Running head: THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ADOLESCENTS

The Impact of Social Media on Adolescents Surprize M. Stephenson Liberty University

THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ADOLESCENTS

Abstract Counseling the 21st Century adolescent can be quite a challenge and in order for a counselor to be highly effective they must be in touch with the specific issues that plague this highly technology based group. Social media plays an active role in the lives of many adolescent and the purpose of this research is to determine the effects of social media on adolescents. Once the effects have been determined, counselors can better understand how social media affects individual patients and determine the proper treatment process. To determine the positive and negative effects of social media, several published articles and research studies were explored. Several studies proved the effects are largely negative, citing cyber-bullying, sexual predators, and increased body image issues as increasing problems among adolescents. Other researchers prove that overall adolescent use of social media appears to be appropriate and often times assists in fostering identity formation. This research will summarize the current findings to conclude that more qualitative and quantitative research be performed to determine the effects. Keywords: adolescents, social media, counseling

THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ADOLESCENTS

Introduction The Pew Internet and American Life Project estimates that some 93% of todays adolescents use the internet to interact with their peers through social networking sites such as facebook, myspace, and twitter (Lenhart, Madden, Macgill, & Smith, 2007). In addition to the extraordinary percentage of adolescents media usage, research shows that adolescents are using media on average more than the time they spend in school each day and with their parents. A 2009 national study of 8-18 year olds found that on average adolescents were using some form of media an average of 10 hours and 45 minutes per day of exposure to media (Rideout, Foehr, & Roberts, 2010). Research shows that there are both positive and negative effects of social media on adolescents and experts agree that more research must be conducted to definitely determine the effects. Social Media Research shows that 73% of adolescents who use the internet use social media sites (Lenhart, Purcell, Smith, & Zickuhr, 2010). Social media is a feature of the internet that allows individuals to communicate with one another, connect with peer groups, create and publish content, share content, and play games against one another. Many different types of social media exist including social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace, blogs and microblogs such as Blogspot, Wordpress, and Twitter, online gaming sites such as World of Warcraft, virtual worlds where participants create online identities and interact with one another, and photo, video, and artwork sharing sites such as YouTube and Flickr (Lusk, 2010). Traditionally networking would occur at a party or seminar, however, social media allows users across the world to be

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able to network with people who share similar interests without leaving the comfort of their homes. In 2007, the Pew Internet & American Life Project conducted research to determine the types of activities adolescents engage in while using social media sites and found astounding numbers as well as saw a significant increase from the previous research conducted in 2004. The research showed that 39% of online adolescents share their own artistic creations online, 33% create or assist with an online blog, 27% maintain a personal webpage, and 55% have created a profile on a social networking site such as Facebook or MySpace (Lenhart, Purcell, Smith, & Zickuhr, 2010). This research also proved that social media use varies widely among males and females. Females largely choose to spend their time blogging and on networking sites while males outrank females in the online gaming world. Based on this study and others with similar results, researchers clearly agree that the influence of social media in the lives of adolescents today is skyrocketing. Concerns Regarding Adolescent Use of Social Media Experts who study children and adolescents have developed various theories to describe how children learn and what factors in their lives influence their development the most. Two of these theories, the social learning theory and the cognitive development theory, are essential when determining the effects of social media on adolescents. The social learning theory affirms that children and adolescents will imitate behaviors they witness especially when the behaviors are rewarded or seem accurate and the cognitive development theory stresses that the cognitive development of a child or adolescent will determine if and how the individual comprehends media content (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein, 2010). The implications of these two

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theories are severe when adolescents and social media are combined and generate extreme concerns when adolescents are exposed to acts of violence, sexual behaviors, drug use, and other questionable behaviors through social media. The concern lies in the fact that social media allows adolescents to be exposed to questionable content and behaviors before they are likely to be introduced to them in the real world. An eight year old will be less likely to understand persuasive methods and thus will be more vulnerable to advertising techniques than a fifteen year old (Strasburger, Wilson, & Jordan, 2009). A younger adolescent will also have difficulty determining the difference between exaggerated and glamorized events and real life situations leading experts to become increasingly concerned regarding the increased exposure to violence and aggression that many adolescents are experiencing through social media. Empirical evidence has shown that there is a significant link between media violence and aggression in adolescents (Brown & Bobkowski, 2011). Violent movies, music videos, rap music, and video games available through social media increasingly glamorize violent acts making it difficult for adolescents to cognitively differentiate between fantasy and reality (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein, 2010). Video games containing violence are especially concerning due to the increased levels of engagement compared to other social media venues (Brown & Bobkowski, 2011). Anxiety, acceptance of violence as an appropriate means of problem solving, fear, and desensitization are all effects experts agree adolescents can experience due to repeated exposure to violence and aggression (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein, 2010). Ultimately these effects will result in increases of violence and video games are largely to blame with half of American adolescents reporting they play games online (Lenhart, Madden, Macgill, & Smith, 2007). There is no more convincing evidence of the extreme influence of video game violence on adolescents than the

