INTRODUCTION

First popularized in the 1990s through blogging, chat rooms, and message boards;
social media has become one of the most widespread and prominent forms of
communication in the world. Over the last decade and a half, due to the creation of
popular websites such as Facebook and Twitter, social media has grown
exponentially and provides people all over the world with the chance to connect and
communicate with each other quickly and simultaneously (Richards et al., 2015).
The accessibility to this type of communication has only increased since the
invention of smartphones and tablets, allowing even people on the go to be able to
connect to their favourite social media app (Swist et al., 2015). Because human
beings are social animals, communication and feeling connected to one another are
“fundamental aspects of human life (Spoor & Kelly, 2004, p. 398).” In order to fulfil
this innate social need for communication, we have created thousands of different
ways to keep in-touch and connect with one another that have evolved along with
the invention of new technology and modes of communication. Prior to social media,
inventions such as email or personal messaging boards and online discussion groups
led the way and sparked the interest in different forms of online communication
because of their ability to connect people faster than ever before (Sajithra & Patil,
2013). This desire for quicker communication has only escalated since the invention
of traditional social media in the late 1990s to early-mid 2000s as the urge and
relative accessibility of the internet increased exponentially. This has allowed for the
invention of current social media due to the access it provides individuals to an even
more efficient way of connecting with loved ones and staying updated on their lives
(Sajithra & Patil, 2013).

Media in general refers to the tools of mass communication. Media today consists of
television, Internet, cinema, newspapers, radio, magazines, direct mail, fax, and the
telephone. The mass media permeate the everyday lives of people (Tiggermann,
2006). Children today are encouraged to use media tools in school and are expected
to have a general understanding of the various technologies available. The internet
is arguably one of the most effective tools in media for communication as an integral
part of the daily lives of adolescents that revolves around the Internet Tools such as
e-mail, Skype, Facebook, Instagram. Social media has brought people closer and
created new online communities. However, some may argue that certain types of
media can hinder face-to-face. The impact of Facebook, texting and other cyber
technology on psychological health in adolescents is often contradictory. Few studies
state the advantage and some highlight the disadvantages, but one common factor
in these studies is that technology seems to amplify emotions not only in
adolescents, but also in adults (Barth 2014).
 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
Social media promotes deceptive posts, messaging, photographs that give rise to
conflicts in between them. Such posts are deteriorating the affiliations and relations
between nations. As youngsters are immature, they are becoming victims of
cyberbullying. This impacts young people’s mental and physical health and may also
lead to depression and self-harm. Because there is a lack of confidentiality and
security on the social media platforms, it is possible that a third party would misuse
sensitive information. Studies have found that children and teenagers benefit from
improving Communication, social linkages, and technological skills. Social media is
really a significant aspect in this world. In general, social media is described like any
interactive medium or application which enables people to communicate digitally and
could be differentiated from conventional media (e.g. television) by the way that
users can both access and produce content. Within this broad description, social
media can include websites (e.g. Facebook, WhatsApp, snapchat, TikTok), instant
messaging apps, mobile gaming tools, YouTube, and more. The more extensive
usage social media is correlated with numerous mental health issues which include
anxiety of self-image and eating disorders and other problems. In addition,
outcomes of these studies have indeed been contradictory, with several suggesting a
slight but substantial negative influence of social media use on mental health.
Increased occurrence of certain mental health conditions, such as depression and
suicide have risen dramatically amongst adolescents in recent years, with suicide
rates in youth aged 10-24 rising by 56% between 2007 and 2017. One growing
problem that really has captured the interest of young people is body dissatisfaction.
Low self - esteem refers to unwelcome and negative thoughts and feelings about
one's beauty that tend to rise in our younger generation. Social networking
promotes the concept of a perfect body, as it can be connected to nearly all
channels of mass media. Anything from height, weight, body size and body form has
become a nuanced aspect of this ideal, usually women are ordinary. The goals in
these perfect body images and ads. Much of the videos show thin breathing and
bone suction, which causes the viewer to have poor weight and often to have a body
with protruding collarbones, spines and ribs, which is also the primary cause of
anorexia. Whereas an optimistic trend can often be seen on social media, which is a
fitspiration that encourages a person to have a safe and fit body. Two cross-section
studies of US and German school students, showed that researchers who spent as
much time on Facebook's social media site were more often to support Starting to
feel envy or fearing like others on their social media platform were better than they
have been. "FOMO"—fear of missing out— was described as" a pervasive
apprehension that others may have profitable reviews “and has been associated with
multiplied strain associated with Facebook use. A systematic overview of research
observed that use of social media turned into related to body photo issues and
disordered consuming. In a randomized examination, female individuals suggested
greater bad temper after simply 10 mins of Perusing their Facebook profile in
contrast to those who have visited the personality-neutral website exploitation. In
addition, participants who were over-evaluated appeared to make an escalated
decision to improve the look of their face, hair or skin after spending time on
Facebook, compared to those who were surfing the control website. An
observational look found that spending quite a few hours a week on the use of
electronic media was inversely correlated with self-reported satisfaction, life pleasure
and self-esteem, while time is spent on off-screen sports (in-character social
relationships, recreational activities or exercise, traditional media, homework,
religious services, paid work) was undeniably correlated with Mental well-being,
among the youth. Other data analysis has associated spending more than 2 hours an
afternoon on social media platforms and personalized digital devices with excessive
suicide costs and depressive signs among teenage girls, and although young people
who have endured high levels of face-to-face socialization have been particularly
affected by the negative effects of even more time on-line. In a 14-day, longitudinal,
cross-over trial with managed situations, the use of digital screens earlier than
bedtime, sleep has been shown to be disrupted in many approaches: longer sleep
time and decreased sleepiness during the night, reduced melatonin secretion,
circadian clock delay, reduced amount and fast-moving sleep in the eye, and
reduced alertness in the next morning. A comprehensive evaluation and semantic
analysis that supported studies on the “allegiance among compact display screen-
primarily dependent electronic gadgets and sleep implications” , found that the use of
social media was associated with decreased duration in sleep quality and extended
sleep during the daytime hours. The sheer presence of portable screen-primarily
based electronic gadgets in the bedroom has been seen to disrupt sleep.

