity of social media in everybody’ life including student life worldwide, it seems that more coping and compensatory strategies should be contrived to moderate the adverse psychological effects of the pervasive use of social media on students. Also, the affective influences of social media should not be generalized but they need to be interpreted from an ecological or contextual perspective. This means that learners might have different emotions at different times or different contexts while being involved in social media. More specifically, given the stative approach to learners’ emotions, what learners emotionally experience in their application of social media can be bound to their intra-personal and interpersonal experiences. This means that the same learner at different time points might go through different emotions Also, learners’ emotional states as a result of their engagement in social media cannot be necessarily generalized to all learners in a class.

As the majority of studies on the psychological effects of social media on student life have been conducted on school students than in higher education, it seems it is too soon to make any conclusive remark on this population exclusively. Probably, in future, further studies of the psychological complexities of students at higher education and a better knowledge of their needs can pave the way for making more insightful conclusions about the effects of social media on their affective states.

Suggestions for further research

The majority of studies on the potential effects of social media usage on students’ psychological well-being are either quantitative or qualitative in type, each with many limitations. Presumably, mixed approaches in near future can better provide a comprehensive assessment of these potential associations. Moreover, most studies on this topic have been cross-sectional in type. There is a significant dearth of longitudinal investigation on the effect of social media on developing positive or negative emotions in students. This seems to be essential as different affective factors such as anxiety, stress, self-esteem, and the like have a developmental nature. Traditional research methods with single-shot designs for data collection fail to capture the nuances of changes in these affective variables. It can be expected that more longitudinal studies in future can show how the continuous use of social media can affect the fluctuations of any of these affective variables during the different academic courses students pass at school or university.

As already raised in some works of research reviewed, the different patterns of impacts of social media on student life depend largely on the educational context. Thus, the same research designs with the same academic grade students and even the same age groups can lead to different findings concerning the effects of social media on student psychology in different countries. In other words, the potential positive and negative effects of popular social media like Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, etc., on students’ affective conditions can differ across different educational settings in different host countries. Thus, significantly more research is needed in different contexts and cultures to compare the results.

There is also a need for further research on the higher education students and how their affective conditions are positively and negatively affected by the prevalent use of social media. University students’ psychological needs might be different from other academic grades and, thus, the patterns of changes that the overall use of social networking can create in their emotions can be also different. Their main reasons for using social media might be different from school students as well, which need to be investigated more thoroughly. The sorts of interventions needed to moderate the potential negative effects of social networking on them can be different too, all requiring a new line of research in education domain.

Finally, there are hopes that considering the ever-increasing popularity of social networking in education, the potential psychological effects of social media on teachers be explored as well. Though teacher psychology has only recently been considered for research, the literature has provided profound insights into teachers developing stress, motivation, self-esteem, and many other emotions. In today’s world driven by global communications in the cyberspace, teachers like everyone else are affecting and being affected by social networking. The comparison theory can hold true for teachers too. Thus, similar threats (of social media) to self-esteem and self-worth can be there for teachers too besides students, which are worth investigating qualitatively and quantitatively.

Probably a new line of research can be initiated to explore the co-development of teacher and learner psychological traits under the influence of social media use in longitudinal studies. These will certainly entail sophisticated research methods to be capable of unraveling the nuances of variation in these traits and their mutual effects, for example, stress, motivation, and self-esteem. If these are incorporated within mixed-approach works of research, more comprehensive and better insightful findings can be expected to emerge. Correlational studies need to be followed by causal studies in educational settings. As many conditions of the educational settings do not allow for having control groups or randomization, probably, experimental studies do not help with this. Innovative research methods, case studies or else, can be used to further explore the causal relations among the different features of social media use and the development of different affective variables in teachers or learners. Examples of such innovative research methods can be process tracing, qualitative comparative analysis, and longitudinal latent factor modeling (for a more comprehensive view, see Hiver and Al-Hoorie, 2019 ).

Author contributions

Both authors listed have made a substantial, direct, and intellectual contribution to the work, and approved it for publication.

This study was sponsored by Wuxi Philosophy and Social Sciences bidding project—“Special Project for Safeguarding the Rights and Interests of Workers in the New Form of Employment” (Grant No. WXSK22-GH-13). This study was sponsored by the Key Project of Party Building and Ideological and Political Education Research of Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications—“Research on the Guidance and Countermeasures of Network Public Opinion in Colleges and Universities in the Modern Times” (Grant No. XC 2021002).

Conflict of interest

Author XX was employed by China Mobile Group Jiangsu Co., Ltd. The remaining author declares that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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25 Positive Effects of Social Media for Students

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This is great info, thanks for giving me some ideas on how to start a dialogue with my teen!

Parent VIP Member

Josh's presentation about social media was unbelievably fantastic. Our students learned so much about what kids should and shouldn't be doing. The fact that it is such a thoughtful process made it all worthwhile.

Director of College Advising

Educator Webinar Attendee

This webinar is a very helpful eye-opener on the apps that are popular with my students.

The negative effects of social media on teens and tweens can be obvious for parents and educators, but there are seldom discussions about the positive effects of social media usage . When teaching students how to build healthy screen time practices, it can be helpful to also understand the advantages of good social media habits .

Parent & educator training video

(This parent and educator video is best to be shown to adults)‍

In this video:

• How self-conscious students can use social media apps to be their true selves online
• How teens can use social media to stay rooted in optimism
• What are some types of positive videos students are posting?
• What “join vs. battle” means
• How parents can model online wisdom

How social media can impact future goals

1. social media can be used to create a positive digital footprint and search results.

‍ Josh Ochs, SmartSocial.com

Since Google results are the new digital resume , it’s important for students to dominate their online presence. Social media can either help or hurt your child’s college and career opportunities. 

When used wisely, social media can become an extension of your student’s resume. Building a positive digital footprint through routine social media use is a great way for students to Shine Online, show their unique personalities, and have ownership over their search results.

Students can use their social media profiles to highlight their school projects, sports, hobbies, volunteer work, or family vacations. When you’re ready, encourage your student to create posts that:

• Teach people something they are passionate about 
• Highlight a volunteer experience they had
• Talk about their achievements in a humble and grateful way, or showcase their talents 

Then,  when a college admissions officer looks them up online they get a positive representation of your student that matches their college and career aspirations.

2. Social media is an outlet for creativity

‍ Jeremy Bake, Heart a Fact

Social media enables students with a platform to share their creativity and their ideas with a neutral audience and get an honest response. The response becomes a guide for them to better shape their skills if they are looking to pursue that skill professionally.

For example, a photographer or videographer starts by posting their shots on Instagram, or a writer sharing samples of their poetry and essays on Tumblr. Many teens and tweens are already making a career out of such ideas. This shows that social media, if used productively, can be a powerful tool for students to highlight their passions and get feedback.

3. Students can meet mentors to help guide their career goals

Ethan Taub, Founder of Goalry.com

Social media allows students to dip their toes into networking – albeit digitally. Commenting on others' posts on LinkedIn and responding to Tweets can build rapport and relationships in their area of study.

Social media now allows people to get their first foot on that career ladder whilst in education; one step ahead of their peers.

5. Social media can help students feel empowered to teach others

Jordana Hargreaves, High Speed Training

Teachers should involve their students directly in any lessons about social media, the internet, and safety while using it. So, we suggest that teachers let students get creative and make eye-catching posters or informative guides about social media safety for younger students. 

This way, the learning is 3-fold:

• The students are learning creative skills through whichever medium they're using to create the safety resource
• They're learning about the safety aspects of social media by engaging with it and having to translate it for other students
• They're working collaboratively on a project

6. Students can highlight their positivity and character

Hector Perez, Mumablue

Students should take advantage of social media by creating a solid presence in their field of study and creating positive content on social media networks or a personal website .

