Category: Social Media

Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Well-being

The Evolution of Communication and Social Media

Along with the progress of human technology, our way of life is also evolving. Former people need to write letters to get in touch with each other by spending a long time. Now, social media has appeared in our life. People can quickly keep in touch with friends from the other side, no matter wherever they are. What is Social Media? Social Media can be websites or applications (Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter) as apps on smartphones that can let people share their content (events, opinions, videos, or photos) in real-time with other people.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Media Consumption

From the past to the present, we can clearly realize that Social Media has brought us much convenience, but there are many youths who cannot control themselves, and it has caused many serious negative effects on them. One of the impacts is that teens become addicted to Social Media and can’t live without it.

The Addiction to Social Media

Whiteman said it was found that 63% of Americans are browsing on Facebook websites every day, and they usually use it not only one time. There are a variety of reasons that people use Social Media. From examining the findings, some people prefer to look at their friend’s or acquaintances’ pages to see what they are doing, while others may just want to post something on Facebook when they are upset. However, according to experts’ analysis could be concluded that the most important reason for using Social Media is that they can do something to go through the time when they are bored. Some people say that Social Media won’t let people become addicted and dependent. Social media can give people more convenience in having a conversation with others. They say that social networking is so easy to contact friends that we don’t have to go outside to have dating, and we just stay at home using devices to contact.

However, people who use Social Media have become dependent on their phones. In the present, you can see many people using their phones everywhere and at every moment. For example, people who have dinner in a restaurant with their friends and you can see they use their phones and talk with their friends in the virtual world instead of having a pleasant conversation with friends who are around them. Many people nowadays spend so much time on their phones using Social Media that they have forgotten how much time they waste on their phones instead of having other meaningful things to do. Social Media is very addictive. Most of the people I know are checking and communicating on social networking sites all day. They don’t know how much time they waste on Social Media. In other words, most people use Social Media to communicate with others every day, and it gradually becomes addictive. Most of them even didn’t know how much time they spend on Social Media per day.

Impact on Social Communication

Another influence on teens using Social Media is Social communication. In other words, Nicholas Dantuono asserts using Social Media may have an influence on communication; talking to other people is necessary and very important in our life which is unavoidable. Wherever we go, we meet people, and we have to talk to people. Social skills are from childhood when you communicate with others through gradual progress. The teen period is the most important time. They are supposed to learn things at their age, but they are affected by Social Media in current. If we don’t pay attention to this situation seriously, their social skills will not be as good as adults nowadays. However, there are also positive effects: What Nicholas Dantuono really means is that using Social Media also has some positive ways. Teenagers are also at a stressful age because of their studies, family, or uncertainty about the future. The use of social media and the ability to keep in touch with friends may have a positive impact on relationships among contemporaries. Since they are under pressure, chatting with friends can become a way to relieve their stress and can have a positive relationship with friends.

Through connectivity and making use of social media, teens can maintain strong relationships with their friends who have the same age and help them to face stress. If social media is used correctly, just like maintaining relationships, teenagers’ social skills must not be reduced so much. In addition, teens spend more time online instead of interacting with people in real life. Everyone can look at their smartphones any time using Social Media. Since Social Media is becoming more common, it is more convenient to get in touch with friends online than face to face, so people gradually prefer to communicate online. In a study that surveyed 280 high school students, most of them use Social Media, and the majority said that they are more comfortable keeping in touch on Social Media than face to-face. Some people say that using Social Media won’t affect people’s social skills. Using Social Media can reduce the time and distance to communicate with each other. For example, a member of the family is on a business trip, and you want to contact him/her. You won’t write a letter or go to the place where he/she is, but you can use Social Media to contact him/her.