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
The study focuses on the impact of social media on youth. Technology and
innovation are regarded to be the very prime importance for human life, and we
must know how to handle It accordingly. It is vital to teach young people about the
use of social media to enhance in their careers and self-improvement. Technology
has managed to secure within our body, human brain and even emotions. How does
social media effect the adolescents, as stated social media, like a coin, has it’s
beneficial and negative effect on young people. It encourages them to succeed and
it also pulls them down, but youngsters need to be alert. Youth communicate with
many individuals and support themselves in their professions through the media.

Since the beginning of social media, it has managed to work it’s way into most
people’s everyday lives. It is where we are able to stay connected with friends from
years ago and has also evolved into a place where we can keep up with groups, we
are a part of, or even group chats with employers about current projects or
business. Because of this, there are a lot of benefits to social media that have
allowed us as a society to stay connected with each other. These positive aspects
have also extended to children with multiple studies and reports evaluating the
advantages that social media can have for children and adolescents. Some of these
benefits include increased communication skills, potential social connections, and
networking with peers that were not available to previous generations (Klass, 2012).
However, there are many negative aspects that have also been highlighted through
the findings of multiple qualitative and quantitative studies about the effects of social
media (O’Reilly, 2020). A lot of this information has also focused on the potential
effects that social media has on children and adolescents since they are in very
vulnerable and influential development periods in their lives. Additionally, this is a
topic of study and conversation because this current age of social media specifically
is a relatively new phenomenon that has not been previously documented prior to a
few years ago (Guadagno et al., 2016). Some of the potential negative effects of
social media on children that have been documented are social media addiction
(O’Reilly et al., 2018), the issue of FOMO, or the Fear of Missing Out that many
children (and adults) experience (Barry et al., 2017), as well as multiple mental
health and physical health problems (O’Reilly et al., 2018). Due to this debate, the
general lack of consensus on the impact that social media has on children and
adolescents has caused an interesting relationship between individuals who think
social media is the cause of many of children's emotional and health problems, and
those who think that the benefits of social media outweigh these potential issues.
This has caused the positive aspects and benefits of engaging in social media to not
be utilized while also downplaying the existence of the actual dangers and negative
aspects of social media and living in a digital age (O’Reilly, 2020). However, this
debate becomes even more complicated with the added challenge that Covid-19 and
severe lack of in-person communication has caused for everyone worldwide,
including children who are unable to participate in in-person schooling and interact
with their classmates, peers, and friends in-person (Drouin et al., 2020).