It's never too early to start creating a strong personal brand. In today's job market, employers are looking at personal profiles, and the best way to catch their attention is to make your professional profiles a great exhibition of your character and professionalism. 

Also, if you want to be an entrepreneur, it's a good idea to use the power of social media to find groups of like-minded individuals or mentors, and join a community online that will be a great ally whenever you start your venture.

7. Social media can motivate students to strive for greatness

‍ Tom DeSpiegelaere, Digital Marketing Expert and Founder of Tom Spicky

Social media can be a catalyst for motivating students to believe they can accomplish great things. Following inspirational pages and personalities, such as Goalcast and Jay Shetty , would help instill positive values and great life lessons. Since media is a powerful tool in shaping one’s values and beliefs, engaging with motivational content can teach students how to express gratitude, show kindness, act with respect, and believe in their own potential.

As students encounter pressures and anxieties in their daily lives, just one video or motivational quote can rekindle their self-confidence and maybe even reveal their true desires in life.

Ways social media can help develop skills

8. develop critical thinking by using social media for school projects.

Mary Ann Lowry, M.Ed,  ADHD Coach

I find the students I work with benefit from direct instruction on using social media to learn more about topics. For example, if they are looking for more information on Italy, they can do a Facebook search to look for people, who live in Italy. There will be Facebook groups, such as “Teens from ____ (a specific city).” Part of learning and building right brain thinking is brainstorming. If we hit a dead end, we keep going until we find an English-speaking group. Students can then ask about geography, hobbies, etc.

Connecting with others through social media is far more entertaining than reading an article. When they do read articles, they make more sense after being introduced to concepts by real-life people. This also helps to develop critical thinking and to develop self-advocacy (asking for help when needed).

9. Social media can help students learn essential job skills

Jonas Sickler, ReputationManagement.com

It can definitely be easy to paint social media as a villain, but there are just as many positive lessons that teens can learn from it.

Social media definitely helps teens learn to take criticism from strangers without being drawn into a digital dogfight. This can be a real challenge for young minds looking to express themselves, and a valuable lesson to learn before getting a job.

Wouldn’t it be nice if what happened on social media stayed on social media? Learning to use social media responsibly will build an essential skill for teens that will stay with them for life. Think twice before you post (or speak), and you’ll avoid embarrassing yourself, and possibly hurting others.

10.  Students can use technology to form study groups

‍ Len Saunders, Author

Social media can sometimes be beneficial to students  when it comes to learning. 

For example, when group chats occur students are essentially forming study groups online to share information and assist one another. This also comes in handy when students are absent from school because they can get information from friends who were in school that day. If a lot of notes were given that day, a good friend can simply take a picture of the notes and send it over to the friend who was absent.

As an educator, I have taught parents not to remove technology completely, but to limit it. In some cases, you can make technology an earned activity.

11. Social media provides a platform to showcase technological savvy and creativity

Dimitris Proko, UK Department for Work and Pensions

Teens today live in a revolutionized smartphone era, in which Wi-Fi and social media have become impeccable survival ingredients. Social media is perceived as a formula to “connect” with others, by either sharing their live moments or even making a lifestyle statement. Some of the benefits of social media are:

• Having a platform to showcase technological savvy and creativity
• Increased self-confidence by empowering introverts to express their ideas
• The ability to create lifelong friends
• Strengthening social awareness and empathy

However, with great social interaction, comes great responsibility.

12. Social media can bring students together to collaborate on class projects

Dylan Myatt, Advice Media

For teenagers, it can feel like social media gets a bad rap because it's easy to blame all the variables that many people don't completely understand.

Social media makes it a lot easier for students to help each other out in hard classes, such as making a group on Facebook or in Snapchat and then making time to meet up or asking people how to do specific problems. 

That social collaboration can bring students closer to their peers while helping them do better in class.

Social media can help increase social/world awareness

13. social media increases impact and knowledge of world events.

‍ Israel Gaudette, Founder, Link Tracker Pro

Social media can be a vehicle for doing good. Giving every teen a chance of making an impact in the community is very crucial. And with the use of social media, that impact is just one click away. It exposes them to essential issues not only in their community but all over the world as well. And with it, more teens are now empowered to help and support people all over the world even just if it’s miles away from them.

More than ever, teens’ voices are now heard often because of social media. It keeps them informed just like adults. They can freely follow organizations that they believe in. With it, they’ll never feel like an outcast and will always feel that they’re part of something.

14. Students can leverage social media to promote their civic engagement

Kevin Howley, PhD, DePauw University

Young people can leverage their interest in social media to promote learning, creative self expression, and civic engagement. Students can be socially connected with a world of ideas and a world of possibilities. They can make productive use of these tools to conduct research, reach out to experts, and ask questions. 

These tools also permit all of us to express ourselves, share our work, and get feedback and encouragement. Social media promotes active citizenship.

15. Students can utilize social media to spread social awareness and kindness

Jason Perkins, San Diego SEO and Online Marketing Inc.

There are good things to look forward to that will shape your kids. Here are some of the positive effects of social media on tweens:

It allows them to spread social awareness and kindness . One of the reasons why teenagers spend time on social media is so they can search for new information on people, explore new ideas, express themselves the way they want to, and connect with others all over the world. Social media can be a great platform for them to start campaigning for their rights and the rights of other people.

Teens also have the opportunity to learn new things through social media platforms . Additionally, they can get feedback from the work that they produce, like school projects, art projects, etc. It gives them a safe space to get unsolicited advice from other people, which they can use to eventually better their skills.

Social media helps students enhance their confidence and creativity. By definition, social media refers to the online services that allow users to connect with one another and share content. These platforms encourage students to exercise their creative skills in terms of engaging with their friends and their general audience. 

Given that they take up the majority of the users on social media platforms, teenagers create the future of social media.

‍ 16. Teens use social media to be part of the conversation

‍ Sophia Nomicos, Founder, Mas & Pas Limited

In the past, many teenagers have been disinterested in current affairs and the goings-on of the world of ‘grown-ups’. With the rise of social media, everyone is able to learn and share their views, insights, thoughts, and feelings about what’s going on around them. This is also done through more entertaining and engaging forms, like homemade videos, user rants, funny memes, or impactful photographs.

Social media can help teens to connect with the big issues that surround us in today's world. They can see the impact of world events in a more dynamic way than if they were to say just watch the news. This could encourage them to think about and discuss these issues and perhaps even get involved too.

17. Social media is used to combat bullying, body shaming, and more

Mark Coster, Owner and Chief Editor, STEM Toy Expert

Parents and educators are already well aware of how kids can develop a negative and distorted self-image through social media. However, more and more positive role models have been popping up. There are successful and widely popular campaigns that combat bullying, mental health issues, body shaming, misogyny, homophobia, racism, cancel culture, as well as many other phenomena that shape and format a teenager’s personal and social identity.

‍ But more than organized campaigns, students can identify with people – their peers who find a voice and speak out loud, as well as positive celebrities. 

Just like in real life, there are negative and positive voices. Since social media thrives on polarization and tends to push users down various rabbit holes, parents and educators have a crucial role to play in helping kids find those positive voices. They should help them realize that the world is not black and white. The key here is to openly discuss both positive and negative aspects of social media themselves, as well as just about any issue they raise.

18. Social media can help young adults find acceptance and groups of like-minded people

‍Kate Diaz, Co-owner & Writer, Swanky Den

Although cyberbullying is reported every day on social media, parents should recognize that teens can benefit from using social media. One of the positives of platforms such as Facebook , Tumblr , and Instagram is that they can provide young adults and teens a sense of acceptance and belonging, especially those who feel marginalized or alone.

These networks can also inspire them to try new things, go for their dreams, share ideas, and even speak up regarding things that matter to them. Bad personalities are rampant online, but there are also positive role models that can motivate them. Students can learn with positive support of personalities that are helpful or harmful to friend or follow.