The Dangers of Cyber Bullying

Another problem is cyber bullying which people overlook the harm of words on Social Media. Although these words are not spoken face to face in real life, they also are harmful doing on online. Cyberbullying happens often on social media such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter because people can write anything about it. What is cyberbullying? Cyberbullying refers to people who bully or harass another person on the internet. It can be done in many ways, such as spreading rumors about someone, spending mean information or threats to a person’s email or cellphone, or sending a damaging message by burglarizing someone’s account. Cyberbullying Research Center has done the research and shows cyberbullying statistics: There are about half of the teens who use Social Media have experienced the situation of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying has been divided into several familiar ways, such as demagoguery and hurtful and aggressive comments. Boys are being cyberbullied easier than girls, and victims of cyberbullying would consider suicide. It is evident from the data that most people who use smartphones have met cyberbullying, and some of them often happen to them.

There are many forms of cyberbullying, and there are some most common types. For instance, a hurtful comment, spreading rumors, or being mean to other people on the internet by using Social Media. Dave Harte states when they are face to face, there are some words that they dare to say, but people can have a conversation or write whatever they want on Social Media; they are not worried about getting in trouble with somebody and don’t have to take any responsibility for what they said. In addition, if you think it only happened to girls, you are wrong. From previous research, boys have met the situation more often than girls. Since they have often suffered in such bad situations, it might make them feel depressed, and they are going to commit suicide (Dave Harte). However, there is also some upside for teens that use Social Media. According to Katie Hurley, for teenagers who are not easily getting along with peers face to face or have difficulty with social skills, it might be a good method to let them communicate on Social Media and find support instead of being isolated (Katie Hurley). Next, using Social Media can damage people’s mental health.

The most serious problem is that social media has caused a lack of sleep in teens. From examining the findings, teenagers spend at least 1 hour on Social Media such as Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. These teenagers had more sleep problems compared to those who had restricted use of Social Media. In other words, Robyn Treyvaud asserts teenagers need more sleep than adults, but they don’t. In the present, teens are used to scrolling their phones in bed before they prepare for sleep. Browsing Social Media information may let their mind keep awake. Teenagers need to sleep 8-10 hours per day, but they didn’t reach this standard. If you don’t sleep sufficiently, it might cause unhealthy. For example, if you are not concentrating the next day and you cannot study well in school, you will have acne on your face because of lack of sleep or become irritable, stressed, or anxious.

The other issue is comparing with others which may cause depression in teenagers. Katie Hurley said people who use Social Media like Facebook will become depressed because people will compare themselves with others, and they will have negative feelings such as being discouraged, embarrassed, or depressed. Facebook depression is a new term that refers to depression that develops because children and teens spend a lot of time on social media sites and begin to experience depression as a result. When teens compare themselves to photos of others and the illusion of others’ better lives, they can experience decreased self-esteem and depression.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the progress of science and technology in many fields has made peoples’ life more advanced and convenient. The progress of science and technology has a direct and positive impact on people’s way of life. On the other hand, it also indirectly and negatively affects people’s health. Although what is happening is not changing, we can find a more active and correct way to use Social Media to make young people live in a healthy environment.

References:

1. Nicholas Dantuono (2015). “How Social Media is Effecting Social and Communication Skills Among Adolescents.” Retrieved April 27, 2018. From https://slwrig02.expressions.syr.edu/spring2015wrt205/2015/03/28/how-social-media-is-effecting-social-and-communication-skills-among-adolescents/
2. Honor Whiteman (2015). “Social Media: How Does it Affect Our Mental Health and Well-being?” Retrieved April 27, 2018. From https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/275361.php
3. “Social Media Bullying Has Become a Serious Problem.” Retrieved April 27, 2018. From https://nobullying.com/social-media-bullying-has-become-a-serious-problem/
4. “Cyber Bullying Statistics.” Retrieved April 27, 2018. From http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/cyber-bullying-statistics.html
5. Robyn Treyvaud: “The Negative Effects Of Social Media On Teens.” Retrieved April 27, 2018. From https://wanglefamilyinsites.com/advice/negative-effects-of-social-media-on-teens/
6. Katie Hurley: “Social Media and Teens: How Does Social Media Affect Teenagers’ Mental Health.” Retrieved April 27, 2018. From https://www.psycom.net/social-media-teen-mental-health

The Double-Edged Sword of Social Media: Benefits Against the Detriments

The Pervasiveness of Social Media in Modern Life

Social media is convenient to use in everyday life, but not if it takes over years of your life. According to a study by influencer marketing agency Mediakix, “The average person will spend more than five years of their lives on social media. Sure social media is convenient to use, but do we want the younger generation wasting this much of their lives on social media when it could go towards something more important like their education? While the use of social media has helped people by making communication easy, its overall impact is negative and is causing people more harm than good. Social media can be addictive, cause self-esteem issues, and can leave people exposed to bullying and manipulation by others.