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

RESEARCH QUESTION

 What is the impact of media exposure and its influence among Adolescents?

OBJECTIVES

 To study the impact of media exposure and its influence among Adolescents.
  Highlighting the advantages and so also the disadvantages of media exposure
and its influence among Adolescents.

SCOPE/DELIMITATION
Social media networking of adolescents has a vital role to play in the advent and
development of psychopathology. Online community social interactions are described
as significant risk factors for mental health issues in these times. Social media users
are radically subjected to idealized self-shows. This poses a danger to youngsters'
potential to appear superficial, but the awful effect may depend on a form of social
media interaction.

Many young people use the internet before or after anything they do, many of which
do not engage with their peers, but connect with their social friends online and
become less social and the majority of these young people use social media for
social and entertainment purposes rather than educational reasons. Social
networking sites nowadays has influenced the vocabulary, lifestyle, fashion sense,
hobbies, morals, sense of justice etc. of young people to some degree today, 65
percent claim that social media lets them establish a connection with their socially
linked peers and express themselves fully, and 33 percent agree that social media
sites actually limits their physical interaction and actually dulls their sense of reality
sometimes because of how young people use social media before or after every
activity they do.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION
Media: The term media, which is the plural of medium, refers to the communication
channels through which we disseminate news, music, movies, education,
promotional messages and other data.

Body Image: Body image is a person's perception of the aesthetics or sexual

attractiveness of their own body. It involves how a person sees themselves,
compared to the standards that have been set by society.

Sensation Seeking: Sensation seeking is a personality trait defined by the degree to

which an individual seeks novel and highly stimulating activities and experiences.

Interview Method: The interview method of research is a conversation with a

purpose and is nonexperimental in design. The interviewer in one-to-one
conversation collects detailed personal information from individuals using oral
questions.
Covid-19: A global pandemic that caused schools and businesses to shut down with
public

health measures put in place to reduce the spread of the virus (Ellis et al, 2020). As
of 2021, this pandemic is still ongoing.

Cyberbullying: “The use of digital media to post threatening messages,

embarrassing pictures and rumours intending to cause harm to others (O’Reilly et
al., 2018, p. 2).”

Developmental Psychology: “Developmental psychologists focus on human growth

and changes across the lifespan, including physical, cognitive, social, intellectual,
perceptual, personality and emotional growth (“Developmental Psychology Studies
Humans Across the Lifespan,” 2021, p.1).”

FOMO: Otherwise known as “the Fear of Missing Out” which refers to the feeling of
loneliness and/or exclusion from social events or activities in-person or on social
media (Barry et al., 2017).

Mental Health: Refers to the state of our emotional, psychological, and social well-
being and can determine our mental state (Felman, 2020).

Social Media: First popularized in the 1990’s, social media has grown into a
worldwide phenomenon through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and
Twitter. Social media provides individuals to connect with other people faster and
easier than before (Richards et al., 2015).

Social Health: Refers to the state of individuals well-being in terms of developing

important social skills and maintaining crucial social interaction and connections with
other individuals.

Millennials: The generation reaching young adulthood in the early 21 st century (a

person born between the late 1980s to early1990s).

Generation Z: The generation reaching adulthood in the second decade of the 21 st

century (people born between the late 1990s and early 2000s).

Consensus: A general agreement or a generally accepted opinion.

Pervasive: An unwelcome influence of physical effect spreading widely throughout an

area or group of people.

Social linkage: The existence or forming of connection between two or more things
so that one thing happening or changing depends on the other.

Anorexia: Lack or loss of appetite for food because of the fear of becoming fat.

Fitspiration: A person or thing that serves as motivation for someone to sustain or

improve health and fitness.
Cyber bulling/ victimization: The use of electronic communication to bully a person
or experiencing of aggressive behaviours that may cause physical/mental damages
through the means of information and communication technologies.

Thematic analysis: A method of analysing qualitative data usually applied to an

interview.

