Is social media beneficial for adolescents, harmful, or a combination of them both? In this essay, I choose communities and social media as my theme, with the main focus on social media and its positive impact on adolescence. My topic is relevant to the theme because both analyze the studies of online networks such as social media and their effects on social changes. In this case, I will concentrate on the impact on adolescents’ growth. From the essential reading, Dotson mentioned that the structure of networks is what changes the community (2017). People connect with social networks in different ways, which leads to various outcomes. Social media helps adolescents in their studies, social development, and creativity, but others are afraid of the negative influences have, especially with the exponential growth of social media.

They believe that relationships between the community were stronger and better in the recent past. People argue that the changes in social networks make people more socially isolated. It is stated that adolescents have caught the cultural norm of “always being online” (Kuss & Griffiths, 2017). An Atlantic columnist, Stephen Marche added that “The more connected we become, the lonelier we are” (2012). Dotson described such a community as “networked individualism”, where the nature of the community has changed, but society has not recognized it (2017). They believe that social networks are dragging people away from spending quality time with their acquaintances, relatives, and friends, and wonder how people can have meaningful personal relations solely from social media and gadgets. In recent years, as technology begins to develop in social media applications, it allows people to escape the bonds of encapsulated social ties (Simmel, 1950). It enables people to have a persistent bond and maintain contact through multiple online social media networks. Nowadays, social media and adolescence are two constant things that change.

As a definition, Dollarhide describes social media as “a computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas, thoughts, and information through virtual communities and networks” (2021). Social media was originally made with the purpose of as a way to help people interact with friends and family. People can use social media on a computer, iPad, or phone, whether it is on websites or applications (Dollarhide, 2021). With the help of the advancement of technology, social media has become inseparable from adolescence. Although there are opposite arguments, the role of social media helps adolescence to grow in their education, social life, and wellbeing.

Adolescence is a crucial time for the teenage brain to grow and develop (Adair & Adam, 2021). It’s the next stage of life when what started as a fairy tale becomes something more serious and challenging. Adolescents go through cognitive changes throughout this stage, which is why education plays a huge role in developing teenagers. Children’s thoughts, emotions, and beliefs about themselves develop and change at different speeds and times (Adair & Adam, 2021). One of the ways to strengthen their cognitive abilities is through the use of social media. These days, social media has become one of the main sources of information for many teenagers. It allows every user to quickly access and share information easily and effectively. Once they start having a social media account, they can follow anyone who they think is interesting to them through their social media account. Authors, actors, artists, and athletes, are all connected to every information they need. Teens can also seek information on issues that are relevant to their school activities.

Adolescents can easily access valuable information that they need for their study purposes. For instance, a photography student may be required to capture some well-known locations but is unsure where to look. They can simply gather information and look it up on social media platforms such as TikTok or Instagram, where people are constantly sharing information about new cafes and restaurants. Social media has the capability to enhance their perspective on a wide range of topics by providing insightful, new content in real-time (Dalal, 2017). This might also help adolescence to figure out where their passions lie. Social media provide a broad space filled with images and videos that can help them to discover their passions. Pinterest is an excellent resource for them to search and see what inspires them. Other than that, adolescence also have the chance to engage with professionals to find answers to the questions they might require assistance with.

For example, finding resources to strengthen their arguments in their school essays, exploring other professional perspectives, and discovering more subjects related to their hobbies or interests. Moreover, social media provides the useful subject and audience tracking systems, and it is one of the best platforms to gather information. Adolescence can also use their accounts to construct a strong resume that can help them later in life by sharing their accomplishments, showcasing their abilities, and sharing their accomplishments. In this scenario, social media has proven to make the educational system far more convenient, enjoyable, effective, and beneficial to its growth.

Social media are one of the most engaging digital media channels that allow people to create and share information, ideas, hobbies, and express their emotions freely in a virtual environment (Salvador, 2017). It is an extension of their face-to-face interactions. Social media aids to maintain permanent connections between family and friends in long-distance relationships (Hampton, 2018). Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and Facebook all have features that allow users to keep up with their lives by sharing stories on Instagram, sending pictures on Snapchat, tweeting about anything they want on Twitter, and sharing their favorite or cherished memories on Facebook.

