Addiction to Social Networking Sites - Research Paper Example

Addiction to Social Networking Sites Short Proposal Social Networking Sites (SNSs) are fundamentally regarded as virtual communities wherein the users can generate their personal public profiles, meet various people and communicate with actual friends irrespective of geographical, time or cost limitations (Kuss & Griffiths, 2011). In this modern day society, young adults and the teenagers are frequently identified to be much addicted towards accessing various sorts of SNSs, which results in posing greater threat to them (St. Louis Childrens Hospital, 2014). With this concern, the proposed research study will emphasise raising greater awareness about the currently observable addiction of young people towards various SNSs, explaining its side effects including both medical as well as social. Due attention will also be delivered to the treatments available and motives to replicate how the lives of the people are now revolving around such SNSs like Twitter, FaceBook and Instagram among others. This particular research topic has been taken into concern with an intention to offer with a clear understanding the present generation regarding the merits and the ill effects of accessing SNSs in their regular life situations to solve every kind of personal problem. Long Proposal Abstract This proposed research study mainly emphasises raising awareness about addiction of young people to Social Networking Sites (SNSs), explaining its side effects in terms of social as well as medical cons, paying significance to the available treatments and motives of such addictions. A qualitative approach of research methodology will be undertaken in this proposed research study, delivering attention towards including both secondary sources (i.e. books and articles) and primary sources (i.e. questionnaire survey of university male students). From this proposed research study, it will be anticipated that whether accessing SNSs affects the academic performance and health of the respondents. The research will also try and answer the remedial measures to overcome this sort of addiction. Purpose Statement and Rationale Identifiably, accessing various SNSs has been raised considerably amid the individuals, affecting their health as well as academic or professional performances at large. With this concern, the prime intention of this proposed research study would be focused on raising greater awareness amid the university students regarding their addiction to SNSs. This particular research topic has been chosen with the motive of determining whether academic performance along with the health of the students get disrupted because of their SNSs addiction and to which extent, so as to suggest the ultimate measures to overcome this sort of problem. Statement of Qualification Numerous research studies have been conducted relating to the proposed research topic i.e. addiction to SNSs wherein a comprehensive understanding has been gained regarding its positive as well as negative impacts and the solutions to mitigate the pessimistic consequences. Literature Review According to LaRose & et al. (n.d.), SNSs have eventually become an extremely renowned online activity in this present day context amid the young adults comprising the school and the university students among others. As per the observation made by Chawada & et al. (2010), SNSs affects can be apparently observed on the mental health of individuals who are often reported as becoming victimised of extortion or blackmail threats and leading towards alteration in their sexual behaviour among others. Cabral (2010) noted certain fundamental reasons for which, young adults, especially students, access SNSs frequently. According to Cabral (2010), these reasons include companionship and entertainment motives, which can again be observed as lagging in their physical surrounding. Methodology Research methodology plays an imperative role in assuring the smooth conduct of a specific research study through the collection of valuable information with the intention of deriving appropriate results (Goddard & Melville, 2004; Kumar, 1989). In relation to the proposed research study, qualitative approach of research methodology would be undertaken and the primary data would be collected from university male students acting as the respondents involved in the questionnaire survey. Expected Findings and Implications After the completion of the research study, it is projected that the side effects, motives, treatments and the effects of greater addiction towards SNSs in the academic performance as well as the health of the university students would be recognised. This might have positive implications in overcoming the crucial concern of majorly accessing SNSs, affecting the mental health of the students overall. Annotated Bibliography Cotterell, J. (2007). Social networks in youth and adolescence. US: Routledge. This book explains to the reader about the social experiences that are obtained by the young people and their influence on behavioural attitudes. I strongly believe that this book is quite important as well as useful as it provides a better understanding about the development of social relations, which is made possible by lifecourse concepts and social network. Dasgupta, S. (2010). Social computing: concepts, methodologies, tools and applications. US: Idea Group Inc. This book highlights the change of Web through social computing. Most vitally, the book justified that the people