The key here is to guide your children. Make sure that social media does not take over their life. Set limitations, and when they do pick up their mobile phones and browse their accounts, remind them to use it for good.

19. Social media can provide teens with a voice

Nickia Lowery, Counselor

The adolescent years are a time when children are attempting to master their identities, experiment with self expression, and find their place in society. Social media has allowed teens to develop a voice of advocacy. The ability to see who is following who and the reactions from posts reinforces a sense of belonging. This can be a very positive influence when exposed to the right outlets, especially for teens who do not have a large group of friends.

Social Media Can Help Students Connect with Friends and Family

20. use social media to connect with family members.

Louis Wright, Web Designer & Marketeer

Social media can be utilized to improve conversations between family members, especially in their teenage years, as adolescents become increasingly more closed off and secretive in their online activities more and more every year. Teens can use social media to easily communicate with family members, even those they see every day, to share photos and videos with them, and keep in touch using the medium they feel most comfortable communicating with.

Encourage students  to be selective with who they choose to follow. Engage with high-quality and well-rooted accounts such as verified news, climate change solutions, and perhaps even the United Nations accounts that dispense interesting and fun facts every day.

21. Social media can lead to better communication

‍ Lyn Hastings, The Powerline Group

I’ve interviewed multiple moms about this, and despite the negativity that surrounds social media, there were many positive aspects and some encouraging stories. One mom said the constant scrolling lead to better communication about current events with her son . Another mom claimed social media allows introverted kids to safely invite friends to “hang” with less fear of rejection than having to pick up the phone.

Another common positive impact of social media is that it allows students to stay in touch with past and present friends throughout the changes in their lives: school, job, team changes, hospital stays, studying abroad, etc.

‍ 22. Younger students can feel empowered by teaching older adults how to use technology

‍Adam C. Earnheardt, Ph.D., Youngstown State University

In meetings with senior citizens, I’ve heard great stories about their grandchildren and social media. What I’ve found is that more teens and tweens are spending time with older family members, not just through social media, but by teaching their grandparents how to set up their accounts to stay connected.  

It’s a wonderful combination of high tech and high touch for both age groups. Teens/tweens feel self-worth by teaching new technology to those much older and wiser, while the older group feels better connected not only to their grandchildren but to people they may not have communicated with in decades.

23. Social media can help build connections with distant family members

Mei Ellis, Online Optimism

Social media is a tool like any other--how you use it is ultimately up to you, but there is so much potential for forging new connections with students. 

For instance: Social media can bring together students with the same interests, hobbies, and common ground with other creators and thinkers from around the world. By connecting through social media, students with common interests can connect by exchanging ideas, bonding over their shared appreciation for a given work or pastime, and communicating at a more immediate level than has ever been available at any prior point in history. When students have a solid grasp of the fundamentals of social media safety, these social connections can be positive and have a huge impact.

Long-distance communications, whether it's with traveling parents or relatives they rarely see, can be sustained more easily with social media. Using group chats on WhatsApp to virtually reunite families scattered around the world or letting your child video-chat using your Facebook with out-of-town relatives. Social media needn't be the enemy of connection; it is a bridge, not a barrier.

24. Social media helps provide a sense of community

‍ Karen Gross, Author and Educator

Students benefit from social media because it provides a way to connect and create community. Indeed, adolescents need social engagement; they need to individuate and social media allows them to do that with a source they feel comfortable using.

We are all aware that social media is not without risks. There can be false information, bullying, and offensive and discriminatory language. But, the point is to enable the tool to be put to its best use now because students want to use it.

25. Virtual communities can help teens feel supported and connected

‍ Kriya Lendzion, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

When I surveyed my 208 students in the fall of 2020 about what was hardest for them about the current moment, the #1 answer was not being able to have face to face interaction with their friends . There was an obvious correlation between the kids who claimed they were doing better mentally and emotionally, and the ones that were finding ways to connect virtually with their friends through gaming and social media sites.

Even after the pandemic and lockdowns, here are some ways teens can use social media for the positive:

• Kids who feel really self-conscious and nervous about being their true selves in their school/home settings or who are struggling with depression or social anxiety but don’t know how to talk about it with their families and other friends, can find a particularly strong sense of support from the “safe” anonymity of social media communities.
• Teens use social media to stay rooted in optimism and inspiration by posting something they’re grateful for daily, inspirational quotes or images and also following hashtags and people that do something similar.
• Following/posting animal videos are huge at helping them lift out of tough moments.
• Anything that can be an emotional release and help kids laugh (as long as it’s not unkind) can be  “positive”. This includes dance videos, making & sharing memes and videos ( TikTok , IG Reels ) that help them laugh at what they are experiencing at the moment
• I’ve coached some parents to “join vs battle” with their kids re: social media to an extent, and had families make some awesome dance and humor videos with each other on IG/TikTok.

Some of the more socially awkward kids have meaningful connections and feel belonging in ways that they often struggle with in person. I’ve seen their social confidence grow positively from this at times, in ways that they’ve been able to transfer back to in-person relationships.

From creating a more dynamic college resume to building communication skills and feeling a sense of belonging with a peer group, social media creates plenty of positive opportunities for students.

Instead of focusing solely on the negative impact social media can have, try to highlight the ways your student can use social media for good. Whether they showcase their charitable activities, help seniors learn technology, or communicate with family more than they would face-to-face, you can help them find new ways to Shine Online. When you follow the steps above and show your children how social media can have a positive impact, they are less likely to use social media in a negative way.

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Home — Essay Samples — Sociology — Social Media — Negative Effects Of Social Media: Relationships And Communication

Negative Effects of Social Media: Relationships and Communication

• Categories: Effects of Social Media Negative Impact of Technology Social Media

About this sample

Words: 904 |

Published: Mar 14, 2019

Words: 904 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

A Good Hook Examples for “Why Social Media is Bad” Essay

• A Modern Dilemma: In an era dominated by likes, shares, and filters, have you ever paused to consider the darker side of social media? Join me as we unveil the reasons why this digital phenomenon may be more harmful than we realize.
• An Eye-Opening Statistic: Did you know that the average person spends nearly two and a half hours on social media every day? Let’s dive into the implications of this staggering statistic and why it’s cause for concern.
• A Thought-Provoking Quote: Plato once warned, “At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet.” But in the age of social media, is the touch of love being replaced by the click of a button? Explore with me how these platforms can dilute genuine human connections.
• A Personal Awakening: As someone who has experienced the negative effects of social media firsthand, I invite you to join me in reflecting on the ways in which these platforms may be undermining our mental health, relationships, and overall well-being.
• A Societal Wake-Up Call: Social media is no longer just a personal choice; it’s a societal force. Discover how it has reshaped our culture, influenced our behaviors, and potentially posed a threat to the fabric of our society.

Works Cited

• Buunk, B. P., & Dijkstra, P. (2017). Gender differences in jealousy: Men are more jealous about physical infidelity than emotional infidelity. Evolutionary Psychology, 15(1), 1474704916680157.
• Eslit, N. (2017, May 5). Effects of social media on communication skills. TechJury. https://techjury.net/blog/effects-of-social-media-on-communication-skills/
• Phoon, A. (2017, March 8). Social media is bad for communication skills and replaces need for human interaction. Medium. https://medium.com/@alphoenix/social-media-is-bad-for-communication-skills-and-replaces-need-for-human-interaction-d78b1c2d1e1b
• Wikerson, M. (2017). The impact of social media on relationships. Marshall Digital Scholar, 1. https://mds.marshall.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1003&context=student_scholarship
• Wu, A. M. S., Cheung, V. I., & Ku, L. (2013). Continual and problematic internet use as predictors of low self-esteem, depression, and suicidal ideation among Chinese adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 52(2), S122-S127.
• Wu, Y. Q., Li, J., & Li, X. (2020). Cyberbullying victimization and depressive symptoms: The mediating role of resilience and the moderating role of social support in Chinese adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 2071.
• Zhang, S., Li, X., Chen, H., & Liu, Y. (2017). A longitudinal study of the relationship between problematic internet use and subjective well-being among college students. Social Indicators Research, 133(1), 345-355.