LITERATURE REVIEW
Even though there is a general lack of consensus on whether social media is
considered to impact children and adolescents’ well-being negatively or positively,
there have been a lot of studies examining the potential outcomes of youth exposure
to social media. In this present study, both sides of the argument have been
researched to provide the most unbiased review of the information as possible. The
information from this paper also came from a variety of reliable sources that
explored the relationship between young people, social media, and observed
impacts, good or bad. A number of the articles researched are presentations of
findings from qualitative and quantitative scientific studies that have used a diverse,
recruited study sample of children— sometimes parents as well—to find correlations
or connections to social media and well-being. A few of the methods used to gather
information were interviews, focus groups, or surveys. Some of these studies also
used children from other countries such as England, Australia and the USA to signify
that this debate is occurring in places throughout the world, not just in Nigeria
These studies were peer-reviewed and approved by the proper ethics boards to
ensure that no participant was harmed during or after the research was conducted.
These resources were obtained from various sources including Clark-provided
databases such as JSTOR and Psych Info, as well as reliable research found through
Google Scholar. To make sure that the information was as accurate as possible,
most of the research used was relatively new; a couple sources used were even
from the past year. Other sources to gather information for this project were trusted
news outlets such as the New York Times. Although there were some scholarly
sources that talked about it, there was a general lack of in-depth research conducted
on the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic since it only started a little over a year ago.
These news articles provided the research with the information and perspectives of
parents and children currently living in the pandemic and their observations of how
well children have been adjusting to all of the changes, as well as how social media
has played a role in the foundation of new modes of communication being
popularized. The use of these articles offers a unique perspective because a
pandemic of this scale has not occurred in 100 years.
MENTAL HEALTH

Childhood and adolescence are crucial development periods where their social and
emotional health can be the most impacted, which will carry on habits and
behaviours into adulthood. Because this is such an important period of time, the
potential impacts that social media has on children and adolescents should be
studied and analysed since they may be the most susceptible to the negative
consequences (Barry et al., 2017). Even though these effects, negative or positive,
have not been completely determined, there has been significant research that has
found that there is a possible link between social media usage and mental health
conditions such as depression and anxiety, as well as potential threats to mental
health like poor self-esteem issues, self-harm, decreased sleep, and increased stress
in children and adolescents (Barry et al., 2017). According to Richards et al., (2015,
as cited in Kraut et al., 1998) people who used social media for only three hours a
week experienced higher rates of depression, with teenagers being the group most
susceptible to the harmful effects. However, there are other studies that suggest
that social media can actually be a benefit to children’s mental and physical health
when it is used in moderate amounts (Kardefelt-Winther, 2017). Although, because
of Covid-19, children are required to spend more time online than before, which may
be considered excessive to the point it is harmful (Drouin et al., 2020).
SOCIAL HEALTH

As previously mentioned, humans are social creatures that require human

connections and bonds in order to cultivate social and emotional support (Spoor &
Kelly, 2004). Without these proper social connections, social health can suffer,
meaning that these individuals may be isolated, have reduced social skills, and feel
disconnected from society (O’Reilly, 2020). This social connection is also vital for
children and adolescents to be able to build these relationships with their peers,
learn social skills, and gain social capital and status. This is also the period of time
where adolescents are extremely motivated to establish relationships with their
peers to provide them with the validation and social and emotional support that they
require (Ellis et al, 2020). With new technology such as the internet and social media
being so popular, children and adolescents can be connected with friends easier
(Richards et al., 2015), especially now during when we were faced with the current
pandemic where face-to-face communication is limited (Ellis et al, 2020). Covid-19
has caused problems for everyone, with many adults having to work from home and
kids having to complete their schoolwork online which has developed into many
people having a lack of social interaction. However, throughout the pandemic
research has shown that even though everyone is physically isolated from one
another, social media has been a great resource for fulfilling this human social need
while remaining safe (Ellis et al, 2020). Adolescents being able to connect with
friends during the pandemic have also been observed to “mimic in-person dynamics
(Ellis et al., 2020, p. 183).” This social interaction is also important for their
development of identity, but now children are also concerned with their online
identity or persona, meaning how they are perceived online, which is an added
pressure to current and future generations (O’Reilly et al., 2018). According to
O’Reilly (2020), with this added pressure, “while communication and social
interaction were viewed as essential to adolescent well-being, it was also
acknowledged that contemporary adolescents are subjected to significant levels of
stress and pressure, which can be a threat to positive health.