has flocked to several networking sites like Facebook and Twitter among others, making these sites to be the fastest growing properties on the Web. As per my opinion, the book is all about depicting the importance and the popularity of social computing in this modern day context. Hamburger, Y. A. (2013). The social net: understanding our online behaviour. US: Oxford University Press. This book argues that in the previous two decades, the medium of internet has gained its significance in terms of providing a comprehensive understanding about different societal facets of the internet. Through this book, I understood both the positive as well as the negative influences of internet and acquired a brief idea about how to use internet for enhancing my wellbeing. Obee, J. (2012). Social networking: the ultimate teen guide. US: Scarecrow Press. This book reflects about the augmenting popularity of social networking amid the teens belonging to every nation of the world. According to the book, 75% of the American teens were found to perform social networking, which is expected to rise in the near future. This book helped me to know about the excessive use of social networking amid the teens of various nations throughout the globe. Young, K. S., & Abreu, C. N. D. (2010). Internet addiction: a handbook and guide to evaluation and treatment. US: John Wiley & Sons. This book figures out the major factors or activities that contribute towards the raising problem of internet addiction. According to the book, these factors or activities entail gambling addiction, online gaming and cybersex addiction. Correspondingly, this book supported me to identify the prime factors that often lead towards causing the problem of internet addiction. Chawada, B. L., Choksi, R. P., Choksi, S. B., Dari, U. T., Pawar, A. B., & Bansal, R. K. (2010). Addiction to social networking websites and its effect on lifecourse of college going students in Surat city. National Journal of Community Medicine 1(2), 174-175. This article mentions that the young people of the current scenario are much addicted to access numerous networking sites and spend much time in the same. With this article, I came to know that the physical activity as well as the creativity level of the young people is getting eroded day by day due to their increasing addiction towards social networking sites. Cabral, J. (2010). Is generation Y addicted to social media? Business Horizons, 59-68. This article identifies and considers the people of Generation Y, i.e. the individuals who were born during the period 1970-2000, to be more addicted towards various networking sites. Through this article, I came to know that the people of Generation Y largely access diverse networking sites in comparison with older generations as they have grown up with innovative technological advancements like internet and computers. Das, B., & Sahoo, J. S. (2011). Social networking sites – a critical analysis of its impact on personal and social life. International Journal of Business and Social Science 2(14), 222-228. This article considers social networking sites (SNSs) to be one of the vital aspects, which tend to affect the societal behaviour as well as the relationships of the common people. This article provided me with a brief idea about how SNS affects social relationships as well as behaviours of individuals and its negative impact on the users. Griffiths, M. D. (2013). Social networking addiction: emerging themes and issues. J Addict Res Ther 4(5), 1-2. This article represents the negative impacts imposed by SNSs specifically to the young people in terms of disrupting their mental health. According to this article, I understood that extreme usage of newer technologies like online social networking might create crucial problems particularly to the young people in the society. LaRose, R., Kim, J., & Peng, W. (n.d.). Social networking. Chapter 3, 59-81. This article is all about explaining various facets of social activities that possess stronger negative consequences as compared to other activities. With the help of this article, I came to know that the services relating to social networking have eventually became a high concern, as these impose negative impacts to the users. Questionnaire Based on the survey conducted, it can be apparently observed that a major portion of the respondents, i.e. the university male students, spend in excess of 2 hours in accessing various SNSs. This can be better understood with the help of the pictorial illustration below. Fig.1: Time Spend on Social Media Sites Moreover, it was also been observed that a majority of the university male students use social media primarily for instant messaging, followed by chatting, downloading along with uploading music/video among others. A graphical representation has been presented hereunder for better comprehension of the above-discussed subject matter. Fig.2: Reasons for Using Social Media Observably, maximum number of respondents has been apparently observed to subscribe entertainment community more often, as compared to educational and informational community, which eventually hampers their academic performances and disrupts mental health at large. This can be better understood with the help of the following graphical illustration. Fig.3: Community Subscription Introduction Identification of the Topic The topic chosen for the proposed research study concentrates on the various dimensions of addiction to social networking sites, which has risen by a considerable