The Impact of Social Media and Technology

The Impact of Social Media and Technology

Teens love their smart phones, tablets, iPhones, iPads, iPods, lap tops, and computers that connect them to Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, social networks, and social media. Teens can stay connected to friends and social media 24/7 if their family or school permits it. Though they stay connected to their friends by texting, it is no longer face to face contact. Their parents and older teachers from the twentieth century communicated face to face more often than by phone, letter, or telegraph.  There was direct communication, and it was rarely instantaneous. Social media changed the way teens communicate and locate information. It has made them computer savvy and technologically adept. Teens can develop Social Networking Site Addiction Disorder and risky online relationships (Broderic & Blewitt, 2010).

Impact on Development

Social media and technology impact teens and their families. If they use it too much, they develop Facebook Addiction Disorder which can lead to failing at school, college, and work. Though it keeps them connected with their friends and events around the world, it can cause a separation with face to face interactions at school, work, and family. When Justin Beeber made insults, thousands of fans instantly heard it. When terrorist ran into the World Trade Towers, teens saw it happen as soon as it happened. Happy and tragic information is posted as it happens. From the abundance of information gathered from social media, a teen is at risk for social overload. They can receive too much information about events and about their friends yet seek more information. Teens can become addicted to Facebook which is also known as Social Networking Site Addiction Disorder. Females communicate with their peers, while males used social networks for social compensation, learning, and social identity gratifications (Kuss & Griffiths, 2011).

Teens seek social relationships, intimacy, and friendships offline as well as online. Their brains are still being developed. Teens do not have a fully developed brain which permits them to engage in risky behavior online as well as off line. They have not learned to understand the consequences of their actions (Bessant, 2008).

When teens communicate online, they develop intimate relationships which can be real, but it can also be potentially risky relationships. As they fulfill their developmental needs for intimacy, teens use social networks to connect with others. Unlike teens from the 20^th century that would use dances, teen clubs, church youth groups, athletic teams, phones, and school events to develop relationships, the modern teen uses social networks. Unknown contacts can be made which could put the teen at risk (Reich, Subrahmanyam, & Espinoza, 2012).

References

 

 

Broderick, P. C., & Blewitt, P. (2010). The life span: Human development

      for helping professionals (3rd ed.).

     Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.

Bessant, J. (2008). Hard wired for risk: Neurological science,

     ‘the adolescent brain’ and developmental theory.

     Journal of Youth Studies, 11(3), 34