The Mental Health Toll of Media Consumption

Spending hours on end on social media can cause a variety of problems or issues. Using social media networks comes with its toll on your mind. In J.H.Lewis’ article, he says: “The more social networks we use, the more likely we are to report depression, so it’s important we are wise in our selection.” I personally know many people who face depression because of social media, and I understand why Lewis thinks that social networks cause depression. Social media has a lot of risk factors that aren’t usually thought of, such as taking away from family time, work, education and even destroying friendships.

According to the Journal of adolescent health, “22% of teens lost their friendship with someone due to actions on social media sites.” Instead of playing outside, kids are scrolling through other people’s posted lives. The reason there are a reported 210 million people who suffer from social media addictions is because of how easily accessible it is to anyone. With a click of a button, one can connect to anyone in the world. Although social media gives you instant communication with others, it can pose a danger to people by being so addictive. I think the stress that comes with using social media doesn’t outweigh the harm it causes millions of people worldwide.

Social Media and Self-Esteem: A Double-Edged Sword

Social media can cause self-esteem issues by giving people the mentality that they need to obtain a certain standard of beauty that is unrealistic. Surfing the web for hours on end and seeing people post unachievable body figures makes people feel bad for themselves. Young children are looking at models on social media and are obtaining a mentality that if they don’t look like them, then their “ugly.” Most of the time, the models themselves can not even achieve these standards seeing as most photos posted are altered in some way to have an unrealistic body image.

The fact that as of 2017, “daily social media usage of global internet users amounted to 116 minutes per day” shows you how much time people spend envying other people’s lives and hating their lives even more. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” a quote from Theodore Roosevelt, argues that comparing yourself to other people’s work or lives will only make you miserable. When you compare yourself to others, you only see the positive side of them; they might face depression like a lot of other people, and just because they have something that’s seen as admirable doesn’t mean their lives are perfect.

The problem with social media is that everyone’s lives look more desirable online, and people change those goals. In an in-depth interview performed by Clarissa Silva, a Behavioral Scientist, it was found that “60% of people using social media reported that it has impacted their self-esteem in a negative way.” She went on to say, “Emotionally secure people do not struggle as much with these issues. However, a large portion of our population has emotional insecurities.”

The Dangers and Opportunities in Social Media Usage

People face all kinds of problems when using social media, including cyberbullying, fraud, and manipulation. Social media has been linked to teen depression, and since social media use is common among teenagers, there are a lot of possible targets surfing social media. The dangers of identity theft, cyberbullying, hacking accounts, and so many other factors are why social media isn’t worth the risk it brings. Anyone can make up a persona and hide behind profiles they create, and people say nasty things online because they have a sense of security that they will get away with it. In an article from the New York Times, “Searching Social Media for Clues About Violent Crimes.” Kevin, Roose states that “Some trainees shared stories of being exposed to online abuse and intimidation from colleagues.”

As you can see, there are many reasons why social media is harmful, and despite all the benefits that come with using social media, it causes more harm than good and is very dangerous. Anonymity. Many people find it easier to share problems and feelings openly when there’s minimal risk of identification or “real-life” consequences. Anonymity allows for cyberbullying. This is especially problematic for teens, as bullies can target and prey on vulnerable high school peers without taking personal responsibility. Stalking can also be an issue, as social media users sometimes post their whereabouts, and their habits can be easily monitored.

