The Negative Effects of Social Networking Sites on Teens - Thesis Example

?Running Head: Adolescent Online Behavior The Negative Effects of Social Networking Sites on Teens A Reflection Paper of Professor Date of Submission Introduction Social research has a new arena of study, the Internet. More particularly, the latest development of online social networking is quickly building its own discipline in social research. Researchers are actually striving to make sense of the phenomenon (Williams & Merten, 2008). Blogs are open records of personal reflections and ideas that can be regularly updated (ibid, p. 253). As our understanding of this latest social phenomenon improves, studies are starting to make a distinction between blogs and social networking sites (Zheng & Burrow-Sanchez, 2010). Nevertheless, for this paper, I will use social networking sites and blogs interchangeably since both require people creating, updating, and maintaining private online sites. Approximately 55% of adolescents use social networking sites and build their own online social networking profiles (Williams & Marten, 2008, 253). Due to the increasing number of teen users of online social networking sites, the phenomenon of blogging becomes an important field of inquiry examining how teens are interacting online, what they are blogging about, and what possible negative impacts this trend may have on their lives. However, thus far there has been inadequate attention given to the dynamic emotional, psychological, and social effects of social networking sites on adolescent users. This paper will try to prove that social networking sites has negative effects on adolescent users. The main premise of the argument is that social networking profiles, which contain private, intimate, peer relations, and open self-disclosure, generates the risk of different online victimization for adolescent users. I will include a personal reflection of adolescent online behavior, emphasizing particular aspects requiring additional academic consideration, and highlighting consequences for parental guidance and involvement. Excessive Use of Social Networking Sites is a Bad Dosage for Teenagers Social networking sites have in fact inherent positive and negative implications. Obviously, these are websites open to the prying public. People from all walks of life can access and use them. There are a number of potential negative implications of this phenomenon for adolescents and parents. For me, based on my observations, two of these negative effects are major. First concerns safety. There are many instances, as we always see in the news, where sexual offenders have been successful locating teenagers through the private information posted in their social networking profiles. Information that these youngsters think would only be of importance for or for the use of their family and friends can be accessed by strangers with harmful outcomes. Second concerns employment opportunities in the future. Employers locate unfavorable information about the past of the individual as s/he seeks employment. Injurious information could be posted that bad people could change to harm the person’s reputation. Primarily, several studies have revealed adolescent health concerns caused by online victimization and threatening sexual solicitation (Romm-Livermore & Setzekorn, 2009). These dangerous sexual solicitations takes places when teenagers are invited to take part in sexual interaction or sexual relationships or to give private sexual information. This is confirmed to me by one of my friends who told me that a young girl persuaded him to take off his clothes in front of the webcam. Online victimization is identified by humiliating or antagonistic remarks or statements posted about a teenager on the Internet. As narrated by one of the teenagers I interviewed for this paper, “A classmate made a very bad joke by posting things about me on Facebook and spreading rumors about me having sexual interaction with different guys in chat rooms. These guys are total strangers to me, I do not know them. She started doing this when I got very angry and confronted her. She did this to get back at me.” Online victimization is connected to coexisting psychosocial difficulties and emotional problems (Barrett, 2006). Definitely, the avoidance of these negative experiences is greatly vital. Whether current recommendations to control or in other ways discourage teenagers from taking part in online social networking are an essential attempt in doing has still to be empirically and systematically studied. Current findings indicate that online interpersonal victimization takes place within a combination of factors, such as general features of online behavior and psychosocial difficulties (Barrett, 2006). These results also indicate that complicated analyses are suitable when trying to investigate related correlations. However, in this paper, I adopt a quite direct and simple explanation of the relationship between threat of online victimization and use of social networking sites. I embark on this task because I believe that behind policymaking objectives and programs, online and media messages, is an important, unresolved issue: are social networking sites harmful or dangerous for teen users, as marked by a place where online victimization is most expected to take place? Otherwise, the present messaging practice has the capability of distracting experts and parents dealing with adolescents from regulating or preventing other, more threatening online practices. Social networking sites have obviously given millions of people opportunity to socially interact online; this implies that, as promoted by Facebook, a person may be receiving and/or accepting friend request from another individual that is a total stranger to them or a person that they hardly even know where exactly in the world is coming from. Some individuals may become socially idle by gradually abandoning face-to-face meeting or interaction and socializing with their family and friends and begin to socially interact solely via social networking sites. Moreover, teenagers who are timid and have difficulties making friends in person may perceive this as an excellent opportunity to socially interact as computer ‘firewall’ will constantly safeguard them from dismissal or rejection (Mishna, Mcluckie & Saini, 2009). This can encourage them to become unhappy and depressed; hence at times online social networking may start to encourage people to become less genuinely social. This is a big problem. If a person wants to make friends or just meet new faces they should strive to do so and interact with people by attending various events and mustering the guts