Social media use among
young people has had more negative than positive implications on the younger generation. The use of social media among young people in their
adolescence stage has increased in recent years thanks to developments of communications and
information technologies. Studies increasingly show that social media sites
such as Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter have almost replaced face to face communication
among the youth and also with their parents. The primary cause of this
unprecedented phenomenon could be numerous benefits and opportunities that
social media offers to this group of the present generation. Through social
media, young people can socialize with and find a new friend online, form
social groups, learn brand new things, and events around the globe, communicate with peers and share or receive
information. However, social media and its usage among young people have
potential benefits, serious concerns are being raised about the possible adverse impacts of social media use among them. Social media has led to communication problems in families between
youth and their families. According to a survey by Salgur, while it has
improved public connections and communication among teenagers, it has had
profound effects on the way adolescents relate with other people in the family
setting (24). This author argues that teenagers can interact with many
individuals from different parts of the world, this form of online
communication, unlike straight face to face interaction, does not build bonds
between the youth and others in the society. He argues that when the young
spend most of their time online, their ability to relate well with other
members of the family becomes adversely affected. This argument finds support
in the work of Babulal Panchal. According to the author, online communication
presents the techno-savvy generation with a plethora of opportunities and
advantages. It has equally destroyed family relationships due to over
dependence of electronic communication (70). He argued that it’s like a form of
slavery in the lives of adolescents, it is important for parents to take up
their parenthood responsibilities and appropriately limit its use. The usage
thus affects the socialization and interaction process among the youth because
such communication lacks a personal touch. Therefore, in families where the
youth prefers the use of the Internet as a means of communication with family
members, there is rarely family unity. This weakens the connection between
young people in the real life (Salgur 30).
Furthermore, social media has had negative impacts on the
mental health of youth. Too much exposure, causes depression and exposes
teenagers to cyber bullying. Consequently, this affects their social and mental
health and well-being. A study by Alfie Lloyd on the role played by social
media in their mental health found that it has mixed positive and adverse
effects on their cognitive development. On the cynical front, he found that the
usage exposes them to negative stimuli such as aggressive and violent video
contents, unwanted commercial advertising, pornographic information other
things that cultivate radical notions in children hence affecting their mental
orientation and development (Lloyd 341). In addition to this, Michele Hamm argued that though social
media has revolutionized the way teenagers interact, it has profoundly affected
their mental health through cyber bullying. According to research conducted by
these authors, most young people reported having experienced depression after
being cyber bullied through online platforms (770). Thus, their
study concluded that there is a nexus between depression, which is a mental
condition and cyber bullying. This depression caused by cyber bullying, these
authors contend, adversely affect the emotional and development of young
people. John William’s study reveals that adolescent who
use online platforms more frequently tend to develop suicidal
feelings and behaviors. Such self-destructive behavior, he points out, usually
begin in the electronic broadcast media from where they are spread to teenagers
who use may be affected by infecting each (Williams 34). In addition to these,
the mention above can causes increased likelihood of public isolation
among them thus affecting their mental health and overall well-being (Best,
Manktelow and Taylor 27).
Moreover, the use among them raises issues of ethics,
safety and privacy of this group of individuals in the society. Carrie James
argued that electronic platforms use by teenagers presents what they
call “ethical fault lines” about access to online media. These issues include privacy,
identity, authorship, ownership, participation and credibility issues. Social
media is fraught with risks as well as opportunities for young people but its
impact on ethics, respect and the role of youth in the society are unpleasant
(James 225). When youthful teenagers participate in online discussions and
communication or interaction with adults using social media, it raises
questions about the appropriateness of permitting them to do so. Further to
this, virtual identity taking place in the Internet may
undermine the identity formation of them through the self-reflection and
self-expression through public media platforms. The upshot of this is thus
identity play may result in deceptions while using social media whereby
strangers may get to know one’s offline identity and hence harm them (235). It
may have adverse impacts on them by exposing them to cyber-stalking, identity
theft, displaying violent images and interfere with their interpersonal skills.
These kinds of exposure through media platforms are a risk to the safety
and security of adolescent since they may be tricked into meeting people who
turn out to be criminals. Besides the above effects, they may have
potentially devastating impacts on their thinking and creativity processes and their
ability to create interpersonal relationships.
Though social media usage among young people comes with a myriad
of benefits and opportunities for the younger generation, it is likely to
make a negative impact on them. Social media enhances learning of the process,
expands their online connectivity, helps in interaction and communication and
provides efficient ways of receiving and sharing new information. However, the use of social media creates addiction and hence
affects the ability of adolescent users to interact effectively with members of
their families, affects mental health and exposes children to harm through
cyber stalking, harassment and bullying. Therefore, social media has negative
implications on young people. Hence its time their access and
use of such sites were regulated to save a generation.
Works
Cited
Best, Paul, Roger Manktelow,
and Brian Taylor. "Online communication, social media and adolescent
wellbeing: A systematic narrative review." Children and Youth Services
Review, vol. 41, Elsevier B.V, 2014..doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.03.001.
Hamm,
Michele P, et al. "Prevalence And Effect Of Cyberbullying On Children And
Young People: A Scoping Review Of Social Media Studies." JAMA
Pediatrics 169.8 (2015): 770-777. MEDLINE Complete. Web. 20 July
2016.
James, Carrie, et al.
"YOUNG PEOPLE, ETHICS, AND THE NEW DIGITAL MEDIA." Contemporary
Readings in Law and Social Justice 2.2 (2010): 215-84. ProQuest. Web.
21 July 2016.
Lloyd, Alfie.
"Social Media, Help Or Hindrance: What Role Does Social Media Play In Young
People's Mental Health?." Psychiatria Danubina 26 Suppl 1. (2014):
340-346. MEDLINE Complete. Web. 19 July 2016.
Panchal, Babulal Chunilal.
"Social Media: Obstacle Or Approach to Family Relationship." Deliberative
Research 24.1 (2014): 73-8. ProQuest. Web. 22 July 2016.
Salgur, Selami Ahmet. "HOW DOES THE USE
OF SOCIAL NETWORKING AFFECT FAMILY COMMUNICATION OF TEENAGERS?" Euromentor
Journal 7.1 (2016): 21-32. ProQuest. Web. 18 July 2016.
Williams,
John. "The Effect On Young People Of Suicide Reports In The Media." Mental
Health Practice 14.8 (2011): 34-36 3p. CINAHL Complete. Web. 19 July
2016.
