Negative Impact of Social Networks on People and Society - Research Paper Example

Social Media Negative Impacts Introduction Social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Linked in and various other media types including, text messaging and online chatting have made a critical place in the lives of all US citizens and people located throughout the world. This element of teenager’s life comprises of various disadvantages for teenagers and if certain restrictions are applied, this device will only end up producing fruitful results. Social media has benefited students in different walks of life; this media helps students in their education, learning and development of interpersonal and personal communication skills and bridges the gap between family members and friends. Social media’s negative effects outweigh the benefits as teenagers are vulnerable and not fully mentally developed and they are easy targets for criminal minds. Body Social media offers several benefits to teenagers and the people they want to stay connected with. According to a research conducted by Common Sense Media’s Program, teenagers believe that they are having more benefits from social media than the perceived disadvantages. Social media has aided in development of communication and interpersonal skills. Research also suggests that children use the internet in their own room, contacting with friends and thus, making inter-personal skill much stronger. Moreover, the social networking websites are providing the platform to connect the friends and act as a communication tool rather than an isolation device. This medium increases the number of connection and friends that a teenager has and it keeps them busy which assists in avoiding bad habits such alcohol and drug abuse. With the aid of social media, teenagers try to test different way of talking to different people and this helps them in developing their social and technical skills that are required in the real world. Social media even helps in consolidating existing relationships, teenagers tend to exchange email ids and Facebook ids with people they meet in the offline world and then they interact with them through the online world which helps teenagers in remaining in contact with their friends at all times and this helps in consolidating relationships. Social media has helped in decreasing the distance between individuals. Teenagers tend to be in a problematic situation with their parents if their parents do not live with them. They feel lonely and helpless when they are not able to share their issues with their family members. Social media has bridged the distance between teens and parents who live in two different ends of the world. This has even helped them in reducing their stress as social media has allowed them to communicate with their family members. While using social networking websites, the major consideration lies for the children having unwanted chat with harmful predators. According to host of dateline NBC’s, Chris Hansen in “to catch a predator”, he gave a serious warning regarding the alarming trend of sexual crimes by these predators (Ybarra 250). There is a general believe that child predators on internet are elder human beings, who never disclose their real age and they only chat with children and stealthy involve them in sexual activities. Some renowned internet based researchers including Ybarra learnt about 1,700 internet related sex crimes cases in 2008 (Ybarra 250). Opposite to what is perceived by many people and TV show host, the research suggests that 99% of the predator’s victims are not young infants but teenagers using internet (Ybarra 250). The major crime related to internet under this category is statutory rape and non-forcible sex crimes. The numbers of contacts with the unknown predators or strangers however, are very less i.e. only 7% of the young teenagers feel misuse of uncomfortable while chatting (Lenhart 2008). The more alarming point is that out of 7%, only 3% let their parents or elders know about the uncomfortable situation resulted from the stranger’s chat (Lenhart 2008). This shows that children are less likely to report the online based problems. Online bullying is also termed as cyberbullying. The cyberbullying problem is considered as the most extensive problem that can impact every single teenager using internet. The researches have given a percentage of 40 to 70% determining the high rate of incidents involving in cyber bullying (Lenhart 2008). The acts come under the heading of cyberbullying includes sending of threatening messages as the major act and less aggressive one is forward private messages just like disclosing a secret note. There are many parents and counselors worried about the exposure of sexual content or pornography to young children through SNS. Along with this, sharing of pornographic links can take place through such website easily. According to a research conducted in 2008, there are 70% of teenagers aged between 15 and 17 having accidental access to the pornographic websites and have self-reported the issue (Lenhart 2008). In 2008 there was a research conducted by William and Mertern that concludes that teenagers like to mention about their sexual exercise on SNS. The study revealed by national campaign to prevent teen and unplanned pregnancy has made shocking revelations that one out of five teens has sent their nude or semi-nude pictures through websites. The girls are the most common target and they considered to be semi dressed in order to look trendy and up to date, thereby, sharing such explicit pictures to attract the opposite gender. Sexting on the other hand, is the texting of sexual information through websites or phone. 