Forever Evolving Technology: A Study of Social Media and How It Affects Our Youth

Abstract

This analysis examines how adolescents are affected by their use of social media, especially when it is not age appropriate. Large numbers of research studies conclude that overuse of social media leads adolescents into social situations with consequences for their self-esteem. This literature examineswhat teenagers do on social media and what platforms they usebut does not provide adequate explanations on how this usageaffects their social development. This study is guided by the following research questions: (1) How does social media use negatively affect the way young adults view the social world and themselves? (2) How does the structure of social media platforms play a role in cyberbullying and adolescents negative experiences overall? Using content analysis of YouTube videoswhere adolescents going through related scenarios and experiences talk about how they feel, this study explores patterns of social media overuse. The limitations of this research using YouTube is selection bias, not every adolescent feels comfortable enough to speak on a social media platform like YouTube and those who do may have already worked through their issues.