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Young adults are growing up in a digital age and use social media as their primary tool of communication between friends and family. In the graph shown above, young adults between the ages of 18-29 are the primary users of almost all social media giants apart from LinkedIn. Social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram allow people to present themselves a certain way they want to be seen and establish a connection with someone. Work related cites like LinkedIn.com can be used for work-related context and others like Tumblr is a blogging site used to connect other based on shared interests such as music, politics or people you know. Research suggests that social networking websites use may increase adolescents’ self-esteem and well being if the tone of the feedback provided by viewers of their profiles is positive, but decrease self-esteem when the feedback is negative.
Social Media's Health Effects on Young Adults
I deleted my Facebook account after the 11th grade because I found myself constantly comparing myself to other girls and wondering why I wasn’t as happy as they were (or seemed to be). Not realizing that every time I logged on I would be bombarded by my friend's every move from with their latest trip to the beach or their relationship status. This causes people to subconsciously compare ourselves to friends, which plays with our emotions and it is why some people have created the term "social media depression".
Experts are unsure whether using social media websites causes depression or if people with depressive behaviors are more attracted to the digital world. Health professionals do know that children are more sensitive to media influences. Although depression affects both sexes, women are more commonly diagnosed with the condition confirm health officials at the National Institute of Mental Health With reality stars promoted on every media outlet it's easy to see why people are constantly comparing themselves to these celebrities and wondering why they aren't as successful as them. Two German universities conducted a study together and researchers discovered that one in three people surveyed felt lonely or angry after spending time on social media websites like Facebook. The users often felt inadequate when comparing themselves to friends. If the user does some further investigating however, they can soon realize that most people post only pictures that creates an ideal representation of themselves. Also taking a mental break from the internet is the healthiest way to prevent extreme hyper-networking issues from occurring. Physical exercise is proven to increase endorphins and blood flow to the brain which can improve a person's mental and physical health.
Is There a Negative Outlook on Social Media?
Hyper networking and its exponential growth
listen to ‘Time spent on social media has increased’ on audioBoom
Social Media Can Help Introverts Branch Out
When asked about introverted young adults who socialize behind the safety of a screen and whether they are at risk of separating themselves farther from society, Dr. Jessica Vitak, assistant professor at University of Maryland's Ischool, stated that people who have a harder time communication in class or in a group of people actually benefit more from online interactions that face-to-face ones.
Anonymity might prevent cyber-bullying
Teenagers are now susceptible to the practice of cyber-bullying where perpetrators terrorize individuals in a public online sphere. Because of immediacy provided by social media it can act as a cyber-bully's prime weapon. If anonymity was limited this would cease to occur so frequently however forcing the instigator to reveal their true identity.
Integrating Facebook's format could help improve classroom participation
While students use social networking to get in touch with peers, studies found that college students who checked Facebook at least once during a 15-minute study period received lower grades. The brain has a tough time focusing on more than one task at a time. For example, if you are doing work as you watch YouTube videos you're hindering the work quality and accuracy, subduing your overall productivity. With the integration of technology and course apps that can utilize the interactivity of social media Professor Vitak agreed this could provide a solution by integrating the enticing features social media websites has to offer within a classroom.
