EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA Rabia Bashir

BIO  I am 19 years old, I was born in Pakistan.  I have 6 siblings.  I am majoring in Dental Hygiene, and minoring in psychology.

CLAIM  While social media has been beneficial in society, its negative effects have had a large impact on the overall quality of life.  “In 1971, the first was delivered. More than 40 years on, social media has taken the world by storm. Social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, are now used by 1 in 4 people worldwide.”  Has effects psychologically and socially, especially on youth.

YOUNGER GENERATION  Excessive internet use has decreased an active lifestyle  Children are at higher risk for adhd, agitation, and overstimulation.  “Recent research by the Pew Internet and American Life Project revealed that 93% of youth aged 12 to 17 are on-line.”  This means that children and youth on a daily basis are very much exposed to an environment that is harmful, dangerous effects include aggressive behavior, risky sexual behavior, substance use, and disordered eating, due to what they are exposed and desensitized to.

PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES  Depression  Anxiety  Lack of self Esteem  Distorted self image

 “Recent statistics show that 63% of American Facebook users log on to the site daily, while 40% of users log on multiple times a day.” This intensifies addictive and obsessive behaviors

SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES  Social anxiety/Decrease of social interaction. "On the surface, Facebook provides an invaluable resource for fulfilling the basic human need for social connection," says Kross, but rather than enhance well-being, we found that Facebook use predicts the opposite result - it undermines it.” People don’t feel the need to connect better with actual people around them because they have a world of people on social media.

 Lack of privacy and Lack of internet literacy Collected information is stored in databases and on the internet. “Various polls have reported the 80% of Americans feel information collected about them is very important, but have lost control over how their personal info is collected and used by companies.” Lack of Government Control on Privacy issues.

CONT.  Cyber bullying According to Enough is Enough (EIE) an organization that aims to make the internet use safer children and famalies- 95% of teenagers who use social media have witnessed forms of cyber bullying on social networking sites and 33% have been victims of cyber bullying.a Sexual predators- dangerous dating apps

CONCLUSION  Society should limit their use of social media to decrease the emphasis and obsessiveness with social media.  Awareness about the dangers of social media should be promoted by increasing internet literacy. It is especially harmful to children and adolescents because they are easily conformed by media. It effects health, education, as well as social development.  Government and policy makers should enforce protective laws to preserve individual rights and privacy, as well to curb the potential dangers of crime.

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