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Essay on Social Media for School Students and Children

500+ words essay on social media.

Social media is a tool that is becoming quite popular these days because of its user-friendly features. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and more are giving people a chance to connect with each other across distances. In other words, the whole world is at our fingertips all thanks to social media. The youth is especially one of the most dominant users of social media. All this makes you wonder that something so powerful and with such a massive reach cannot be all good. Like how there are always two sides to a coin, the same goes for social media. Subsequently, different people have different opinions on this debatable topic. So, in this essay on Social Media, we will see the advantages and disadvantages of social media.

Advantages of Social Media

When we look at the positive aspect of social media, we find numerous advantages. The most important being a great device for education . All the information one requires is just a click away. Students can educate themselves on various topics using social media.

Moreover, live lectures are now possible because of social media. You can attend a lecture happening in America while sitting in India.

Furthermore, as more and more people are distancing themselves from newspapers, they are depending on social media for news. You are always updated on the latest happenings of the world through it. A person becomes more socially aware of the issues of the world.

In addition, it strengthens bonds with your loved ones. Distance is not a barrier anymore because of social media. For instance, you can easily communicate with your friends and relatives overseas.

Most importantly, it also provides a great platform for young budding artists to showcase their talent for free. You can get great opportunities for employment through social media too.

Another advantage definitely benefits companies who wish to promote their brands. Social media has become a hub for advertising and offers you great opportunities for connecting with the customer.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Disadvantages of Social Media

Despite having such unique advantages, social media is considered to be one of the most harmful elements of society. If the use of social media is not monitored, it can lead to grave consequences.

Thus, the sharing on social media especially by children must be monitored at all times. Next up is the addition of social media which is quite common amongst the youth.

This addiction hampers with the academic performance of a student as they waste their time on social media instead of studying. Social media also creates communal rifts. Fake news is spread with the use of it, which poisons the mind of peace-loving citizens.

In short, surely social media has both advantages and disadvantages. But, it all depends on the user at the end. The youth must particularly create a balance between their academic performances, physical activities, and social media. Excess use of anything is harmful and the same thing applies to social media. Therefore, we must strive to live a satisfying life with the right balance.

FAQs on Social Media

Q.1 Is social media beneficial? If yes, then how?

A.1 Social media is quite beneficial. Social Media offers information, news, educational material, a platform for talented youth and brands.

Q.2 What is a disadvantage of Social Media?

A.2 Social media invades your privacy. It makes you addicted and causes health problems. It also results in cyberbullying and scams as well as communal hatred.

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The Impact of Social Media on Student Life

Wake up, Scroll, Sleep and Repeat. Are you stuck in an unhealthy relationship with social media that’s getting in the way of your studies? Charlie writer Shantel gives you tips to get back on track to academic success!

Written by Shantel Hussain

Social media is a big part of our lives, and as a student, I’m here to share the pros and cons by highlighting my experience on TikTok and how it influences my student life!

Like many of you, I use TikTok not to just scroll or participate in the new trendy dances, but to share my journey with other people around the world who would relate to my content.

I started creating short TikTok videos sharing information that I learned through my studies (I’m a Bachelor of Islamic Studies student) and posting them for other people to gain some knowledge on the same topic.

As I posted overtime, to my surprise, I gained over 50K followers, although for me, it wasn’t about the followers; it was about sharing knowledge.

This experience for me was incredibly rewarding for many reasons, for example, I managed to target other Islamic students on TikTok who were from all over the world such as Medina, Turkey and Pakistan.

The girls I made friends with would share with each other what we had learned and how we hoped to see each other one day and study together.

Through my videos, I connected with other religious communities who wanted to learn about Islam and have also learned quite a lot from them about their religion. 

The downside of my story is that social media isn’t all sunshine and rainbows!

While studying, I sometimes get notifications every minute, either from a comment, like, or follow.

When I check my phone, I think, ‘I’m just going to have a quick break’ but in reality, I get sucked into endless scrolling!

How do I find my balance?

It might be the question we’re all thinking about; first, it’s simple.

• Going private as exams draw near and when assignments need to be done helps me focus on studies without pressure to create content or the temptation to check notifications.
• Allocating a time for social media at the end of the night, knowing I’ve got everything done, or on a weekend, knowing I’ve caught up on all my studies!
• Being mindful of my usage patterns, if you’re an iPhone girl like me, the screen time setting breaks down the times of my social media usage!

I hope I inspire some of you to start journaling your student life on your favourite social channel as well.

Keep in mind to balance your social media life and academic life!

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Many debates have been raised about social media’s negative effect on young people. But blanket bans could also be counterproductive and cut young people off from important benefits.

Below, read insights from Dr Elise Carrotte, PhD and Research Assistant in Suicide Prevention at Orygen.

Content warning: This article discusses suicide and self-harm.

Social media is an integral part of young people's lives. But since the early days of these platforms, concerns have been raised about their impact on their health and wellbeing.

Sometimes it feels like we only hear about the bad parts of social media. Indeed, there are currently media debates about banning social media entirely for children and younger adolescents.

But what about the good parts?

The potential benefits of social media

Young people flock to social media for many reasons beyond simply connecting with friends and family. These include:

Entertainment and self-expression

Social media platforms have become a key creative outlet for young people, whether it’s posting photos to Instagram or creating videos for TikTok.

Staying informed

Young people are increasingly nominating social media as their main source of news and current affairs, with some citing celebrity or influencer accounts.

Meeting like-minded people

Through social media, young people can meet new, like-minded people who share their background and offer supportive or validating messages. For example, LGBTQIA+ young people may find community when they don’t have such social support offline.

Access to health and wellbeing information

Young people are also increasingly turning to sites like YouTube for advice on their health and wellbeing. Studies have found many young people believe they can accurately identify health content by cross-checking multiple videos or by judging the presenter or video’s credibility. 

Already, many national health and mental health campaigns reach young people through social media.

Social media and suicide prevention

Social media also offers unique opportunities for suicide prevention . Young people who are struggling with self-harm or suicidal ideation may use social media—especially private or moderated forums and direct messaging platforms—to connect with peers, expressing their feelings and urges in supportive, non-judgmental environments.

Social media can be used for sharing educational messages with young people relating to suicide prevention, such as encouraging at-risk individuals to seek professional support and providing resources such as emergency helpline numbers.

The public nature of social media can also result in early identification and intervention. Increasingly, machine learning is being used to identify social media users at risk of suicide, such as identifying negative thinking patterns in text. This data can help with the development of timely digital interventions and inform public health responses.

There are also opportunities for safe, empowering and de-stigmatising conversations about suicide on social media—directly from young people. For example, #chatsafe is a suicide prevention program developed by Orygen that aims to empower and equip young people with the skills to communicate safely online about self-harm and suicide.

This includes the world’s first set of guidelines that educate young people about such conversations. The guidelines have now been translated into 27 languages and downloaded over 130,000 times, with a social media campaign reaching over 5 million people.

How can we make social media safer?

Of course, there is plenty of unsafe suicide and self-harm content on social media, including stigmatising language and jokes, graphic images and videos, and bullying.

Unsafe social content can also spread very far, very quickly.  A UK survey of social media users found that over 75 per cent of respondents had been exposed to online self-harm content before the age of 14. Most who had encountered such content had not searched for it.

So how can we protect young people from the harmful effects of social media?

Stronger policies

Young people—and suicide prevention professionals —have called for social media companies to develop more robust and effective safety policies addressing self-harm and suicide content, for better education around safe online communication, and for more collaboration between social media companies and policymakers.

eSafety —Australia's independent regulator for online safety—has developed resources for young people, families and educators around online safety, though these do not yet focus on suicide and self-harm content.

