The Situation
Buzz! Buzz! A teenager’s phone is blowing up with notifications from Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and text messages. The media has once again creeped its way onto the screen. Social media is in everyone’s lives in some way, shape, or form- especially teenagers. We can either love it or hate it, but we have to accept it. The question that has become more prominent, however, is whether or not social media is positively or negatively impacting teenager’s lives today.
Social Media Disadvantages
Some members of society are opposed to the idea that teens are benefitting from social media and should spend their time on it. Experts such as Dr. Catherine Steiner Adair, author of The Big Disconnect, believes teenagers are missing out on critical skills due to social media, "There's no question kids are missing out on very critical social skills. In a way, texting and online communicating...it puts everybody in a nonverbal disabled context, where body language, facial expression, and even the smallest kinds of vocal reactions are rendered invisible." According to a survey conducted in 2015 by the Pew Research Center, 92% of teens aged 13-17, who have smartphones and access to the internet go online to social medias daily, 24% of which go online almost constantly. Teenagers using social media are also at a higher risk for cyberbullying or harassment. ProCon.org states that 49.5% of students reported being the victims of bullying online and 33.7% reported committing bullying behavior online. Teenagers who spend time on social media are all in all at risk for dangers and do not receive the face to face contact that is critical for their social skills.
Say Yes To Social Media!
On the other hand, many believe differently. Some individuals think that teenagers using social media sites benefit from doing just that. The Guardian News found that some experts believe so, "Indeed, social scientists who study young people have found that their digital use can be inventive and even beneficial... Research by Amanda Lenhart of the Pew Research Centre, a US thinktank, found that the most avid texters are also the kids most likely to spend time with friends in person." Experts found that teens who spend time on social media contribute to their education, as schools and teachers have adapted to the use of technology for learning purposes. Teenagers using social media benefit from its many advantages and help to build the up-and-coming technological world.
Conclusion
The use of social media in teenagers today has grown significantly since the past. Teenagers use it as a hobby, to share images, and talk with friends. Society may view the obsession as a negative impact on teen's lives, or a positive one. However one may view the facts, the reality is that social media is apart of our lives and it effects us greatly.
Buzz! Buzz! A teenager’s phone is blowing up with notifications from Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, and text messages. The media has once again creeped its way onto the screen. Social media is in everyone’s lives in some way, shape, or form- especially teenagers. We can either love it or hate it, but we have to accept it. The question that has become more prominent, however, is whether or not social media is positively or negatively impacting teenager’s lives today.
Social Media Disadvantages
Some members of society are opposed to the idea that teens are benefitting from social media and should spend their time on it. Experts such as Dr. Catherine Steiner Adair, author of The Big Disconnect, believes teenagers are missing out on critical skills due to social media, "There's no question kids are missing out on very critical social skills. In a way, texting and online communicating...it puts everybody in a nonverbal disabled context, where body language, facial expression, and even the smallest kinds of vocal reactions are rendered invisible." According to a survey conducted in 2015 by the Pew Research Center, 92% of teens aged 13-17, who have smartphones and access to the internet go online to social medias daily, 24% of which go online almost constantly. Teenagers using social media are also at a higher risk for cyberbullying or harassment. ProCon.org states that 49.5% of students reported being the victims of bullying online and 33.7% reported committing bullying behavior online. Teenagers who spend time on social media are all in all at risk for dangers and do not receive the face to face contact that is critical for their social skills.
Say Yes To Social Media!
On the other hand, many believe differently. Some individuals think that teenagers using social media sites benefit from doing just that. The Guardian News found that some experts believe so, "Indeed, social scientists who study young people have found that their digital use can be inventive and even beneficial... Research by Amanda Lenhart of the Pew Research Centre, a US thinktank, found that the most avid texters are also the kids most likely to spend time with friends in person." Experts found that teens who spend time on social media contribute to their education, as schools and teachers have adapted to the use of technology for learning purposes. Teenagers using social media benefit from its many advantages and help to build the up-and-coming technological world.
Conclusion
The use of social media in teenagers today has grown significantly since the past. Teenagers use it as a hobby, to share images, and talk with friends. Society may view the obsession as a negative impact on teen's lives, or a positive one. However one may view the facts, the reality is that social media is apart of our lives and it effects us greatly.