Student reflects on the psychological impacts of social media use
With the ever-growing usage of social media networks, society has often failed to realize just how much such a new technology can affect our psychological standpoint.
According to a new eMarketer report from July of 2013, Worldwide Social Network Users: 2013 Forecast and Comparative Estimates, “nearly one in four people worldwide will use social networks in 2013. The number of social network users around the world will rise from 1.47 billion in 2012 to 1.73 billion this year, an 18% increase.”
With such a staggering amount of presence in our lives, as well as the lives of those around us, social media networks including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have often become more than just a hobby to pursue.
But rather have become a part of our daily routine, a part in which we are beginning to fail to control.
WHS Social Studies Dept. member and psychology teacher Mike Sullivan said the impact of social media on our world has the opportunity to do one of two things.
“Social media either enhances our lives and our relationships with other people, or, it becomes detrimental to them,” Sullivan said
Sullivan also mentioned that while behind the comfort of social media, people often have more of likelihood to post what he called “gutsy” commentary.
In addition, Sullivan also stated that he only interacts with the likes of students via Facebook after they have graduated from high school and feels other teachers and students should abide by the same rules, in order to keep the relationship more appropriate.
WHS psychologist Todd McKee claims that social media is something we, as a society, need to learn to deal with, simply because it is here to stay.
“We all don’t fully understand the powers and uses of social media and will not be able to use the networks to the best of our abilities until we do,” McKee said.
McKee also agrees with Sullivan that social media can have several benefits and said the tool could be useful for those individuals with poor face-to-face social skills.
“The main aspects of negative social media stem from the quantitative and qualitative nature of the usage of social media,” McKee said.
Although social media has been proven to be a positive outlook of today’s generation, society must ultimately surrender themselves to how social media is intended for use.
In addition, countless universities and corporate professionals have made claim that the content of one’s social media can greatly impact their opportunities. That being said, taking a literal filter into the postings of teenagers has never been more important.
By doing so, the negative psychological effects of social media could be diminished.