SAFETY AND RISKS

The internet is a great place to learn new information, connect with friends and
family, and build communities, but it is also associated with having a potential risk of
exposure to harmful and damaging activities and content (O’Reilly et al., 2018). One
of the major problems and risks is the potential for online harassment or
cyberbullying and “trolling.” Although bullying has been going on for generations,
children and adolescents are now exposed to the threat of harassment at the hands
of their peers or anonymous individuals online, known as cyberbullying or trolling,
which remains a constant problem for today’s youth (O’Reilly et al., 2018). According
to O’Reilly et al., cyberbullying is “the use of digital media to post threatening
messages, embarrassing pictures and rumours intending to cause harm to others
(p.2).” Because this type of bullying takes place online, it feels like young people can
never escape and can be exposed to it in the comfort of their own homes (O’Reilly et
al., 2018). Another risk to children is the potential of addiction. This addictive
nature of social media is not a coincidence; developers of these social media
platforms intentionally design them so that they release the neurotransmitter
dopamine (which makes us feel good), when we are using them (Dreifus, 2017).
Social media and the internet can sometimes seem like a drug, where people can
get obsessed with staying connected even if this puts individuals’ well-being at risk.
As stated by a 12–13-year-old study participant, “social media is like an online
drug... it has good side effects and bad side effects (O’Reilly et al., 2018, p.8).”
Adolescents have also been observed to have “underdeveloped cognitive
mechanisms that inhibit self-regulation (Ellis et al, 2020).” This cognitive factor
makes it so young people are unable to control their habits which can eventually
lead to addiction (Ellis et al, 2020). Finally, “young people on social media sites are
more prone to risk-taking behaviour that may place their health at risk (Richards et
al., 2015).” These risky behaviours, such as substance use, sexual activity, and
violence, have been observed on adolescents’ and teens' social media profiles which
could potentially impact them in the future (Richards et al., 2015). However, even
though potential exposure to the risks may be low, once exposed, young people may
develop a sense of resilience or tolerance to the risks online, as well as offline (Swist
et al., 2015).
 SYSTEM DESIGN & IMPLEMENTATION
STUDY METHOD AND DESIGN

This research project was designed as a capstone thesis aimed as an in-depth

literature review of the present and available research on the psychological and
sociological impacts of social media on children and adolescents’ well-being and
health. In order to do this, numerous perspectives, theories, and methods were
examined by researchers in order to present an unbiased and comprehensive review
of the material to date. After the research was analysed and grouped by topics or
similarity, the researcher was able to compile a list of prominent themes found
throughout the articles and studies reviewed. This then led to the formation of the
paper and the current analysis of the findings and themes.
STUDY SAMPLE

Due to the fact that current “young people” fall into two generations, Millennials and
Generation Z, both of these age groups were studied. This is because the research
that has been conducted has taken place over the course of these two generations’
lifespans, causing an overlap in the data. In result, the age range of the sample is
technically from 6-40 years old. However, the research was only focused on the
impact that social media has on children under the age of 18, meaning that some of
the Millennial population may have been excluded from some of the research. The
reason for the distinction between older and younger Millennials that were included
in this study is because the difference between these two subgroups is very large.
Many young Millennials and almost all of Gen Z do not remember a time before the
internet and social media were part of their lives, making them staples in their
upbringing. These two generations also vary in their values and experiences, much
like the generations that have come before, but because of the internet these
differences may be more well-known and kept track of. Millennials and Gen Z tend to
mostly use different social media platforms, were raised using different technology,
and are influenced by separate things. According to the New York Times, Millennials
are known for first popularizing the famous social media platform Facebook, where
Gen Z has mostly migrated to other various platforms including anonymous
“platforms like Secret or Whisper, as well as Snapchat, where any incriminating
images disappear almost instantly (Williams, 2015, p. 3).” This is because Gen Z was
the first generation to not remember a time before social media and was raised
when smartphones were just being released (Williams, 2015). One Gen Z-er even
mentions that “when I think of Generation Z, technology is the first thing that comes
to mind (Williams, 2015, p.2).” However, in spite of these differences, they are the
only two generations so far that have spent their most formative and influential
years (childhood and adolescence) with the internet and social media, and each
comes with a unique and valuable perspective of this experience. Children and teens
who are also going through online schooling currently offer an even more interesting
perspective that has never been observed or recorded before in this way.
ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES APPLIED

For this research project, the information was analysed by reading and evaluating
previously written articles, editorials, and journals, as well as research studies that
have already been conducted. The topics of these findings mostly pertained to either
social media or the importance of social connections and community. Sources that
were on the topic of social media analysed the impact on well-being, potential risks,
potential benefits, future areas of research, and how the information can be utilized
to create a safer environment and harness and improve the benefits. To make sure
that both sides of the argument were analysed as equally as possible, sources that
included both the negatives and the positives were included, as well as those that
favoured one side, as long as they also discussed potential risks or benefits as well.
This analytical approach allowed the researcher to synthesize the current research
available on the topic and develop and identify potentially new conclusions or
themes based on the previous findings and perspectives.
RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY

