Lecture 11: Influence of Social Media and Technology on Youth and Children

Question 1

Define ‘Social Media’ and its role

Answer 1

‘Social media’ refers to “online sites which exhibit the characteristics of participation, openness, conversation, community and connectedness.

Role:
Social media has become an essential channel for people to transmit, distribute and share information.

Question 2

Explain Sociological Understanding of Social Media

Answer 2

(1) Human beings’ influence on each other is a prt of the phenomenon that is inevitable. Social media is ruled by those with more followers. People with more followers continue to gain followers as their content continues to be ever far reaching.
(2) The interactivity of social media through efficient technology enables people to connect with one another at incredible speeds.

Question 3

Describe the benefits of social media for children and youth

Answer 3

(1) Socialisation and Communication
- Stay connected to family and friends

(2) Enhanced Learning Opportunities
- Easy to cource for information with just a click

(3) Support Groups and Health Information
- Adolescents can access online information about their health concerns easily and privately such as sexually transmitted diseases and mental illness.

Question 4

Describe the risks and/or negative effects of letting young children gain access to social media sites

Answer 4

(1) Victim of ‘Cyber bullying’
- Cyber bullies use social media to communicate false, embarrassing or hostile information about another person with the aim to harass, upset and intimidate. Cyber bullying can have profound psychosocial outcomes including depression, anxiety, severe isolation and sometimes suicide.

(2) Facebook Depression
- Acceptance by their peers is an important element of adolescent life. ‘Facebook’ depression is defined as depression that develops when they spend a lot of time on FB and begin to exhibit symptoms of depression when they are not accepted by their peers. They feel ostracised when removed from their groups or when their messages are ignored. When they are socially isolated from their peers, these victims may become aggressive or resort to self-destructive behaviours.

(3) Lack of understanding of online privacy issues
- Share too much personal information - risk of identity theft to carry out unlawful activities.

Question 5

Describe signs of addiction to social media

Answer 5

(1) Losing track of time as they use the internet longer than intended
(2) Feeling irritable when disrupted
(3) Isolation from offline or real relationships and these include family and friends

Question 6

Describe ways in which parents may ensure that their children are not addicted to social media

Answer 6

(1) Parents should evaluate socal media platforms that specially cater for the pre-adolescents and younger children. Sites that do not have any age restriction such as Disney sites.
(2) Parents should negotiate with their children about household rules such as internet usage must not interfere with family time or external social activities.
(3) Parents should freely discuss with the adolescents that they are not to meet anyone whom they have met online in person without informing the adults.