Acknowledging complexity

Ultimately, the relationship between social media use and mental wellbeing is complex , and is complicated by individual and environmental factors. 

When it comes to debates about social media, it is important to acknowledge the benefits and harms and listen to young people alongside professionals.

Leading theories about suicide highlight the importance of social support and connection . This means that blanket bans on social media—a major source of social connection for young people—may end up being counter-productive.

If this article has brought up any feelings of distress, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.

Dr Elise Carrotte, PhD, is a Research Assistant in Suicide Prevention at Orygen . 

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Potential risks of content, features, and functions: The science of how social media affects youth

Almost a year after APA issued its health advisory on social media use in adolescence , society continues to wrestle with ways to maximize the benefits of these platforms while protecting youth from the potential harms associated with them. 1

By early 2024, few meaningful changes to social media platforms had been enacted by industry, and no federal policies had been adopted. There remains a need for social media companies to make fundamental changes to their platforms.

Psychological science continues to reveal benefits from social media use , as well as risks and opportunities that certain content, features, and functions present to young social media users. The science discussed below highlights the need to enact new, responsible safety standards to mitigate harm. 2

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Related content

• APA report calls on social media companies to take responsibility to protect youth
• How much is too much social media use?

Elaboration of science on social media content, features, and functions

Platforms built for adults are not inherently suitable for youth. i Youth require special protection due to areas of competence or vulnerability as they progress through the childhood, teenage, and late adolescent years. ii This is especially true for youth experiencing psychological, physical, intellectual, mental health, or other developmental challenges; chronological age is not directly associated with social media readiness . iii

Hypersensitivity to social feedback

Brain development starting at ages 10–13 (i.e., the outset of puberty) until approximately the mid-twenties is linked with hypersensitivity to social feedback/stimuli. iv In other words, youth become especially invested in behaviors that will help them get personalized feedback, praise, or attention from peers.

• AI-recommended content has the potential to be especially influential and hard to resist within this age range. v It is critical that AI-recommended content be designed to prioritize youth safety and welfare over engagement. This suggests potentially restricting the use of personalized recommendations using youth data, design features that may prioritize content evoking extreme emotions, or content that may depict illegal or harmful behavior.
• Likes and follower counts activate neural regions that trigger repetitive behavior, and thus may exert greater influence on youths’ attitudes and behavior than among adults. vi Youth are especially sensitive to both positive social feedback and rejection from others. Using these metrics to maintain platform engagement capitalizes on youths’ vulnerabilities and likely leads to problematic use.
• The use of youth data for tailored ad content similarly is influential for youth who are biologically predisposed toward peer influence at this stage and sensitive to personalized content. vii

Need for relationship skill building

Adolescence is a critical period for the development of more complex relationship skills, characterized by the ability to form emotionally intimate relationships. viii The adolescent years should provide opportunities to practice these skills through one-on-one or small group interactions.

• The focus on metrics of followers, likes, and views focuses adolescents’ attention on unilateral, depersonalized interactions and may discourage them from building healthier and psychologically beneficial relationship skills. ix

Susceptibility to harmful content

Adolescence is a period of heightened susceptibility to peer influence, impressionability, and sensitivity to social rejection. x Harmful content, including cyberhate, the depiction of illegal behavior, and encouragement to engage in self-harm (e.g., cutting or eating-disordered behavior) is associated with increased mental health difficulties among both the targets and witnesses of such content. xi

• The absence of clear and transparent processes for addressing reports of harmful content makes it harder for youth to feel protected or able to get help in the face of harmful content.

Underdeveloped impulse control

Youths’ developing cortical system (particularly in the brain’s inhibitory control network) makes them less capable of resisting impulses or stopping themselves from behavior that may lead to temporary benefit despite negative longer-term consequences. xii This can lead to adolescents making decisions based on short-term gain, lower appreciation of long-term risks, and interference with focus on tasks that require concentration.

• Infinite scroll is particularly risky for youth since their ability to monitor and stop engagement on social media is more limited than among adults. xiii This contributes to youths’ difficulty disengaging from social media and may contribute to high rates of youth reporting symptoms of clinical dependency on social media. xiv
• The lack of time limits on social media use similarly is challenging for youth, particularly during the school day or at times when they should be doing homework. xv
• Push notifications capitalize on youths’ sensitivity to distraction. Task-shifting is a higher order cognitive ability not fully developed until early adulthood and may interfere with youths’ focus during class time and when they should be doing homework. xvi
• The use and retention of youths’ data without appropriate parental consent, and/or child assent in developmentally appropriate language, capitalizes on youths’ relatively poor appreciation for long-term consequences of their actions, permanence of online content, or their ability to weigh the risks of their engagement on social media. xvii

Reliance on sleep for healthy brain development

Other than the first year of life, puberty is the most important period of brain growth and reorganization in our lifetimes. xviii Sleep is essential for healthy brain development and mental health in adolescence. xix Sleep delay or disruptions have significant negative effects on youths’ attention, behavior, mood, safety, and academic performance.

• A lack of limits on the time of day when youth can use social media has been cited as the predominant reason why adolescents are getting less than the recommended amount of sleep, with significant implications for brain and mental health. xx

Vulnerability to malicious actors

Youth are easily deceived by predators and other malicious actors who may attempt to interact with them on social media channels. xxi

• Connection and direct messaging with adult strangers places youth at risk of identity theft and potentially dangerous interactions, including sexploitation.

Need for parental/caregiver partnership

Research indicates that youth benefit from parental support to guide them toward safe decisions and to help them understand and appropriately respond to complex social interactions. xxii Granting parents oversight of youths’ accounts should be offered in balance with adolescents’ needs for autonomy, privacy, and independence. However, it should be easier for parents to partner with youth online in a manner that fits their family’s needs.

• The absence of transparent and easy-to-use parental/caregiver tools increases parents’ or guardians’ difficulty in supporting youths’ experience on social media. xxiii

Health advisory on social media use in adolescence

Related topics

• Social media and the internet
• Mental health

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A path forward based on science

Change is needed soon. Solutions should reflect a greater understanding of the science in at least three ways.

First, youth vary considerably in how they use social media. Some uses may promote healthy development and others may create harm. As noted in the APA health advisory , using social media is not inherently beneficial or harmful to young people. The effects of social media depend not only on what teens can do and see online, but teens’ pre-existing strengths or vulnerabilities, and the contexts in which they grow up.

Second, science has highlighted biological and psychological abilities/vulnerabilities that interact with the content, functions, and features built into social media platforms, and it is these aspects of youths’ social media experience that must be addressed to attenuate risks. xxiv Social media use, functionality, and permissions/consenting should be tailored to youths’ developmental capabilities. Design features created for adults may not be appropriate for children.

Third, youth are adept at working around age restrictions. Substantial data reveal a remarkable number of children aged 12 years and younger routinely using social media, indicating that current policies and practices to restrict use to older youth are not working. xxv

Policies will not protect youth unless technology companies are required to reduce the risks embedded within the platforms themselves.

As policymakers at every level assess their approach to this complex issue, it is important to note the limitations of frequently proposed policies, which are often misreported and fall far short of comprehensive safety solutions that will achieve meaningful change.

Restricting downloads

Restricting application downloads at the device level does not fully restrict youths’ access and will not meaningfully improve the safety of social media platforms. Allowing platforms to delegate responsibility to app stores does not address the vulnerabilities and harms built into the platforms.