Despite all the negative things that come with social media, Karim believes that the impact social media has on mass movements is huge and is a deciding factor of whether the movement will reach a wide variety of people across the globe and thinks it’s a big beneficial factor we must consider. In his article ‘Energising the political movements in developing countries: the role of social media.’ Karim, an associate accounting professor, says, “Social media can potentially play an important role in organizing large-scale socio-political events.” Social media may help with movements gaining momentum and reaching a large scale of people, but the facts may not always be clear, and it isn’t the only option we have. Frequently searched results online show that people search for support and services on potential suicide.

In her article “Using the Internet for suicide-related purposes: Contrasting findings from young people in the community and self-harm patients admitted to Hospital’ Biddle says, “Counterbalancing this, there has been considerable discussion about the internet’s potential to deliver suicide prevention through support sites and forums, links to help services and online mental health interventions and apps.”

Although it may be true that there are a few suicide prevention sites online, many reasons why people face depression because people make accounts online that are made primarily to mess with other people and say cruel things online because they have a sense of protection that they won’t get caught which they don’t in many cases. Being able to have instant communication helps people in everyday life and makes things a lot easier. In Agrawal’s article, he says, “News outlets can share breaking stories, alerts, and other important bits of news instantly with their followers.” Despite the convenience social media brings, being able to share information so easily puts everyone’s personal information at risk of getting hacked.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the stress that comes with using social media doesn’t outweigh the harm it causes millions of people worldwide. Its overall impact is negative and is causing people more harm than good. The easily accessible social media is easy to get hooked, and although I don’t think people should quit social media altogether, I do think people should limit the time they spend on social media. Social media can be addictive, cause self-esteem issues, and can leave people exposed to bullying and manipulation by others.

References:

1. Mediakix. (n.d.). The average person will spend more than five years of their lives on social media. Retrieved from https://mediakix.com/blog/social-media-average-time-spent-on-social-media-infographic/
2. Lewis, J. H. (2018). The more social networks we use, the more likely we are to report depression, so it’s important we are wise in our selection. Retrieved from https://www.dailynews.com/2018/03/29/social-media-use-associated-with-depression-among-young-adults-study-finds/
3. Business Insider. (2017). Daily time spent on social networks by internet users worldwide from 2012 to 2017 (in minutes). Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/433871/daily-social-media-usage-worldwide/
4. Silva, C. (2017). 60% of people using social media reported that it has impacted their self-esteem in a negative way. Retrieved from https://www.yourtango.com/2017300757/are-you-always-comparing-yourself-others-why-stopping-will-help-your-self-esteem
5. Roose, K. (2015). Searching Social Media for Clues About Violent Crimes. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/08/technology/personaltech/searching-social-media-for-clues-about-violent-crimes.html
6. Karim, A. (2014). Energising the political movements in developing countries: the role of social media. Retrieved from https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=3653&context=businesspapers
7. Biddle, L. (2008). Using the internet for suicide-related purposes: Contrasting findings from young people in the community and self-harm patients admitted to hospital. PLoS ONE, 3(3), e1412. Retrieved from https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0001412

The Complex Impact of Social Media on Modern Society

Understanding Social Media

Social media is websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. Currently, the most popular platforms include Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Youtube, Reddit, and Pinterest. Social media has become such a massive part of society that it is nearly impossible for one to live without being affected by it in some form. When used correctly, social media can be a great tool for communication and interaction, but when used incorrectly, it can also be a source of stress, a platform for bullying and end up having a negative impact on one’s life.

The Positive Side of Media

Social media can be an excellent platform on which to connect with one’s friends and family. “You can express yourself by showing off your favorite song lyrics or posting pictures of your new outfit. It is a lot harder to feel embarrassment over the internet than in person, so people find it easier to vent their feelings on sites like Facebook”. One can receive positive feedback on the content he shares, such as his outfit or feelings, and this can result in a boost in self-esteem. One can also build up a friendship based on common interests, which are easily expressed through the use of social media. By disclosing one’s day-to-day problems on social media, he can find other people who are experiencing similar difficulties. Communicating with those people would be an excellent way of coping with one’s situation because those people with have the best understanding of the problem and will be able to empathize.

