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Negative Effects of Social Media on Society and Teens

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Negative Effects of Social Media on Society and Teens Tyler Clementi, 18 was a regular freshman who was passionate about playing the violin and was still very new to his gay identity. Instead of enjoying college life at Rutgers University, his first semester proved to be a disaster experiencing the tauntment of tweets and statuses from other students behind computer screens and key boards. Cyberbullying is not the only negative effect that social media has on teens and society but she shares the biggest impact. It can be used through so many ways especially through social networking sites. All media sites construct reality that has powerful, yet subtle implications. The media has the ability to influence how teens and society think, shop, dress, behave, judge people and feel about other individuals. Some of these influences cause social and health issues. Social networking is not safe enough to protect anyone that has access to the internet. Social media has become very superior to the daily lives of society that has negatively affected society because of its influences of cyberbullying, the judgement of others and the promotion of drug or alcohol. Social networking is a very common way for people of different groups, age and ethnic background to connect together. It can become more of a community online that is only on the internet. Social media sites are usally free to sign up and join with no cost to connect with others. The question may be how the companies of social media gain many users, the answer is the user themselves. People of society feed into what is broadcasted online and what is trending of the day, month or year. Social networking may be free serviced to users but the amount of users gains network or company publicity but lots of money as well. The more there are many people using the site, the more money the network makes. According to E Marketer, global social networking revenue exceeded up to ten million dollars in 2013. Media will always have an impact on society through the use of people of society and what it promotes; good or bad. Consumers of social media are helped matched with products from interest, promotion of business and other things. The addiction consumers have with social media helps keep the network wealthy. Throughout the development of social networking it has had a big influence on teens negatively. In the study, researchers asked 467 teens eleven to seventeen their use of social media and after testing there were results of decreased sleep quality, lower self-esteem, increased anxiety and depression. From the influence of celebrities, what is perceived in media and the negative things promoted in the media has increased vulnerability of teens. Things promoted in the media that influence teens are drugs, alcohol, and sex making teens feel the need to be acceptance. “Sexting” or sending nude photographs have become a relatively new phenomenon, which is exclusively a product of the internet age. “(Peggy Parks)” which supports how much sex in the media has influenced teens to send vulgar messages to others or post them because, sending revealing photos seem to be highly accepted or appeals to their peers around them. In a survey over one-fourth said that they had engaged in some form of sexting. Ten percent of the people in the survey said they had shared nude photos of themselves (Peggy Parks). The body image of the celebrities and women and man that flaunt their bodies without clothes are influencing teens to broadcast themselves to others. Media not only can destroy teen’s body image but also their self-esteem. Teens are heavily influenced by anyone and anything on social media; this can result in an identity crisis for some individuals. Social media has made it easy for teens not to be conscious of their choices online, and have “double lives “on the internet. (Austin Mcann) Living a double life on the internet can lead to an increased risk of anxiety depression and lack of sleep. Social networking has many other negative affects not including the ones mentioned. Being on social media constantly can also cause mental illnesses as well. Social networking sites can be very addicting and life changing in a negative way. The mental illnesses caused by social media can lead to depression and schizophrenia. These mental illnesses start with the addiction to social media. “The media gives you a sense of importance.”(Morgan Meyer). The more an individual uses social media the more addicting and distracting it becomes. Being continuously active on social media can decrease and individuals productivity. As a distraction the mind of many people can often lead to insecurity and social anxiety. People are more connected through what makes others are doing being more connected through a computer screen. Some networking sites can increase the feeling of inadequacy in some indiviuals. Social anxiety is an effect of media addiction that causes less human interaction. “ Real human interaction can become overwhelming or scary for some after being connected t media for so long.” (Morgan Meyer). The mental illnesses social media causes can be as severe as long term effects due to addiction. Cyberbullying is more effective than traditional bullying. “Cyberbullying has been identified as one of the most serious problems associated with online social media and numerous of young people have been victims of it.” (Derek Roberts). Teens are very reckless

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