These actions close the gap that distance has caused. Connecting with family and relatives, as well as engaging in local and worldwide online communities, can provide adolescence with a sense of belonging (Gordon, 2020). Furthermore, social media can serve a good purpose and help adolescence to add value to their lives by building online communities. Meeting and keeping in touch with friends, as well as maintaining ties across borders, are no longer limited by social media. “For children who may have a disability or may not feel they can connect with others within their community, it can be a great way to connect with other people who share their ideas and interests” (Pechkam, 2021).

Children who feel shy talking or approaching other people can simply use social media to chat with other people, then as time goes by when they feel comfortable, they can start using the voice call or video call feature, and then when they are used to it, they can finally meet that person in real life. That’s one example of social media that helps children to be able to communicate. In virtual communities, people share common interests, desires, and attitudes. They learn how individuals who are similar to them think, and if they look at it from outside the box, they can eventually see the benefits and drawbacks of their characters. They will also be able to learn how to listen to other people’s opinions and later on, develop their arguments in response to what they have heard. By having virtual communities, they hone their communication skills, listening skills, emotional control, how to properly react to other people’s opinions or statements, and how to maintain a harmonious relationship with everyone they meet.

In a variety of contexts, technology provides possibilities to build meaningful and supportive social relationships (Rainie & Wellman, 2012). Adolescence can see social media as a place to get assistance; for some teenagers, it can be a place to find support if they are experiencing difficult times alone. Research shows that adolescence shares their experience of how social media helped them to come out of their safe zone and express their true selves (Monroe, 2022). They mentioned that they liked being able to write and alter their thoughts and expressions using visuals. Moreover, the feedback that they received on social media helped them gain confidence, and they enjoyed being able to see their development on how their identity evolved over time. It explains how social media has a beneficial impact on adolescents’ emotional experiences.

Adolescence said it boosted their mood, made them feel more energized, and often made them laugh. Such as seeing funny videos or memes on Instagram posts, stories, or other social media platforms. Social media helped adolescents deal with painful emotions including frustration, rage, and boredom. It can be an effective platform that helps them as a way to relieve stress (Bondre, 2020). Social communities and positive role models can inspire adolescence to build a healthy lifestyle, try all the new things that they haven’t tried, explore their passions, and tell other people about the things that matter to them. Moreover, it provides support and guidance for adolescents to have a more positive and healthier lifestyle such as exercising, doing meditation to release all the toxicity, and creating a healthier routine. Many social communities now offer support through social media for adolescence that is struggling with mental health issues. They allow people to meet and share their personal experiences to show others what is good or bad.

The department of Global Health and Social Medicine, John A. Naslund, stated that “patients with severe mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, used social networks as a way to feel less lonely” (2020). In addition, social media features allow users to sign up for text messages which provide motivation, supportive messages, and recovery assistance. Many licensed clinical experts are now using online platforms to provide treatment services and programs to continue tracking their patients with their rehabilitation. As a result, they can reach out to teenagers who need mental health therapy. It is okay for people in this virtual community to depend on and expect help from one another whenever they needed it because they offer support and companionship.

Overall, as a result of social networking, the way adolescents interact has changed and will continue to change for the better. I believe that there are strengths in all types of communities. Online communication helps adolescents to be smarter, creative, tough, caring, wiser, and strengthen their relationships. It offers freedom for adolescents to explore what they like, and what they dislike, to search for what they are passionate about, and guide them to achieve their dream. Social network such as social media creates the opportunity for adolescents to meet different people anywhere at any time online and offline. With the unlimited sources and features of social media, adolescents get the chance to develop in many other ways that they cannot do in the past years.

From their education, social community, and the sake of their physical and mental health. Social media does not have to be negative. It can be an excellent source for adolescence to find the best version of themselves. Now, social media have the potential to restructure the new nature of the community. It has never harmed adolescence, but rather improve them to be better individuals.

The Effect of Social Media on Adolescence’s Growth

References

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