extent recently amid young adults, including the school and university students in this modern day context. Rationale The research topic has been taken into concern for acquiring a brief idea about the side effects, both in terms of social and medical implications, led due to SNSs addition, along with studying the motives behind and available treatments. Moreover, this particular research topic has been chosen for raising greater awareness amid the university students concerning addiction to SNSs, through which its positive impacts can be embraced and the negative ones can be mitigated. Specially mentioning, this research topic would provide a brief idea about how regular and excessive access to SNSs affects the academic performance and mental health of the university students. Hypothesis The hypotheses of the proposed research study have been presented in the following. Alternative Hypothesis (H1): “Hindrance to academic performance and mental health of the students is mainly caused due to greater access to SNSs” Null Hypothesis (H0): “Frequent access to SNSs does not determine the academic performance and mental health of the university students” Literature Review According to Mehmood & Taswir (2013), accessing SNSs frequently for every purpose has eventually raised during few preceding years. It is the teenagers, young adults and the students who have embraced these SNSs for various purposes encompassing sharing information along with facts in a time efficient, privacy assured and cost effective manner, communicating with their peers irrespective of time and geographic limitations, reinventing their individual personalities and showcasing their personal sophistications to gain community accreditation (Mehmood & Taswir, 2013). It would be vital to mention that greater access towards diverse SNSs eventually hampers the academic performance and most importantly, affects the metal health of students due to excessive hours spend on these sites (Mallia, 2013). Thus, there lays a greater need for raising awareness about the responsible uses of SNSs in order to address and mitigate the negative impacts of regularly accessing different SNSs. Accordingly, it is anticipated that the use or the access of SNSs would increase by a considerable level in future as the teenagers, young adults and the students access internet medium for performing their respective daily activities, including research and studies, as opposed to older generations who executed resources like newspapers or televisions (Bunting & Diniz, 2012). Data, Statistics and Special Evidence The current statistics reveal that college students tend to access SNSs more frequently as compared to other groups. During the year 2007, this particular group was observed to constitute nearly 30% of the total daily SNSs users. Specially mentioning, the trends of accessing SNSs are viewed to be growing rapidly irrespective of gender classification amid young adults. This can be explained with reference to the fact that 74% and 60% of the males and the females using SNSs at frequent instances (Walz, 2009). Data Analysis Time Spend on Accessing Networking Sites Concerning addiction to SNSs, i.e. time expend on accessing networking sites, LaRose & et al. (n.d.) identified that it is the young people who mostly spend time on accessing different sorts of SNSs. In this similar context, Cabral (2010) noted that the individuals belonging to Generation Y spend much time in social networking owing to the reason that they have grown-up with innovative technological advancements such as computers and internet among others. As per the observations made by Chawada & et. al. (2010), the college students are the ones who mainly use social networking to stay attached with their friends and families scattered around the world. A most interesting fact, which has been revealed by Chawada & et. al. (2010) is that the studies of such college students have suffered substantially due to the usage of various SNSs. Furthermore, Griffiths (2012) also stated that with the increased level of internationalisation and changing societal scenario, the use of SNSs is augmenting by a considerable degree. In this similar context, Das & Sahoo (2011) identified the reasons due to which the young people access different networking sites and spend time in the same at such a rate. According to Das & Sahoo (2011), these reasons include sharing ideas as well as opinions with other individuals, listening to music as well as watching videos and chatting with friends among others. In this regard, Das & Sahoo (2011) apparently observed that nearly about 1.5 billion people have their respective individual profiles in diverse SNSs. Based on the survey conducted in the form of questionnaire, it can be apparently observed that the respondents spend more than 2 hours on accessing social media sites. Moreover, they use in excess of 3 SNSs for the purpose of downloading or uploading any music or video, posting photos, blogging, creating polls, conducting surveys and chatting with their dear ones among others. In accordance with the survey conducted, it can be apparently observed that the participants of the survey generally use the SNSs of Facebook along with Youtube as compared to others, which imply that they spend much time in accessing the same. Through the above-discussed responses obtained through the survey conducted, it is quite apparent that the use of social networking is rising extensively in this present day context as compared to