Requiring age restrictions

Focusing only on age restrictions does not improve the platforms or address the biological and psychological vulnerabilities that persist past age 18. While age restriction proposals could offer some benefits if effectively and equitably implemented, they do not represent comprehensive improvements to social media platforms, for at least four reasons:

• Creating a bright line age limit ignores individual differences in adolescents’ maturity and competency
• These proposals fail to mitigate the harms for those above the age limit and can lead to a perception that social media is safe for adolescents above the threshold age, though neurological changes continue until age 25
• Completely limiting access to social media may disadvantage those who are experiencing psychological benefits from social media platforms, such as community support and access to science-based resources, which particularly impact those in marginalized populations
• The process of age-verification requires more thoughtful consideration to ensure that the storage of official identification documents does not systematically exclude subsets of youth, create risks for leaks, or circumvent the ability of young people to maintain anonymity on social platforms.

Use of parental controls

Granting parents and caregivers greater access to their children’s social media accounts will not address risks embedded within platforms themselves. More robust and easy-to-use parental controls would help some younger age groups, but as a sole strategy, this approach ignores the complexities of adolescent development, the importance of childhood autonomy and privacy, and disparities in time or resources available for monitoring across communities. xxvi

[Related: Keeping teens safe on social media: What parents should know to protect their kids ]

Some parents might be technologically ill-equipped, lack the time or documentation to complete requirements, or simply be unavailable to complete these requirements. Disenfranchising some young people from these platforms creates inequities. xxvii

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1 These recommendations enact policies and resolutions approved by the APA Council of Representatives including the APA Resolution on Child and Adolescent Mental and Behavioral Health and the APA Resolution on Dismantling Systemic Racism in contexts including social media. These are not professional practice guidelines but are intended to provide information based on psychological science.

2 This report seeks to elaborate on extant psychological science findings, which may be particularly relevant in the creation of policy solutions that protect young people, and to inform the development of social media safety standards.

Recommendations from APA’s health advisory on social media use in adolescence

• Youth using social media should be encouraged to use functions that create opportunities for social support, online companionship, and emotional intimacy that can promote healthy socialization.
• Social media use, functionality, and permissions/consenting should be tailored to youths’ developmental capabilities; designs created for adults may not be appropriate for children.
• In early adolescence (i.e., typically 10–14 years), adult monitoring (i.e., ongoing review, discussion, and coaching around social media content) is advised for most youths’ social media use; autonomy may increase gradually as kids age and if they gain digital literacy skills. However, monitoring should be balanced with youths’ appropriate needs for privacy.
• To reduce the risks of psychological harm, adolescents’ exposure to content on social media that depicts illegal or psychologically maladaptive behavior, including content that instructs or encourages youth to engage in health-risk behaviors, such as self-harm (e.g., cutting, suicide), harm to others, or those that encourage eating-disordered behavior (e.g., restrictive eating, purging, excessive exercise) should be minimized, reported, and removed; moreover, technology should not drive users to this content.
• To minimize psychological harm, adolescents’ exposure to “cyberhate” including online discrimination, prejudice, hate, or cyberbullying especially directed toward a marginalized group (e.g., racial, ethnic, gender, sexual, religious, ability status), or toward an individual because of their identity or allyship with a marginalized group should be minimized.
• Adolescents should be routinely screened for signs of “problematic social media use” that can impair their ability to engage in daily roles and routines, and may present risk for more serious psychological harms over time.
• The use of social media should be limited so as to not interfere with adolescents’ sleep and physical activity.
• Adolescents should limit use of social media for social comparison, particularly around beauty- or appearance-related content.
• Adolescents’ social media use should be preceded by training in social media literacy to ensure that users have developed psychologically-informed competencies and skills that will maximize the chances for balanced, safe, and meaningful social media use.
• Substantial resources should be provided for continued scientific examination of the positive and negative effects of social media on adolescent development.

Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge the outstanding contributions to this report made by the following individuals:

Expert advisory panel

Mary Ann McCabe, PhD, ABPP, member-at-large, Board of Directors, American Psychological Association; associate clinical professor of pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Mitchell J. Prinstein, PhD, ABPP, chief science officer, American Psychological Association; John Van Seters Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Mary K. Alvord, PhD, founder, Alvord, Baker & Associates; board president, Resilience Across Borders; adjunct associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Dawn T. Bounds, PhD, PMHNP-BC, FAAN, assistant professor, Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, University of California, Irvine

Linda Charmaraman, PhD, senior research scientist, Wellesley Centers for Women, Wellesley College

Sophia Choukas-Bradley, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh

Dorothy L. Espelage, PhD, William C. Friday Distinguished Professor of Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Joshua A. Goodman, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Southern Oregon University

Jessica L. Hamilton, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Psychology, Rutgers University

Brendesha M. Tynes, PhD, Dean’s Professor of Educational Equity, University of Southern California

L. Monique Ward, PhD, professor, Department of Psychology (Developmental), University of Michigan

Lucía Magis-Weinberg, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Psychology, University of Washington

We also wish to acknowledge the contributions to this report made by Katherine B. McGuire, chief advocacy officer, and Corbin Evans, JD, senior director of congressional and federal relations, American Psychological Association.

Selected references

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x Sherman, L. E., Payton, A. A., Hernandez, L. M., Greenfield, P. M., & Dapretto, M. (2016). The power of the Like in adolescence: Effects of peer influence on neural and behavioral responses to social media. Psychological Science , 27 (7), 1027–1035. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797616645673

xi Susi, K., Glover-Ford, F., Stewart, A., Knowles Bevis, R., & Hawton, K. (2023). Research review: Viewing self-harm images on the internet and social media platforms: Systematic review of the impact and associated psychological mechanisms. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry , 64 (8), 1115–1139.

xii Hartley, C. A., & Somerville, L. H. (2015). The neuroscience of adolescent decision-making. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences , 5 , 108–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cobeha.2015.09.004

xiii Atherton, O. E., Lawson, K. M., & Robins, R. W. (2020). The development of effortful control from late childhood to young adulthood. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 119 (2), 417–456. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000283

xiv Boer, M., Stevens, G. W., Finkenauer, C., & Van den Eijnden, R. J. (2022). The course of problematic social media use in young adolescents: A latent class growth analysis. Child Development , 93 (2), e168–e187.

xv Hall, A. C. G., Lineweaver, T. T., Hogan, E. E., & O’Brien, S. W. (2020). On or off task: The negative influence of laptops on neighboring students’ learning depends on how they are used. Computers & Education , 153 , 103901. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2020.103901 ; Sana, F., Weston, T., & Cepeda, N. J. (2013). Laptop multitasking hinders classroom learning for both users and nearby peers. Computers & Education , 62 , 24–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2012.10.003

xvi von Bastian, C. C., & Druey, M. D. (2017). Shifting between mental sets: An individual differences approach to commonalities and differences of task switching components. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General , 146 (9), 1266–1285. https://doi.org/10.1037/xge0000333

xvii Andrews, J. C., Walker, K. L., & Kees, J. (2020). Children and online privacy protection: Empowerment from cognitive defense strategies. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing , 39 (2), 205–219. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743915619883638 ; Romer D. (2010). Adolescent risk taking, impulsivity, and brain development: Implications for prevention. Developmental Psychobiology , 52 (3), 263–276. https://doi.org/10.1002/dev.20442

xviii Orben, A., Przybylski, A. K., Blakemore, S.-J., Kievit, R. A. (2022). Windows of developmental sensitivity to social media. Nature Communications , 13 (1649). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-29296-3

xix Paruthi, S., Brooks, L. J., D’Ambrosio, C., Hall, W. A., Kotagal, S., Lloyd, R. M., Malow, B. A., Maski, K., Nichols, C., Quan, S. F., Rosen, C. L., Troester, M. M., & Wise, M. S. (2016). Recommended amount of sleep for pediatric populations: A consensus statement of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine , 12 (6), 785–786. https://doi.org/10.5664/jcsm.5866

xx Perrault, A. A., Bayer, L., Peuvrier, M., Afyouni, A., Ghisletta, P., Brockmann, C., Spiridon, M., Hulo Vesely, S., Haller, D. M., Pichon, S., Perrig, S., Schwartz, S., & Sterpenich, V. (2019). Reducing the use of screen electronic devices in the evening is associated with improved sleep and daytime vigilance in adolescents. Sleep , 42 (9), zsz125. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsz125 ; Telzer, E. H., Goldenberg, D., Fuligni, A. J., Lieberman, M. D., & Gálvan, A. (2015). Sleep variability in adolescence is associated with altered brain development. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience , 14, 16–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2015.05.007

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xxvii Charmaraman, L., Lynch, A. D., Richer, A. M., & Zhai, E. (2022). Examining early adolescent positive and negative social technology behaviors and well-being during the Covid -19 pandemic. Technology, Mind, and Behavior , 3 (1), Feb 17 2022. https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000062

Social Media and Globalization: Positive and Negative Effects Essay

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Introduction

Social media: a brief history, positive and negative effects of social media in globalization, recommendations, reference list.