to speak to them. Accepting a friend request from a total stranger on a social networking site is not a genuine social interaction. Meeting people in person boosts self-esteem and is definitely a much safer way to socially interact. However, the question is, do these negative features of social networking sites overwhelm the positive ones? It can be assumed that people nowadays have more chances to meet others and make friends online than they do in real life. It is a recreation. It is an addiction. It is a new form of satisfying the need for social interaction. The Internet is at present the major opportunity for socialization. This can definitely be viewed negatively and positively. The Real Deal The logos below surely tickle the social bones of teenagers: *taken from Google pictures And this is how they do it: *taken from Google pictures Social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace give everyone the opportunity to create their own private web page or profile, showing non-confidential information about them, permitting them to regularly update their status at any time, and even permitting them to post blogs. This online social networking trend is quite new, having a population largely composed of young people. The Internet has drastically altered the way many teenagers mature and live nowadays, and this too has both negative and bad aspects. I tried asking some teenagers in a local school if they have a Facebook account or Myspace page to identify the magnitude of the potential negative effects of the use of social networking sites. According to my tally, nine out of ten teenagers would admit to have a personal page on Facebook, and a few would claim to have blogs in Myspace. This discovery made me think that having a Facebook account or a Myspace page is now the standard of being ‘normal’. Teenagers who do not have an online profile, page, or blog may be regarded ‘different’, ‘weird’, ‘uncool’, or even ‘abnormal’ by others because they do not experience socializing online. I have a Facebook account and I regularly update my online profile; however, I do not perceive it a need for any reason. If I have to or if I want to, I could delete my Facebook account without second thoughts at anytime without immediate negative consequences. Other people may go insane if deprived of the opportunity to create their own Facebook account, mainly because they keep in constant communication with their loved ones and friends through this. Facebook gives people a great opportunity to stay in touch with those they love and value. I have friends who are thousands of miles away from each other but are able to keep in constant communication through the instant messaging component of Facebook. Others are not contented with mere chatting; they use free online video calls which allow them to see their friends and loved ones online through a webcam. Teenagers who have friends from other parts of the world perhaps prefer seeing their friends while they talk to them. These programs and social networking sites provide benefits to teenagers in numerous ways. My opposing argument on the issue would be that adolescents nowadays are very much connected, socially interacting online more than necessary. All of these concerns made me think, can two individuals truly become acquainted or become good or even best friends through social networking sites? Some of my friends told me that they have experienced this and it is quite plausible, although others are doubtful and claim that an online friendship will always be weak. The benefits of these social networking sites are the major aspect that brings them to prominence. I, myself, am amazed at how I can manage to talk to three people online from different places all at the same time, an activity that is impossible with personal or face-to-face interaction. But still, these benefits will not in any way be able to top the negative effects of these social networking sites on teen users. To rest my case, let me show you a compelling illustration of my argument: *taken from Google pictures Apparently, social networking sites have the ability to boost individual’s self-esteem, as I stated earlier. This outcome, unrestrained, will definitely lead to excessive pride or arrogance, or in more epic terms, narcissism. Aside from this, opportunities to express one’s ideas, experiences, and opinions may lead to unnecessary need for attention, leading to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Of course, who wouldn’t want a rejection-proof pursuit for attention? And obviously, as discussed extensively above, these social networking sites promote offensive behavior, such as stalking. Our world is becoming a bullet train trapped on a subway filled with volatile and vulnerable passengers; a world that is moved by a ‘mouse click’. Teenagers and even adults exploit the fast-paced world of social networking sites to escape from the challenges of the real world, the daunting challenge of making friends and building friendships. Conclusions Friends are greatly valued by any teenager. Latest technologies have presented opportunities for adolescents to make friends online. The central idea of ‘online’ friends may generate threatening and negative perceptions among parents. Similar to any concerns of parenting, the use of social networking sites by teenagers is another issue where parents have to be knowledgeable of. The concept of social networking gives the wrong impression that people engaging in it are social beings. Social networking sites actually offer an outlet for individuals who are socially impaired and not for people who have the ability to make friends in person and build real human relationships. The negative effect of online social networking on adolescent development and teenage lives is definitely becoming increasingly pronounced. References Barrett, J. (2006). “Social Networking: A New Tech Tool and a New Security Concern for Teens and Schools,” Multimedia & Internet@Schools, 13(3), 8+ Mishna, F., Mcluckie, A., & Saini, M. (2009). “Real-World Dangers in an Online Reality: A Qualitative Study Examining Online Relationships and Cyber Abuse,” Social Work Research, 33(2), 107+ Romm-Livermore, C. & Setzekorn, K. (2009). Social networking communities and e-dating services: concepts and implications. New York: IGI Global snippet. Williams, A.L. & Merten, M. (2008). “A Review of Online Social Networking Profiles by Adolescents: Implications for Future Research and Intervention,” Adolescence, 43, 253+ Zheng, R., Burrow-Sanchez, J. & Drew, C. (2010). Adolescent online social communication and behavior: relationship formation on the Internet. New York: IGI Global snippet. Read More