Benefits and Drawbacks of Social Media on Adolescents and Young Adults

Abstract

Social media has been growing rapidly as are the effects on those who use it. A literature review was conducted that examined 19 peer reviewed articles that focused on social media use. The purpose was to determine the strengths and weaknesses social media has on the health of adolescents and young adults. A variety of sample sizes were used between the years of 2015 to 2022. The journal articles were found through Brockport library’s database along with Google search engine. Social media platforms included in the study were MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+, Musically and TikTok. The research question was, “How does social media impact adolescents and young adults both negatively and positively?” Results of the review suggest there are a great amount of negative effects of social media such as anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, bullying, suicide, and procrastination. However, there are also a great amount of positive effects of social media including remote employment, support through internet friends, fast communication, and quick information. The next step of this research is to ensure more protections are in place to protect this vulnerable age group from the negative effects of social media. Future research should continue to examine the positive benefits social media does have in the population.