Globalization is the metamorphosis of the world from a vast unexplored space to a fairly big village where everyone seems to be connected. It refers to the integration and connection of the world in many areas, including technology, information, culture, business (Jan 2009, p. 66; Stevenson 1999, p. 40).

It is the delocalization of space and time, enabling real-time communication between persons who are thousands of miles apart from one another (Chan 1994, p. 76). It connects and unites the world (Robertson 1992, p.112). Advances in communication and transportation have facilitated globalization.

Economies and culture across the world are now collectively linked by new trends in communication (Robertson 1992, p. 112). But, globalization can be like a double-edged sword; with certain populous cultures exerting strong influences on the global community and vice versa (Flew 2007, p.86).

Globalization of media facilitates the sharing of home grown content with a worldwide audience via various media organizations (Liebes &Katz 1990, p. 106). Media globalization influences different cultures through propagation of information. This is because many media organizations control economic and social resources giving them considerable influence over global culture (Curran 2002, p. 218).

This paper will analyse and discuss the issues relating to globalization and its impact on social media. It will look at the advantages and disadvantages of globalization and the response of social media to the global phenomena.

Social media are sites on the internet that are used to share multimedia information, data, discussions and personal interactions (Traber, 1986, p. 84).

Individuals and groups create and share content on these sites where they can also have personal conversations. Social media takes many forms, including blogs, forums, message boards, social networks, virtual worlds, digital storyboards, social bookmarks, video, data and content-sharing sites, to name a few (Kim et al 2011, p. 368). There are many social networking sites, the most popular among which are Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia, and Wetpaint (Kim et al 2011, p. 370).

Social media can be loosely defined as a platform bringing together people from different backgrounds who share a common interest for the purpose of discussing issues of interest. It is where technology meets the social needs of people, since human beings are social beings.

Social media can be traced back to the late 1960s. CompuServe was all the rage then; it used dial-up technology to establish connections to a network (Boyd 2007, p. 226). After delivery of the first email in 1971, two computer enthusiasts invented the first platform for a virtual community.

It was known as the bulletin board system (BBS) (Traber 1986, p. 84). The purpose of BBS was to alert friends about meetings, make announcements and post information (Boyd 2007, p. 218). In 1993, CERN, a nuclear research organization in Switzerland, donated the World Wide Web technology to the world and in the same year, Mosaic, the first graphical server, was launched. Mosaic’s launch gave rise to web pages and changed the internet scene (Curtis 2011, p. 62).

Geocities was launched in 1994 and it enabled users to create their own websites modelled after urban areas. The web hit the millionth-site mark in 1997 and in the same year, blogging and online chatting began (Curtis 2011, p. 62). Google opened shop in 1998 as an internet search engine and index. Wikipedia, the world’s largest wiki was started in 2001 as an online encyclopaedia (Kim et al 2011, p. 368).

Social networking websites have mushroomed in recent years, with the emergence of MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, digg and YouTube, among others. By 2011, social media was accessible from almost everywhere and social media business was increasing. The development of multimedia-capable mobile devices enabled more people from around the world to access social media from anywhere at any time (Curtis 2011, p. 62).

Advances in social media have brought about massive changes in business, education, politics, entertainment, employment and human interaction (Giddens 1990, p.174). It is now possible to study, work, watch programs, listen to music, vote and follow the latest news without having to leave one’s home.

Actually, one does not need to be tied down to a home in the traditional sense since technology has occasioned virtual homes. With the advent of social media, the world has been transformed into a huge village where news items from a seemingly insignificant corner of the globe can be spread across the planet in just a few clicks and seconds.

This paper sets out to expound on the many positive and negative impacts of the globalization of social media.

The massive number of ideas that people share through such platforms as Twitter and Facebook has noticeably influenced a change in lifestyles, preferences, political ideologies and academic achievements, both for the positive and negative.

Product sales

Social media is now an instrumental tool in the success of a business today. Social media inventions have increased business sales due to their far reaching effects on the global market. According to different surveys, social media is responsible for attracting customers on a global scale and increasing business worth, among other positive factors (Bellamkonda 2012, par. 2 ).

Social media as a business

A recent trend of note is the formation of companies that are run using the internet. As an illustration, the social media phenomenon, Facebook, has transformed from a social network to a public corporation, with its Initial Public Offering doing very well in the first few days of trading.

Marketing methods

Social media as a marketing tool is almost unrivalled because of its ability to reach a universal audience at a click of a button. Users share information about a product with friends. It is an ideal tool in this regard, since it is not only effective, but cheap and easy to use. On the flip side, this also means that negative information about a product or company will spread with the same speed and efficacy reducing sales.

Non-adoption

Those businesses that are keen about the use of social media to augment their business operations have been successful. However, those that do not adopt such tools or cannot successfully use them have not been as successful. This is especially true for small businesses where those organizations that cannot afford to advertise on social media platforms become less competitive and lose potential customers to those effectively using social media.

Foreign investment

The connectivity that globalization of social media has accomplished has become a conduit for the dissemination of information. Such sharing has presented opportunities that have hitherto been unavailable to individuals (Curran 2002, p. 218).

These opportunities have empowered many communities through the availability of employment opportunities and the improved infrastructure, especially in developing countries where multinational corporations have relocated their operations in a bid to maximize their profits by taking advantage of the cheap available labour and the low costs of doing business.

With the main base of operations still situated in the mother country, communication with the operations in foreign lands is maintained using many forms of media, including social media.

Job seekers

Globalization of social media has become a significant factor in networking for those seeking jobs and has opened opportunities for employers to outsource their work, providing employment opportunities to those who may be disadvantaged geographically.

As well, search for work using traditional means in today’s market is an elusive venture, as most firms, realizing the advantages of social media, now recruit employees online. And, while social networking provides a great way to network, make friends and share information, some information that people reveal about themselves on social networking sites is very personal.

The privacy terms provided by use licences may dispel their fears, but care should be taken when posting information that may not be welcome by all since some practices by employers have raised ethical concerns about job recruitment through social media sites.

These concerns include racism, gender discrimination, sexual discrimination and religious intolerance based on information found during or after the hiring process. What employers forget is that employment laws still apply in the context of social media just as they apply to any other method used for recruitment (Jan 2009, p. 67).

Literacy and artistic talent

Social media can be used to improve literacy and fine-tune artistic talents through the features available on social networking sites that enable quick and easy upload of self-made multimedia productions and materials.

Skill building

Social media sites are filled with new advancements that are user friendly. When students spend a lot of time on social networking sites, they become tech savvy and the skills they learn from these sites will benefit them in their future endeavours.

Study methods. The rate at which students gather and share information on social sites improves their productivity and instils team-building spirit within them. However, too much time spent on social networking sites can result in the development of poor face-to-face interpersonal skills and low self-esteem (Kim et al 2011, p. 370). Face-to-face communication assists a student to develop the use of body language and other non-verbal cues to communicate effectively. Students who lack these skills will have less confidence in themselves.