the earlier years. Effects of Accessing SNSs in Academic Performance and Mental Health Another point relating to the research regarding addiction to SNSs has been its effects on the academic performance and health of the individuals. In this regard, Young & Abreu (2010) identified that greater access towards SNSs has affected the academic studies and disturbed the mental health of the young individuals at large. In this similar context, as per the observations made by Obee (2012), social networking has mainly affected the academic performances as well as the health of the teens who access various sorts of SNSs regularly and spend much time in the same. Specially mentioning, Obee (2012) identified approximately 75% of teens in America, to use several online social networks, which is further expected to rise in the near future. Thus, based on the above analysis, it can be affirmed that the academic performance and the health of the teens eventually gets affected due to extreme usage of diverse SNSs. It is worth mentioning that Hamburger (2013) identified the reasons for which the academic performance and the health of the individuals get affected due to greater access towards diverse SNSs. In this similar concern, according to Dasgupta (2010), one of such reasons include the activities performed by the people, specifically the teens and the young people, through SNSs, which can be identified in terms of academic purposes in comparison with other activities. This can be justified with reference to the ideas presented by Cotterell (2007) that the young people and the teens perform the activities linked with academic purpose like communicating with the instructors and utilisation of application relating to course subjects among others quite lesser as compared to other activities. These activities might include watching videos, instant messaging, listening music and playing online sports among others (Cotterell, 2007). In accordance with the survey conducted, a major proportion of the respondents strongly realised that accessing diverse SNSs frequently, tends to affect the study timings as maximum amount of time is spend in the same. Moreover, the activities relating to academic purposes is performed in massive intervals by the respondents as compared to other activities like instant messaging, watching videos and listening music among others due to which, their study timings get affected by a considerable degree. It is worth mentioning in this regard that the young people, teens and the students firmly consider SNSs as one of the effective social and entertainment systems rather than an academic one, which also contribute through adverse impacts on their respective academic performances and health. Community Subscription The other major point relating to the research, i.e. the kind of communities that the people subscribe to SNSs, Obee (2012) identified that most of the people, specifically the young people, teens and the students subscribe to entertainment community on various SNSs as per their choice rather than with the choice of educational or any other community. This might be owing to the reason that these individuals perceive SNSs as the social as well as entertainment systems rather than an educational one. This implies that the young people, teens and the students tend to prioritise societal options of SNS instead of academic. According to Das & Sahoo (2011), the individuals, especially the students often possess the tendency of establishing a strong collaboration with each other and generally form newer sorts of classroom interactions with greater access of various SNSs that include Facebook and Orkut among others. These are generally conducted by organising every sort of extracurricular activity like sport competitions, parties and picnics among others. Das & Sahoo (2011) stated in this regard that the above presented tendencies of the students might prove to be quiet advantageous in obtaining appropriate societal skills but lacks linkage with their respective academic performances. This clearly depicts that the students and the teens often subscribe to entertainment community in comparison with other communities that encompass informational and educational groups among others. According to the viewpoints of Dasgupta (2010) and Cotterell (2007), the subscription to entertainment community by the students rather than educational or informational community eventually reveals that they pay insignificant attention towards academic interests on SNSs. This in turn not only affects the study timings of the students but also increases disrupts within the communication procedure when interacting with the teachers. As stated by Young & Abreu (2010), subscription to educational community might provide active support to the students in reaping the benefits of establishing greater communication with the teachers, completing homework within stipulated time as well as more effectively, generating broader academic interests among others. Based on the survey conducted in the form of questionnaire, it can be apparently noted that maximum number of respondents often have the tendency towards subscribing entertainment community in comparison with other communities like informational and educational groups with the aim of conducting different non-academic activities smoothly. These activities include playing games online, instant messaging, chatting with friends and listening music among others. Thus, it can be affirmed from a broader understanding that