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case concerning a school shooting in Kentucky. Investigators proved that the shooter had never fired a real firearm before the day of the shooting; he acquired his deadly accuracy from first person shooter video games (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein, 2010). Video games and other types of social media today not only contain examples of violence but also offer adolescents an often unwanted introduction to sexually explicit material and acts. According to a survey conducted by Brown and Lngle (2009), 66% of males and 39% of females between the ages of 12 and 14 had seen at least one form of sexually explicit media in the past year. More than one fourth of adolescent internet users in the United States experienced unwanted exposure to pornographic material while using social media in the previous year (Brown & Bobkowski, 2011). Numerous longitudinal studies have been conducted over the last decade similar to the study conducted by Kraus and Russell (2008) resulting in proof that exposure to sexually explicit material stimulated earlier interest in having sexual encounters among both males and females (as cited in Guan and Subrahmanyam, 2009). The desires of adolescents to engage in sexual encounters and the inability of adolescents to cognitively differentiate between real and fantasy presents another concern for adolescents using social media in the form of sexting. Sexting is defined as the sending or posting sexually suggestive images (Shah, 2010). The Pew Internet and American Life Project Survey (2010) reported that between 4-20% of adolescents, depending on age, admitted to sending a sexual message or picture and 48% admitted to receiving an image of sexual nature (Lenhart, Purcell, Smith, & Zickuhr). Sexting has become such an issue that is 2011 sexting appeared in the Motts Childrens Hospital National Poll on Childrens Health list of top ten health concerns for children (Hua, 2012). Social networking sites provide a near perfect forum for adolescents to present themselves publically in sexually provocative ways (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein,

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2010). The reality of the situation, that most adolescents do not understand, is that sexting is considered criminal behavior under child pornography laws and adolescents in sixteen states have been charged with felonies in sexting related cases (Shah, 2010). Sexting, as stated above, allows adolescents to present themselves publically in a manner that they would normally avoid. While most adolescents are targeting the attention of their peers, often times they attract the attention of sexual predators while using social media. According to Lenhart & Madden (2007), 82% of adolescents include their first name on their online profile, 79% include a photo of themselves, 49% list the school they attend, and 29% include their last name. When adolescents share this information and other identifying information with strangers they increase their chances of attracting a sexual predator online (Wolak et al., 2008). Current research shows that while adolescents must remain vigilant when communicating it is more likely that sexual solicitation will occur by other minors than by adults (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein, 2010). Childhood obesity has become a sever epidemic in todays society and research has shown that media is contributing to the issue although experts remain unclear as to the specific reasons why exposure to media increases childhood obesity (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein, 2010). Ray and Jat (2010) explain that for every hour an adolescent spends playing electronic games, their risk of obesity increases two-fold largely due to the fact that adolescents are replacing physical activity with social media use. Experts also hold the food industry responsible for the childhood obesity epidemic and the vast amount of adolescent use of social media has provided the industry with more advertising opportunities. Food brand sponsored web sites have increased in popularity by offering advergames and chances to win coupons for unhealthy food (Brown & Bobkowski, 2011). Research proves that increased marketing of