In addition, student study time is consumed by browsing social sites to chat with friends and update their pages due to the ease with which these sites are accessed and the availability of technology. Social media has also been accused of encouraging moral decadence because children can easily access pornographic sites and other uncensored materials and may try to ape what they see.

Student research

One major area in which social media has made a negative impact is academia. Students resort to regurgitation of information that is easily accessed through Facebook, Twitter, blogs and other forums without taking time to establish the veracity and authenticity of their sources (Jones 1995, p. 66).

The ability to research and retain information is compromised as students come to rely on copying and pasting information. This also encourages plagiarism, a form of academic cheating (Jones 1995, p. 66).

Social media has been used for political gossip, conversations, debates and analyses, especially during election periods. Political activists and analysts have paid keen attention to these hotspots of political innuendo, especially during crises. In effort to make the incumbent look bad the analysts have tended to exaggerate situations for political expediency.

On a positive note, social media has been used by some politicians as platforms for launching their campaigns and as tools for wooing voters as well as instruments for gauging political strength. For instance, in 2008, Barrack Obama embraced social media as a tool to source funds and as a strategic instrument for wooing young American voters (Curtis 2011, p. 64).

Social media have been used by politicians to strengthen and reinforce the political beliefs of their fans and supporters. This make their campaigns very effective compared to mass media. This is because it is easy to narrow down to the targeted audience for maximum impact. A case that clearly demonstrates the impact of globalization of social media is the Arab spring revolutions that erupted across the Middle East and North Africa (Bellamkonda 2012, par 2).

During the Egyptian revolution, after the government shut down all non-government broadcasting stations, communication was facilitated by social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter, among others. Social media provided a means by which aggrieved Egyptians could voice their disappointment and to show the world the atrocities committed against them by the Mubarak regime.

Despite the positive impact that social media has had in the area of politics to keep the populace informed, it has also been an effective tool used to end dictatorial regimes.

One of biggest impacts that the globalization of social media has had is in connection with mass media. In the past, the collection and distribution of information was solely in the hands of mainstream media. With the rise of social media, this domination of information by mass media has been on the decline (Curran 2002, p. 218).

Domination of information is the propagation of ideology through media. The domination of information by mass media can be likened to the domination of knowledge in the dark ages, when the ruling elite controlled all access to books and education at the expense of masses of illiterate peasants (Curran 2002, p. 222).

From a philosophical perspective, mass media ensured that theirs’ was the dominant ideology. Ideology lasts as long as the interests of the dominant are satisfied. It is the ideas of the prevailing class that are entrenched into the social order (Curran 2002, p. 218).

Mass media has had a cunning way of presenting relevant information so that it is generally accepted by the public. In addition, the information distributed by mass media is intended to suit the vested interests of the elite few. Since the emergence of social media, the marginalized populace has managed to liberate itself from the onslaught of misinformation propagated by mass media (Boyd 2007, p. 218).

In fact, globalization of social media has given the masses a medium for voicing their protests against the domination of the ruling class. At the same time, social media has provided a common, unrestricted platform where both the elite and the subordinate class can freely interact, thus removing the barriers of class and status (Ellison 2007, p.1150).

Humanitarian crises

Social media is an essential tool for observers of humanitarian crises as it provides an unedited view of the situation. Although the benefits of social media cannot be definitively measured, its contributions cannot go unnoticed (Boyd 2007, p. 214). Globalization of social media has brought positive changes in the response to humanitarian crises worldwide. It is now possible to receive first hand communication from afflicted regions.

Social media also provides raw unadulterated footage of the situation on the ground (Ellison, 2007, p.1144). It provides a constructive platform for volunteers to contribute to rescue efforts. Social media can also provide nominal advantages to citizens in times of war by facilitating communication when communication lines have been damaged (Chen 2011, p. 5). Social media has proved to be an effective medium for getting assistance to those facing humanitarian crises.

Cultural influence

Just as globalization facilitates social media, social media facilitates cross-cultural interaction. Culture is influenced through contact with other cultures (Allwood 2000, p. 9). In this regard, social media cannot be discussed independently of other forms of media like mass media. In the same way that mass media has a strong influence on global culture, social media also does, and it may be more effective since information transferred by social media is transmitted practically in real time and is first hand.

Until now, people have been forced to operate on two planes: the local and the global. There is a need to encourage healthy cross-cultural interactions through social media without compromising self-identity that can only be established through one’s local culture (Croucher 2011, p. 259).

The interaction platform offered by social media is a breeding ground for cross-fertilization of cultures. Each culture picks what it considers good from other cultures. This has had positive effects on democracy and human rights, where the international community has advocated for universalism.

However, there have been some negative effects in countries like China, which struggles to protect its national culture from what it considers to be the bad influence of the global community (Zhang 2006, p. 113).

When the negative effects of interacting at the global level through social media are felt at the municipal, familial and individual level, the effect has always been that global culture has eroded the culture of the person involved (Kim et al 2011, p. 364). However, influence works both ways and other cultures can influence the global culture (Hall 1976, p. 14).

Personal dialogue

Globalization and technology have met in social media to render time and space irrelevant and ensure that people of different parts of the world can meet and discuss the most intimate issues (Morris 2002, p. 283). Consequently, the security of the individual has been compromised when personal information is given to a total stranger; an action that may have disastrous results, as has been illustrated above.

Social connection

While social media provides many ways to virtually connect with the world, it ironically has the effect of eroding the social skills of an individual who begins to rely on it exclusively. When one spends the majority of time with virtual friends, there is the risk of losing the skills to interact with friends and family in the community (Englehardt 2001, p. 205).

Terrorism and crime

Social media has been used to advance the activity of international crimes and global terrorism. Through these sites, the masterminds of terrorist attacks have been able to easily influence individuals of impressionable minds to join their groups and do their bidding. This has affected the security of individuals, forcing governments back to the drawing board to strategize how to provide security in the modern world (Ellison 2007, p. 1149).

Legal issues

Legal challenges also arise from the use of materials that are shared online through the social sites. Data protection, intellectual property infringement and defamation are legal issues that challenge social media platform owners. Due to its virtual nature, it is easy for users to ignore relevant laws, assuming they do not.

The virtual nature of social media gives a false sense of security, which is not the reality (Jones 1995, p. 68). This trend is encouraged since laws relating to social media are developing slowly compared with the pace of technological development and growth of social media.

Another challenge is controlling the content of social media. What one culture considers offensive and inappropriate could be acceptable to another; or what the global culture finds very interesting might make an individual uncomfortable (White 1980, p. 3). The advent of mobile phones makes the situation more challenging, because while it is possible to control computer networks, it is virtually impossible to control transmission by mobile phones.

Computer and data security

Finally, threats of malware, worms and phishing are real and cannot be under-rated. Social media users need to appreciate the dangers involved with sharing personal information in these platforms. They must first address privacy and security concerns before opening up to their virtual friends.

As has been demonstrated, social media has permeated many aspects of life. For one to maximize the benefits of social media on the global plane, participation in social media workshops is critical, as is attending seminars that offer training on security, networking strategies and how to increase visibility globally.

This paper has reviewed the effects of globalization on social media. It has also highlighted the impact that social media has on different aspects of daily life, including politics, economics, culture, moral values, lifestyle, employment and communication.

The paper has established that there are both positive and negative effects of globalization on social media, presenting a variety of challenges for us all.

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IvyPanda. (2019, May 16). Social Media and Globalization: Positive and Negative Effects Essay. https://ivypanda.com/essays/impacts-of-globalization-on-social-media-essay/

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IvyPanda . 2019. "Social Media and Globalization: Positive and Negative Effects Essay." May 16, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/impacts-of-globalization-on-social-media-essay/.

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Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Social Media and Globalization: Positive and Negative Effects Essay." May 16, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/impacts-of-globalization-on-social-media-essay/.