the subscription of the respondents towards entertainment community rather than educational perspectives certainly affects their respective academic performance and mental health. Conclusion Based on the above discussion and analysis, it can be apparently observed that it is the young adults and the teens, who are more likely to be addicted to various sites of social networking. It is worth mentioning that spending much time on accessing SNSs would certainly impose negative impacts on the academic performances and the mental health of the individuals at large. In order to address and mitigate this crucial concern, it is quite essential to generate greater awareness about the ill-effects of accessing SNSs, resulting in overcoming this sort of addiction. It can be usually observed that the people access various sorts of SNSs for various reasons that include instant messaging, downloading as well as uploading music or videos, chatting and posting photos among others. By taking into concern this particular factor, it can be affirmed from a broader understanding that the people usually subscribe entertainment community to SNSs as compared to informational and educational community, due to which they often have to face the problems of disruptive mental health and ineffective academic performance. Concerning the fact that people, especially the young ones and the teens subscribe entertainment community instead of educational or informational community, it is obvious that this might lead towards disrupting their mental health and academic performance by a considerable extent. However, it can be affirmed that the SNSs might be enhanced as an effective learning tool rather than affecting mental health and academic performances of young teens through various ways. These ways include driving the individuals towards subscribing educational community rather than entertainment community, lessening the time spent on accessing diverse SNSs and using social media for gaining effective knowledge regarding any particular subject matter. References Bunting, J. D., & Diniz, L. (2012). Grammar and beyond. United States: Cambridge University Press. Chawada, B. L., Choksi, R. P., Choksi, S. B., Dari, U. T., Pawar, A. B., & Bansal, R. K. (2010). Addiction to social networking websites and its effect on life course of college going students in Surat city. National Journal of Community Medicine 1(2), 174-175. Cabral, J. (2010). Is generation Y addicted to social media? The Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications 2(1), 5-14. Cotterell, J. (2007). Social networks in youth and adolescence. US: Routledge. Das, B., & Sahoo, J. S. (2011). Social networking sites – a critical analysis of its impact on personal and social life. International Journal of Business and Social Science 2(14), 222-228. Dasgupta, S. (2010). Social computing: concepts, methodologies, tools and applications. US: Idea Group Inc. Goddard, W., & Melville, S. (2004). Research methodology: an introduction. United States: Juta and Company Ltd. Griffiths, M. D. (2013). Social networking addiction: emerging themes and issues. J Addict Res Ther 4(5), 1-2. Hamburger, Y. A. (2013). The social net: understanding our online behaviour. US: Oxford University Press. Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2011). Abstract. Online Social Networking and Addiction—A Review of the Psychological Literature 8 (9), 3528-3552. Kumar, R. (1989). Research methodology. India: APH Publishing. LaRose, R., Kim, J., & Peng, W. (n.d.). Social networking. Chapter 3, 59-81. Mehmood, S., & Taswir, T. (2013). The effects of social networking sites on the academic performance of students in college of applied sciences, Nizwa, Oman. International Journal of Arts and Commerce 2(1), 111-125. Mallia, G. (2013). The social classroom: integrating social network use in education. United States: IGI Global. Obee, J. (2012). Social networking: the ultimate teen guide. US: Scarecrow Press. St. Louis Childrens Hospital. (2014). Understanding teen internet addiction. Retrieved from http://www.stlouischildrens.org/articles/kidstoday/understanding-teen-internet-addiction Walz, L. O. (2009). The relationship between college students use of social networking sites and their sense of belonging. United States: ProQuest. Young, K. S., & Abreu, C. N. D. (2010). Internet addiction: a handbook and guide to evaluation and treatment. US: John Wiley & Sons. Questionnaire 1) What social media sites do you use? Youtube Twitter Facebook Google+ Any Other 2) How many social networking sites do you use? 1 2 3 more than 3 3) How much time do you spend on social media sites? 30min 1 hour 2 hours more than 2 hours 4) You use social media primarily for- Dowloading music/video Uploading music/video Posting photos Blogging Creating polls/quizzes or surveys Chatting Any Other 5) Do you think social networking sites affect your study timings? Yes No 6) Do you think social networking sites are more effective in communicating with your teachers than in actual class? Yes No 7) Do you think social networking sites help you with your homework? Yes No 8) What kind of communities do you subscribe to on social networking sites? Educational Entertainment Informational Any other 9) Do you ever find any information regarding your career or academic interests on social networking sites? Yes No 10) Do you think social networking sites can be improved in any way as a tool for learning, rather than disrupting academic performance and mental health? Read More