As stated by Roberts and Priest (2006), “reliability and validity are ways of
demonstrating and communicating the rigor of research processes and the
trustworthiness of research findings.” The reason for this is to make sure that the
information being presented is not misleading or providing false or flawed
statements to the reader (Roberts & Priest, 2006). In simple terms, reliability refers
to how consistently will the findings be able to be replicated or reproduced in similar
circumstances (Roberts & Priest, 2006). Although slightly similar, validity makes sure
that the measures being used actually measure what they are intended to (Roberts
& Priest, 2006). In terms of this study, the research would be considered reliable if
the findings or themes could be found or observed again in a separate study in
similar circumstances. This study would be considered valid if the research that has
been analysed was used with the same intentions as the previous researcher and is
presented accurately. In order for this study to be as reliable and valid as possible,
the researcher used a number of various sources and perspectives to make sure that
the information presented is accurate and unbiased. To do this, both research
studies (qualitative and quantitative), journals, editorials, and other peer-reviewed
articles that talked about or studied similar topics were used to gather data and
create common themes. Also, by using this combination of sources, the research can
be influenced by a number of perspectives including a research perspective as well
as the perspective of young people, their parents, and journalists. By using many
different perspectives, the information can be considered unbiased since multiple
sources and data were used to formulate the findings.
 ASSUMPTIONS AND IMPLIED LIMITATIONS

In every study there are assumptions that need to be made and predicted limitations
of the research and the findings. Some of the assumptions about this study that
need to be made are that even though the paper was designed with the purpose of
being as unbiased and accurate as possible, there is always a possibility that reading
the previous research and articles may have influenced the direction of the paper
and the themes that were observed. Another assumption is that because the
researcher also grew up in the period of time where social media was first emerging,
their personal perspective and experiences may have unintentionally influenced how
the findings were interpreted and presented. There are also some limitations of the
study as well, one of them being that because this research only involved the impact
of social media on young people, this information and findings cannot be applied to
any other age group or population. Another limitation is that even though research
from multiple countries was used, the countries also happened to be affluent,
“developed” countries, so this data also cannot be used to explain parts of the world
that are not categorized the same way.
RESULTS

By analysing the current studies and literature on the topic of the effect of social
media on young people, four separate themes were found: first, does social media
help or hurt mental health? Second, social media as a method to fulfil social needs;
third, the pandemic gives way to new forms of staying in touch; and finally, young
people talk about their issues in the third person. Through the analysis of the
available research and literature, these themes represent the common experience
and issues that young people face in the age of the internet and social media.
Through these themes, we can provide insight and a new perspective on the
potential harms or benefits of social media also within the context of the Covid-19
pandemic. These insights will then be able to influence areas that could be improved
and benefits that can be utilized.
DOES SOCIAL MEDIA HELP OR HURT MENTAL HEALTH?

The childhood and adolescent years are crucial time periods for overarching
development, but with the extra stress of the Covid-19 pandemic, a lot of young
people are experiencing added anxiety, depression, and increased technology/social
media use (Drouin et al., 2020). Even before the pandemic, multiple studies have
found a link between social media usage and increased levels of mental health
disorders (such as depression and anxiety) in children (O’Reilly et al, 2018; Barry et
al., 2017; Richards et al., 2015). There has been an observed link between social
media and potential threats to mental health, including, but not limited to, sleep
problems, self-harm, impulsivity, risk-taking behaviours, body image issues, and low
self-esteem (Barry et al., 2017; Richards et al., 2015). However, in spite of the
potential negative mental health effects, numerous studies have also examined the
potential benefits of social media on young people’s mental health, such as new
resources for support networks that can provide mental health help (O’Reilly, 2020),
or through connecting people with similar issues and experiences (O’Reilly et al.,
2018). According to O’Reilly (2020), children who have been diagnosed with mental
health conditions are particularly vulnerable to isolation and “that the communication
and connectivity of social media could be especially beneficial for this group, giving
them more positive outcomes consistent with their peers. Ever since social media
platforms started becoming popular with older Millennials using sites such as
Myspace and Facebook to share life updates, the conversation about whether these
platforms cause more harm and damage than benefits has been a constant topic of
debate (Barry et al., 2017). Currently, the debate looks at apps and social media
platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. Also because of the
Covid-19 pandemic, the younger generations must keep in contact with peers,
acquaintances, and friends through communication methods that do not require
face-to-face communication, such as various social media platforms. This lack of in-
person communication has been known to cause various mental health issues in the
past (O’Reilly et al, 2018), but with this being the only way for kids to communicate
with their friends, the options are limited, causing the majority of children to rely on
social media to keep in touch with their friend groups (Kardefelt-Winther & Byrne,
2020). The stress of the pandemic and school closures has also limited young
people's access to mental health support, but with these online connections, children
can stay in contact with old friends and meet new people or find communities that
may be dealing with the same issues (Ellis et al., 2020).
SOCIAL MEDIA AS A METHOD TO FULFIL SOCIAL NEEDS