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unhealthy food through media sources increase obesity in adolescents but more longitudinal and experimental studies of adolescents must be completed to definitely determine the effects of social media on childhood obesity (Brown & Bobkowski, 2011). While marketing is likely causing a positive correlation between social media and childhood obesity there is undisputable evidence that media promotes an unrealistically thin body ideal and thus contributes largely to adolescent eating disorders and other body image issues (Ray and Jat, 2010). The popularity of social media now provides an additional venue for the media to promote unrealistic body images to adolescents. In 2010 according to Borzekowski, Schenk, Wilson, & Peebles (2010) there were over 100 proanorexia web sites that encourage eating disorders such as anorexia and offer advice on methods of purging, rigorously restricting caloric intakes, and excessive exercise. Adolescents who are struggling with eating disorders often turn to social media for help with 98% of adolescents who visit these sites reporting that they learning new techniques for treating their eating disorders (Lusk, 2010). This statistic has caused experts to become increasingly concerned regarding the amount of inaccurate medical information that can be accessed by adolescents through social media. Body image issues can also be stimulated through the comments of other adolescents and social media has provided a new and often thriving forum for this and other forms of bullying. Juvonen and Gross (2008) reported based on the results of an on-line survey that bullying is no longer limited to school grounds. Cyber-bullying is an increasingly problematic issue with 72% of adolescents surveyed reporting experiencing at least one online incident of bullying and 90% reporting that they did not inform an adult about the cyber-bullying. The effects of bullying are well established among researchers including increased anxiety, depression, and even suicide and cyber bullying is no different. In 2008, Megan Meier, 13, hanged herself after receiving a

THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON ADOLESCENTS message saying The world would be a better place without you on her MySpace page. The message was sent from a fake account created by the mother of another adolescent who did not care for Meier (Steinhauer, 2008). While this is an extreme example, there have been other similar cases since 2008 where cyber-bullying resulted in the suicide of an adolescent. The two most notable cases, both receiving considerable national media coverage, involve 18 year old Tyler Clementi a Rutgers University student and 17 year old Amanda Todd a seventh grade student. The Associated Press (2010) reported that Clemnti jumped off a New Jersey bridge after secret video of his sexual encounter with a man was streamed online by his college roommate. In 2012, Amanda Todd posted a video of herself topless online causing her once friends and others to torment her relentsely. After moving schools twice, becoming hooked on illegal drugs, suffering severe depression, and being attacked she ended her life to stop the bullying (Fisher, 2012). To

conclude their study of cyber-bullying, Juvonen and Gross (2008) suggest that adolescents and their parents educate themselves on effective techniques for avoiding cyber-bullying and that schools create policies for addressing cyber-bullying. Research over the past decade has proven positive correlations between adolescent exposure to tobacco and alcohol products and increased use. Before the emergence of social media, adolescents were most likely pressured to use tobacco products, alcohol, and illegal substances by their peers, from advertisements in the media, or due to its presence in a movie or music video (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein, 2010). Social networking sites now provide an additional venue for adolescents to access information about substance related activities. Moreno, Parks, Zimmerman, Brito, & Christakis (2009) report that an analysis of MySpace profiles of adolescents found that 41% of the profiles contained references to substance use (as

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cited if Brown and Bobkowski, 2011). Research proves adolescents are highly exposed to tobacco and alcohol through social media, however, the extent to which they are exposed to controlled substances through social media remains unclear (Brown and Bobkowski). In comparison to suicide cause by cyber-bullying and long term health issues related to substance abuse, internet addiction may appear to be a fairly insignificant effect of social media on adolescents. Guan and Subrahmanyam (2009) define internet addiction as thinking about the internet constantly, encountering hostile feelings when the internet is unavailable, the use of the internet to escape negative feelings, and/or continued internet use despite the desire to stop. The reality of internet addiction is that adolescents who become addicted to the internet can experience negative effects on academics, family relations, physical health, mental health, and finances (Guan and Subrahmanyam). According to Kendall (1998), adolescence is a time of identity exploration and relationship investigation and it has been hypothesized that adolescents who have trouble in these developmental areas will become susceptible to using social media sites to cope (as cited in Guan and Subrahmanyam). Positive Effects of Social Media on Adolescents Krauy et al. (1998) explains that early research found that prolonged internet use was related to increased depression, loneliness, and smaller social circles (as cited in Ahn, 2011). The results suggested that adolescents who used the internet were isolated from their peers thus negatively impacting the psychological well-being of the adolescent (Ahn). More recent research has shown that adolescents use social media outlets mainly to communicate with their peers, not meet strangers, thus producing benefits for some adolescents. Subrahmanyam and Lin (2007) studied 156 adolescents to determine if loneliness was related to total time spent online.