6% of the teenagers are found guilty of the crime and they considered it as a sexy gift by sending it to their girlfriend or boyfriend (Williams 2008). It has been researched that teenagers like to mention about their personal activities like use of alcohol and drugs on online websites and forums. Another research revealed that one out of five profiles of teenagers clearly disclosed the use of alcohol by underage teens. Even though teenagers like to post their private information on facebook but they set some privacy setting to make it viewable to friends only or specific people they want to inspire. Revealing of private information of the social networking websites minimize the chance of the teenager to get admission in a college. There are many parents much concerned about the profiles of their children that may reject them from getting an admission to the college or even to get a job. However, according to the research conducted by an educational test preparation company, Kaplan, 500 universities and colleges were selected to surveyed and only 380 responses were received that showed that 10% colleges and universities check the applicant’s facebook or MySpace profile prior to the admission. 38% of the officials revealed that profile viewing may diminish the chance and bring negative outcome (La 2009). There is no standard definition of internet addiction and there is no limit that is used to measure the severity of the situation. One report suggested that only 2% kids are referred to as addicted (Kaltiala-Heino, 2004). Opposite to this, there is another study that suggests 30% children are internet addicts (Kaltiala-Heino, 2004). The difference in the percentage is due to the non-availability of set standards. The use of internet for many hours makes them an addict. It can be for entertainment purpose or for other reasons. This compulsive use of internet may cause the children to face loneliness, depression and anxiety. There is a perception that excessive use of internet reduces the inter-personal skills and personal communication thus, leads to relationship failures. The major problem lies in the face to face social skills that get weaker with time. Children do realize that their family time is decreasing but the friend’s time on internet is facing no changes. Loneliness occurs due to the extensive use of internet as mentioned by a researcher. The moody’s study of undergraduates have revealed that use of internet creates loneliness as there is no intimate relationship occurs. On the other hand, the study shows the decline in the level of loneliness as teenagers feel more connected with the friends and community. A poor get poorer model was introduced by Bessiere et al in 2002 that suggests introverts get much lonelier by using internet to its extreme and their stress level gets high (Bessière 48). The use of internet may cause the teenagers to get distracted from the real world activities. They waste a lot of time on the internet and perform more than one task at one time. For instance: a teenager updates his facebook status, at the same time he is engaging in IM chat as well as working on a school assignment. The negative effects of social media are outweighing its positive effects. There are limited numbers of benefits as compared to the negative effects. The major benefits obtained by children through social media are development of interpersonal skills. But these skills can be developed in a better manner if teenagers communicate with significant others in the real world. Plus teenagers are vulnerable against the minds of the pedophiles that look for weak targets and then pounce on them. Due to this level of vulnerability parents should monitor how their children make use of this media. Conclusion Internet and social media has flourished over the past few years but it has negatively impacted the teenagers of US and teenagers around the world. Social media has both advantages and disadvantages, if social media is used in the appropriate manner and certain amount of controls are levied by parents and teenagers themselves, then the harmful effects of social media can be countered and this technology will only produce benefits. Works Cited Bessière, Katherine, Sara Kiesler, Robert Kraut, and Bonka S. Boneva. "Effects of Internet Use and Social Resources on Changes in Depression." Information, Communication & Society. 11.1 (2008): 47-70. Print. Kaltiala-Heino, Riittakerttu, Tomi Lintonen, and Arja Rimpelä. "Internet Addiction? Potentially Problematic Use of the Internet in a Population of 12-18 Year-Old Adolescents." Addiction Research and Theory. 12.1 (2004): 89-96. Print. La, Roche C. R, Mary A. Flanigan, and Roche S. C. R. La. "Facebook: Perils, Perceptions and Precautions." Journal of College Teaching & Learning. 6.5 (2009): 31-38. Print. Williams, AL, and MJ Merten. "A Review of Online Social Networking Profiles by Adolescents: Implications for Future Research and Intervention." Adolescence. 43.170 (2008): 253-74. Print. Ybarra, Michele L. "Linkages between Depressive Symptomatology and Internet Harassment Among Young Regular Internet Users." Cyberpsychology & Behavior. 7.2 (2004): 247-257. Print. Lenhart, Amanda, and Mary Madden. Teens, Privacy & Online Social Networks: How Teens Manage Their Online Identities and Personal Information in the Age of Myspace. Washington, D.C: Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2007. Internet resource. Read More