This can be especially helpful when dealing with stressful situations such as the death of a loved one, injury, illness, anxiety problems, depression, as well as numerous other problems. “A new study from the University of Leuven in Belgium finds that Instagram, the hottest platform on the market, can help adolescents cope with depression and social anxiety. In a large-scale study, youths were surveyed twice a year regarding their use of social media and their life contentment. Instagram usage correlated with feelings of friendship and closeness, which reduced depression.

For some people, social media can help them cope with their social anxiety and depression as well as improve their overall quality of life. “Social media websites such as Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram are essential for catching up with friends, releasing your inner thoughts, and sharing great moments that you have experienced (Odunze, par. 1). Social media is an efficient way of keeping in touch with people whom one may not see very often. Through the use of social media, one is able to stay interconnected on a global level.

“With so much of the global community being nearly constantly connected to social media, delivering news alerts on social media channels reaches more people faster. News outlets can share breaking stories, alerts, and other important bits of news instantly with their followers. When more people are aware of a situation, those working to secure locations and ensure the safety of the general public can perform their job duties more efficiently”. Social media provides an effective platform on which important information can be spread instantly.

The Dark Side of Social Media

Although social media has many positives, there are also many negatives to having social media. There is a great correlation between social media use and the amount of sleep per night. Gloria Mark, an informatics professor at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), conducted a study on this correlation. “When it came to a correlation with computer/phone use, the researchers found the greater the sleep debt a student accrued, the more time they spent looking at social media, regardless of whether it was on their computer or their phone.

The researchers conducted end-of-week interviews with the participants and found many use Facebook as part of their sleep and wake routines. And about 20 students described using social media as part of their pre-bed ritual — something experts frown upon”. Based on this study, researchers were able to conclude that students experienced a lack of sleep due to their excessive use of social media before bed. Another striking discovery in this study was the fact that some students considered social media a part of their “pre-bed ritual.”

It is extremely easy to lose track of time when using social media, and this can result in severe sleep deprivation, which leads to exhaustion throughout one’s day.Cyberbullying is another major problem associated with the use of social media. It has been an increasingly common phenomenon for bullying and harassment to take place online through social media. Bullies feel as though the device, which they use to harass other people, is a form of protection for them. By not having to look at the victim, a bully is able to post hurtful comments, spread rumors, and express hateful opinions without having to face the consequences which would accompany those actions if they were to be done without hiding behind a screen. “Alarmingly, teens typically suffered cyberbullying in silence.

“Kids really are hesitant to tell anyone when cyberbullying occurs,” Hamm said. “There seems to be a common fear that if they tell their parents, for example, they’ll lose their Internet access”. Children are too afraid to reach out for help when they are being bullied in fear that they will suffer consequences due to the actions of their tormentors. This creates a dangerous situation as most parents are not monitoring their children’s social media accounts and are unable to help their children deal with the bullying due to the fact that they are not aware of it. “It has been well documented that cyberbullying has resulted in tragic events including suicide, and self-harm and clearly, more needs to be done in order to protect vulnerable children and adults from online bullying”. There is not nearly enough regulation on social media platforms to subdue the bullying and harassment which occurs on social media platforms.

The Emotional and Relationship Impacts of Media

Social media can also affect various other emotions, such as envy, loneliness, and anxiety, as well as affecting relationships. “In a study involving 600 adults, roughly a third said social media made them feel negative emotions – mainly frustration – and envy was the main cause. This was triggered by comparing their lives to others…exposure to such highly idealized representations of peers’ lives may elicit feelings of envy and the distorted belief that others lead happier and more successful lives”. This can have a negative effect if one feels as though they are inadequate or unsuccessful after viewing the actions and accomplishments of their fellow social media users. Social media also greatly increases how often one checks his phone.

For example, if one were to look around a restaurant while waiting for food to be served, he would find that the majority of customers would be checking their phones. Social media is also a large factor in relationships. Even a small action, such as someone’s significant other liking a post from a member of the opposite gender, can cause a fight between a couple which can possibly lead to a breakup. Social media is still a relatively new tool and, like all new things, has its positives and negatives. As society learns more about social media, it will work and adapt to make social media a safer and overall better platform on which to operate. When used correctly, social media can be a great tool for communication and interaction, but when used incorrectly, it can also be a source of stress and a platform for bullying and end up having a negative impact on one’s life.

