Social Media

Ah, social media, the emerging adult and teenage alike's favorite pass-time. Keeping up with everyone else's business like it's your business. As well as celebrities you love to hate, pictures of everyone's food, because that's a thing, and pinning crafty projects you wish you would actually find the time to do, but know you never will. Social media has become such a large part of young people's lives, researchers are beginning to study the effects it might have on behaviors of adolescents and emerging adults. It turns out, social media can be something to be wary of but also beneficial in some ways. I'll start with the not so nice things. Cyberbullying has become prevalent as teens use social media more and more. On top of classic bullying, cyberbullying can end up stinging more because the bullies can be anonymous, or simply because there's a disconnect to the person the bully is hurting, it allows them to be more vicious than in real life. That anonymity though can also allow victims to become perpetrators right back. Social media sites such as Facebook can give people skewed perceptions of others as well, where we tend to perceive others are happier than we are, making our lives seem bleak and sad in comparison. Not only that, but Facebook users have easy access to photos that promote the thin ideals and therefore increase their body surveillance. On the positive side, communicating through social media makes for better social interactions. The act of practicing, editing, and changing what you're going to say helps communication between peers. Also communication with peers is more diverse through social media sites.
Here is an interactive photo about social media and Facebook.



Social media can even start to tell us about someone's personality. Researchers have found that individuals who are more open use social media more. Narcissistic people also have an increased use. Social media also reflects our cultures. Cultures outside of the US tend to self-disclose much less than we do on social media sites, believing that positing accomplishments is a form of bragging. This parallels collectivist cultures' focus on promoting the group instead of individual characteristics.

It is becoming quite interesting seeing how we are shaping social media and, more importantly, how social media is shaping the views of our world.