Throughout the literature, it is consistent that while there is disagreement about the
harms and negative effects of the internet and social media, there is a general
acknowledgement that they can provide young people with the social connections
that they require. In developmental psychology, it has been found that children need
strong peer relationships in order to develop and strengthen their social skills and
support networks (O’Reilly, 2020). Through social media, children and adolescents
can continue to build these networks even during the Covid-19 pandemic (Ellis et al.,
2020). Using social media as a resource to make social connections has also been
proven to “reduce isolation, improve social skills and provide a platform for
continued communication (O’Reilly, 2020, p. 3).” Developing a sense of identity and
belonging is also pivotal for young people, so finding a community of people with
similar interests can promote the formation of this identity, self-expression, and self-
acceptance (Swist et al., 2015). Many who support the benefits of social media also
say that during the pandemic, social media can provide children and adolescents
with a sense of normalcy that allows them to have this social engagement with their
peers (Kardefelt-Winther & Byrne, 2020). However, even with these benefits, there
are still many negative social aspects of social media that should be recognized. One
of the negatives is frequent cyberbullying from peers, meaning that children who are
bullied in school may not have an escape from the torment they receive since they
can be bullied from their own home through social media. By using the internet,
people are able to say things that they would never say to another person's face,
and frequent Facebook use has been linked to a higher chance of being bullied
(Richards et al., 2015). Yet even when they log off, they may experience “FOMO”
meaning the Fear of Missing Out. This phenomenon has been linked to higher social
media usage since many young people feel like they are going to miss something or
feel left out if they are not involved in the conversations or social activities which can
lead to feelings of distress and exclusion (Barry et al., 2017). Because of this,
children may become addicted to social media in order to keep up with social
expectations and to reduce the feeling of being excluded from their peers. Many
young people refer to social media as an “online drug” which means that they are
aware of the severity of its potentially addictive qualities that can negatively impact
well-being (O’Reilly et al., 2018, p. 8).
PANDEMIC GIVES WAY TO NEW FORMS OF COMMUNICATION

As discussed, social media has been able to provide young people with a sense of
normalcy in the pandemic since they can keep in contact with their friends while
being quarantined (Kardefelt-Winther & Byrne, 2020). Through this, new forms of
social connection, made possible by the internet, have grown significantly with new
platforms and modes of communication. One of the most famous platforms that has
recently gained popularity with young people is the online video game, “Among Us,”
where players complete various tasks on a spaceship and are assigned either the
role of “Crewmate” or “Imposter.” The Crewmates must complete the tasks they are
assigned while they are trying to avoid being killed by the Imposter who is disguised
as a regular Crewmate. Crewmates also must also try and determine who the
Imposter(s) are and successfully vote them off to win the game (Lorenz, 2020).Even
though “Among Us” was released in 2018, it didn’t become popular until September
of 2020, when young people discovered it as a new and interesting way to spend
time with friends during quarantine. This is because in order to vote off the
Imposter, everyone playing must (virtually) gather and discuss who they think the
Imposter is, giving them a chance to talk to each other over a new medium. This
game has also been compared to playing a board game with friends in-person which
is a fun social activity; “There’s more natural conversation that arises from it. It’s
more of a party game. You are kind of just hanging out with friends and the game is
secondary… To excel at the game, you have to know if people are lying, telling the
truth and their general personality (Lorenz, 2020, p. 2).” However, this is not the
only example of new social platforms that have become popular due to the
pandemic. Video chat has become a huge resource for providing young people with
their social needs. Websites like Zoom, Skype, Google Hangout, and more have
allowed people to stay in contact with friends and family relatively “face-to-face”
even if the communication is not in-person. These platforms have also been
necessary for young people to receive their education since in-person schooling was
not an option. These social and educational platforms are also important because a
lot of our communication relies on the aspect of non-verbal cues like hand gestures,
facial expressions, and eye-contact which is not possible without seeing the
individual in-person or on video (Turk, 2020). Video chat is not perfect because only
a portion of the body is visible on screen, but it provides young people with a chance
to communicate face-to-face and develop their nonverbal communication and social
skills.
YOUNG PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES IN THE THIRD PERSON