Works Cited

1. Agrawal, A. J. (2016, March 18). It’s Not All Bad: The Social Good Of Social Media. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajagrawal/2016/03/18/its-not-all-bad-the-social-good-of-social-media/
2. Almendrala, A. (2015, June 23). Cyberbullying And Depression Go Hand In Hand, According To New Study. The Huffington Post. Retrieved from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cyberbullying-and-depression_n_7645176
3. Brown, J. (2018, January 5). Future – Is Social Media Bad for You? The Evidence and the Unknowns. BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180104-is-social-media-bad-for-you-the-evidence-and-the-unknowns
4. Bullying UK. (n.d.). Effects of Cyberbullying. Retrieved from https://www.bullying.co.uk/cyberbullying/effects-of-cyberbullying/
5. Liu, L. (2017, April 17). Researchers Find That Social Media Can Make You Happier or Miserable. Entrepreneur. Retrieved from https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/292429
6. Odunze, K. (2013, March 26). Social Media Keeps Us Connected. The Daily Collegian. Retrieved from http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archives/article_8d40b120-9536-11e2-b698-0019bb30f31a.html
7. BBC News. (2013, April 8). The Positives and Negatives of Using Social Networking Sites – BBC News School Report. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport/22025903
8. Wikipedia. (2018, March 20). Social Media. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_media
9. Smith, S. (2016, February 5). Sleep And Social Media: New Study Finds Link Between Facebook Use And Lack Of Sleep. Medical Daily. Retrieved from https://www.medicaldaily.com/sleep-and-social-media-new-study-finds-link-between-facebook-use-and-lack-sleep-369116

Overview
The digital marketing landscape is constantly changing, and companies m

Overview
The digital marketing landscape is constantly changing, and companies must be nimble and able to develop, evaluate, and change their digital marketing strategies in a short amount of time. Traditional marketing allowed marketers to create brand messaging and control how it was shared with an audience. But now more than ever, control over what is said about a brand or product has been put into the hands of consumers. The internet, social media, and mobile platforms have given rise to the voice of customers, and marketers have had to adapt.
Prompt
For this assignment, you will select a brand from the provided list and analyze its current digital marketing strategy. Begin by selecting a brand, doing your analysis, and then answering the questions in the critical elements below:
Starbucks
Microsoft
TED Talks
Doritos
Burberry
Nike
Oreos
Denny’s
Pampers
Netflix
Dove
Honest Tea
ADT
Taco Bell
Beats by Dre
Reese’s
Krylon Spray Paint
MasterCard
Prudential
Target
IKEA
Lego
Harley-Davidson
Specifically, the following critical elements from Final Project I must be addressed:
The Brand’s Use of Digital Marketing: In this section, you will examine the current marketing strategies used by the brand you selected.
Describe the strategy the brand is using to position itself in digital media (social, mobile, and online). Support your description with examples.
Describe how the brand’s digital media strategy relates to its overall marketing campaign seen in print, television, and online. Support your description with examples.
Examine whether the digital marketing activity aligns with the organization’s overall brand. Support your response with examples.
What to Submit
Your paper should be a 2- to 3-page (excluding the title and references pages) Microsoft Word document with double spacing, 12-pt. Times New Roman font, one-inch margins, and at least three sources cited in APA format.

Small Business:  Larry’s Private Car and Limo Worldwide, Inc. – www.larryslimo.c

Small Business:  Larry’s Private Car and Limo Worldwide, Inc. – www.larryslimo.com they have a facebook page and IG which both are not updated.  
Choose a local small business. How does the company currently use digital media? Are these methods or strategies effective? Explain using evidence and/or specific examples to support your rationale. What recommendations do you have to assist the company in improving its current strategies? Are there any mobile strategies that would be effective? Explain.