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Upon analyzing the data using an ANOVA, it was discovered that in fact loneliness was not related to the time spent online or the time spent e-mailing but was related to the adolescents gender (Subrahmanyam and Lin). By allowing adolescents to connect to others who share the same interests or problems, social media provides a virtual space for discussion and resources that may not be available in the adolescents offline world (Lusk, 2010). A Pew Internet study reports that 31% of adolescents turn to social media for health information (Lenhart, Purcell, Smith, & Zickuhr, 2010). This provides the opportunity for important public messages to be disbursed and reach a population that may have been neglected in the past (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein, 2010). Guan and Subrahmanyam (2009) explain that social media can be used to offer free counseling, smoking prevention, obesity and eating disorder prevention, anger management and violence prevention, and substance abuse prevention to adolescents and those who are otherwise resistant to these services are more likely to participate through social media due to its popularity. Suggested Future Actions Based on the current percentages of adolescents who use social media, it is clear that traditional media sources have been replaced and that social media will remain a mainstay in society. Lusk (2010) explains that it is impossible to continuously monitor adolescent behavior online; therefore, it is vital that parents and educators to teach adolescents the dangers of social media use. According to a survey completed at the University of Buffalo and the University of Maryland (2009), youth who been educated about safe social media practices are more likely to use safe practices online than other adolescents (as cited in Lusk). The American Academy of Pediatrics (2010) has recommended that parents become more cognizant of their childrens

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social media use, limit media exposure to no more than one to two hours per day, remove media from childrens bedrooms and co-view media in order to discuss content together as a family. Woodard and Gridina (2000) also suggest that parents be mindful of their own social media usage when around their children (as cited in (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein, 2010). Nearly 70% of school districts in the United States block student access to social networking sites (Ahn, 2011) but experts agree that schools should play an active role in educating adolescents about social media (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein, 2010). Few schools in the United States teach media literacy or internet safety but the reality is that adolescents will live in a world saturated with social media and much like you must teach an adolescent to operate a motor vehicle, you must also teach them to use social media responsibly. In addition to parents and educators, Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein suggest that the entertainment industry, the advertising industry, and the government play an active role in the future of social media to ensure the safety adolescents and all users. The entertainment and advertising industries must use their respective venues to promote positive lifestyle choices and the government must seek information from experts and health care providers when creating media related legislation. Conclusions Due to the great influence social media has on todays adolescents, it is essential to determine if the overall effects are negative or positive so counselors, teachers, and parents alike can be aware of the effects and assist with social media related problems if they arise. The effects of social media vary widely from allowing adolescents to cyber-bully one another resulting in teen suicide to improving compliance with chemotherapy treatments in adolescents

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with cancer by distracting adolescents from the discomfort and boredom often associated with treatments (Strasburger, Jordan, & Donnerstein, 2010). In order to ensure the safety of adolescents while using social media and to maximize the positive aspects of social media, stakeholders must work together to and research must continue as social media continues to change.

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Juvonen, J., & Gross, E. F. (2008). Extending the school grounds?Bullying experiences in cyberspace. Journal of School Health, 78(9), 496505. Lenhart, A., & Madden, M. (2007). Teens, Privacy & Online Sociai Networks. Pew Internet &American Life Project. Retrieved f rom h t t p : / /www. p ewi n t e r n e t . o r g/Reports/2007/Teens-Privacy-and-Online-Social-Networks.aspx Lenhart, A.,Madden, M., Macgill, A., & Smith, A. (2007). Teens and Social Media: The use of social media gains a greater foothold in teen life as they embrace the conversational nature of interactive online media. Pew Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved fromhttp://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/Files/Reports/2007/PIP_Teens_Social_ Media_Final.pdf Lenhart, A., Purcell, K., Smith, A, & Zickuhr, K. (2010). Social Media & Mobile Internet Use Among Teens and Young Adults. Pew Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Social-Media-and-Young-Adutts.aspx Lusk, B. (2010). Digital natives and social media behaviors: an overview. Prevention Researcher, 173-6. Ray, M, & Jat, K.R. (2010). Effect of Electronic Media on Children. Indian Pediatrics, Volume 47. Retrieved from http://www.indianpediatrics.net/july2010/july-561-568.htm Rideout, V., Foehr, U. G., & Roberts, D. F. (2010). Generation M2: Media in the lives of 8 18 year-olds. Menlo Park, CA: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Shah, K. (2010). Sexting: Risky or Frisky? An Examination of the Current and Future Legal Treatment of Sexting in the United States. Faulkner Law Review, 2(1), 193-216.

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