Social media - A boon or a bane for adolescents
Ever since we were children, we have been taught to behave a certain way, dress a certain way, and mold our actions to fit better into the stereotypical standards of our society. But as we grew older and reached the stage of adolescence, our behaviors and opinions towards certain things began changing in a manner that felt right to us and which would make us, in a way, fit in better with our peers. In one way or another, it is safe to say that if not all, some of these behaviors and opinion changes may have been a result of the influence of social media on adolescence.
The age of adolescence is marked by a mountain of changes, ranging from physical to mental. During this period, individuals try to figure out what area of life they fit into. They are considered too old to be children but at the same time, too young to be adults. Hence, getting pulled into the dilemma of wondering where they belong. Eventually, the void that comes with not belonging anywhere is filled by the internet – specifically, social media.
Adolescent social media use is anticipated to have a multifaceted effect on the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and psychological discomfort. In order to define the relationship between social media and mental health, it is important to differentiate between these terms. Given that the importance of social media to our generation has increased drastically, it is reasonable to state that it does, essentially, have an ‘association’ with our mental health and well- being.
Social aspects of development in adolescents is widely regarded as the process of acquiring a sense of identity with a defined role and purpose, in relation with one’s society or community . It is an externalized notion of oneself. An important part of establishing a sense of social self and identity is the development of body image, especially for females. An individual’s family, friends and peers play a crucial role in aiding not only body-image development, but also in developing adult duties and behaviors such as risk taking. As adolescents crave for a sense of self and identity, social growth and psychological maturity are closely connected.
The manner in which an individual perceives themselves and their surroundings, i.e., their internal views and conceptions, is crucial to their emotional growth. Due to the expeditious and continuous changes experienced all throughout adolescence, the development and expression of emotional attributes such as resiliency, self-esteem, defense mechanisms as well as coping abilities are enhanced.
Cognition is a mental process that involves reasoning coupled with perception. Throughout adolescence, the brain undergoes physical changes that mirror conventional patterns of cognitive development. These physical changes involve a variation in the structure and functioning of the pre- frontal cortex, a part of the brain that is in control of cognitive processes such as memory and perception. This is the primary biological cause of cognitive development in adolescents.
Although these variations in the structure of the brain and function alter the capacity for memory and processing, they may also be active leading contributors to susceptibility to dangerous risk- taking and higher sensitivity to mental disorders.
Recent findings from developmental neuroimaging have improved our knowledge of the changes that take place in the human brain during adolescence. These findings allow us to come up with more effective plans for increasing brain growth and development. Adolescence is a phase of increased brain plasticity and heightened brain sensitivity. During this period, there is a chance for learning and cognitive development as the structure and function of the brain adjusts in response to stimuli and adapts to any given situation at hand.
It is an indisputable fact that social media has contributed to an increase in adolescent anxiety and lowered self-esteem. There are significant distinctions between socializing offline and online. Online, individuals are less perceptive to body language and facial emotions. This may lead to heightened miscommunications and damaged sentiments. It might also make interpersonal communication feel daunting. In offline or face- to- face communication methods, it is harder to prepare ideal responses in a limited amount of time. One cannot always look the way they want to be perceived. Unlike online platforms, any disagreements and miscommunications must compulsorily be faced in real time.
Another significant issue worth mentioning here is the warped lens of social media. Children and adolescents, on seeing seemingly perfect people and lives online, begin to feel inferior. Teens frequently attempt to compensate by posting photos that make them, too, appear flawless. Then, when their social media persona does not correspond with how they feel in reality, they may feel worse. This might further contribute to disturbances in their mental well- being.
Acceptance from peers is crucial for adolescents. It is simple to become preoccupied with counting "likes" on social media. Teens often wind up snapping hundreds of photographs in pursuit of the one that will be the most popular. And when there are no likes, it may feel extremely personal.
Social media, in today’s times, has clearly become an integral part of everyday life. The various functions it offers are used daily, some even being beneficial. Social media has become so pervasive in society that people no longer fully comprehend the risks they are taking. To encourage the healthy development of young people in society, parents, educators as well as regular social media users must understand and be aware of the implications of social media use, both beneficial and detrimental. Many people base their decisions on the effects of social media on personal experiences. It is vital that the judgments we reach regarding a significant issue, like social media usage and its use or misuse, are informed by research and supported by facts.
Even though using social media in smaller amounts may not be hazardous, frequent use and sustained exposure can have negative impacts. Parents, by having informative conversations with their children, can contribute to reducing their social media usage and thus, their dependence on it. It is important to consider both, the banes and boons of internet exposure, in order to stay informed and aware of what can occur. Although social media has many positive characteristics that keep users engaged and excited, it also has many harmful aspects which have the power to negatively influence key areas of adolescent development.
Social media and its relationship with teenagers has been a topic of interest for the longest time. It has always had an impact on teenagers and has brought severe positive as well as negative changes in them. Researchers’ interest in this topic has increased exponentially since the rapid usage of modern technology. Especially in the present times, with usage growing day by day, the influence and effects of social media on the present generation has gotten much stronger. In conclusion, when it comes to shaping the minds of young adults and adolescents, it can in many ways be considered both a bane as well as a boon
References:
Garber, D. (2014, December 8). 3 reasons why social media age restrictions matter.
Koutamanis, M., Vossen, H. M., & Valkenburg, P. M. (2015). Adolescents’ comments in social media: Why do adolescents receive negative feedback and who is most at risk?. Computers In Human Behavior, 53486-494. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2015.07.016
Van den Berg, P., Paxton, S. J., Keery, H., Wall, M., Guo, J., & Neumark-Sztainer, D. (2007). Body dissatisfaction and body comparison with media images in males and females. Body Image, (3), 257. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2007.04.003
Comments
Post a Comment