The final theme that was observed is that when children and adolescents were
questioned about their social media use or the perceptions that they have on the
impact it has on well-being, a lot of them answered using third-person language.
This use of third-person language was observed when young people would talk
about the negative aspects of social media, but they did not or were hesitant to say
that they themselves have experienced these effects (O’Reilly et al., 2018). For
example, when asked about cyberbullying, the young participants talked in-depth
about how rampant it is on social media and the harms it can cause, but they very
rarely expressed personal stories or experiences on the topic (O’Reilly et al., 2018).
Another example of this occurred when the topic of social media addiction was
discussed. When participants acknowledged that they “were avid users of social
media themselves, many argued that social media is addictive for some… In other
words, when considering people being addicted to social media, they generally
spoke about others, some people, rather than self-identifying as overusing these
channels themselves (O’Reilly et al., 2018, p. 8).” Through the language that the
participants used in the interviews, surveys, and other research methods, they seem
to be more comfortable talking about the harmful aspects when they are not
“outing” themselves as an individual who experiences the negative effects. Young
people often used phrases like “some people” and “you” when referring to
adolescents more broadly to talk about the expectations and impacts of social
media. Only rarely would they talk about themselves or use the word “I” to discuss
their experiences (O’Reilly, 2020). Other studies that have been conducted to expose
some of the barriers that young people experience when and if they seek out mental
health help have found that many people feel too embarrassed to get help because
of a prominent societal stigma surrounding mental health (Gulliver et al., 2010).
Many people fear what others will think of them or assume about them if they were
to receive treatment or help even if they recognize that they can benefit from it
(Gulliver et al., 2010).
 SUMMARY & CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION
This study was conducted by analysing and examining the previous research,
literature, and journalist articles on the topic of how social media impacts the well-
being of young people through the additional lens of the Covid-19 pandemic. As
expressed in the literature, there is still a lack of consensus about whether social
media provides benefits to young people or if it is not worth the harm that it causes
for children and adolescents. This seems to be the case because older generations
who grew up without social media do not fully understand how young people use
social media and how it can help them develop healthy coping mechanisms and
social connections. These benefits of social media also come with the assumption
that parents will also supervise their child’s internet activity to the extent that they
can keep them relatively safe and teach them how to interact with the internet
safely on their own. Parents and other adults should also keep up to date with the
new forms of communication on the internet as a way to understand how to keep
young people safe, but more importantly understand that social media also has
benefits when utilized correctly.
CONCLUSION

The main hypothesis for this paper was that there was a lack of consensus about
whether the benefits of social media outweigh the harms and vice versa. This debate
has led to the benefits of social media to not be utilized to their full potential and
some of the harms and risks to be downplayed. This hypothesis was partially
supported by the finding that this debate is still occurring, but many of the more
recent studies and articles paint social media in a more positive light because of the
Covid-19 pandemic and when used in moderation.
RECCOMENDATIONS

As previously discussed, teaching children about internet safety is essential, so

future studies should look into how this can best be taught to young people so that
they can utilize the internet and social media for their benefit while also being
cautious of the negative aspects without being scared of the harms or ashamed if
they experience harm. This research should also include how this information can be
presented in a school setting as well as how parents can educate their children on
this topic. Future studies should also focus on how the benefits of the internet can
best be utilized by young people to enhance education, social connections, and
identity development. It will also be interesting to see how future research will
incorporate the new forms of communication that have become widely known due to
the pandemic and the factors that go into different forms of communication
becoming popular.
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Molly Gammon. (2021). The Effects of Social Media on Young People Through the Lens of
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Public Health Commons, Social Media Commons, and the Sociology of Culture Commons
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