Research Portfolio: Subject Research
The rise of social
networking and the problems it has caused
A ‘social network’ is a site which is driven by user interactivity and is the ‘craze’ taking the online world by storm. Most of us will be aware of the prevalence social networking has on our society and there is no doubt that sites like Facebook, Blogger, Twitter and Myspace are important editions in the modern web 2.0.
Although the use of user-interaction is favoured in the media industry, the fun that we are having blogging, updating statuses and tagging photographs, is starting to cause a massive lasting effect. What actually happens to us psychologically when we form a group of people online, are the effects positive or negative. Many argue that it’s largely negative; examples of the effects are seen here;
1. Social networking has been proven to cause depression, and ultimately suicide amongst teenagers.
2. Social networking has been proven to cause recluse from society?
3. Social networking is enhancing the chances of either obtaining an eating disorder or in fact relapsing from a previous eating disorder.
4. Social networking is causing loneliness.
Below you can see a brief outline on each of the problems we want to look at;
Bridgend Suicides; Bridgend is known to have the highest suicide rate among male teenagers in Britain (The Telegraph, 2008) and the twenty plus deaths of teenagers in the town has raised alarm bells with experts. Most have actually gone as far to say that the deaths are subject to an internet suicide cult (The Telegraph, 2008). It is said that teenagers of Bridgend, and of course worldwide, are being influenced by online pacts agreeing to kill themselves. Some have explained that teenagers hunt for fame, is driving their passion for suicide, particularly those in deprived areas. Some describe the teenage thought process to be similar to; “if I’m a nobody but I commit suicide, I’ll be a somebody. I’ll get my photo in the papers; I’ll have a memorial on the internet. And then I’ll be famous.” (The Sunday Times, 2008).
Eating Disorders; Eating disorders are better known now than ever before, but despite this social networking is having a larger effect on the amount of teenagers suffering. Eating disorders are caused by a distorted body image which has been proven to be linked to the overexposure of glamorous and skinny models. The rise of Facebook “pro-ana” (pro-anorexia) groups have caused concern, as it’s a place where anorexics can go to share hints and tips on how to get skinny quick and how to avoid hunger. Experts state that this is causing a rise in relapsing anorexics and new anorexics worldwide (Newsweek, 2008). It is such a prevalent issue that Beat released this statement; We are willing to advise and be consulted by social networking site owners to stop harmful images and lifestyle suggestions reaching young and vulnerable people who visit these sites (Beat, 2008).
Social Networking causing loneliness; Earlier this year it was found that nearly 60% of people aged between18 and 34 spoke of feeling lonely often (BBC 2010). This is said to be a huge rise on the past figures of teenage loneliness, and experts are calling that social networking is the cause. The rise of social networking is putting pressure on young people to “make friends” quicker than before, and when teenagers fail to do this, it can cause huge psychological damage. Tom Meltzer, recently published an interesting article, outlining the pressures that he has felt growing up in the online world he states; 'My Facebook account looked me in the eye and announced: "You have 0 friends".' (The Guardian, 2010).
A ‘social network’ is a site which is driven by user interactivity and is the ‘craze’ taking the online world by storm. Most of us will be aware of the prevalence social networking has on our society and there is no doubt that sites like Facebook, Blogger, Twitter and Myspace are important editions in the modern web 2.0.
Although the use of user-interaction is favoured in the media industry, the fun that we are having blogging, updating statuses and tagging photographs, is starting to cause a massive lasting effect. What actually happens to us psychologically when we form a group of people online, are the effects positive or negative. Many argue that it’s largely negative; examples of the effects are seen here;
1. Social networking has been proven to cause depression, and ultimately suicide amongst teenagers.
2. Social networking has been proven to cause recluse from society?
3. Social networking is enhancing the chances of either obtaining an eating disorder or in fact relapsing from a previous eating disorder.
4. Social networking is causing loneliness.
Below you can see a brief outline on each of the problems we want to look at;
Bridgend Suicides; Bridgend is known to have the highest suicide rate among male teenagers in Britain (The Telegraph, 2008) and the twenty plus deaths of teenagers in the town has raised alarm bells with experts. Most have actually gone as far to say that the deaths are subject to an internet suicide cult (The Telegraph, 2008). It is said that teenagers of Bridgend, and of course worldwide, are being influenced by online pacts agreeing to kill themselves. Some have explained that teenagers hunt for fame, is driving their passion for suicide, particularly those in deprived areas. Some describe the teenage thought process to be similar to; “if I’m a nobody but I commit suicide, I’ll be a somebody. I’ll get my photo in the papers; I’ll have a memorial on the internet. And then I’ll be famous.” (The Sunday Times, 2008).
Eating Disorders; Eating disorders are better known now than ever before, but despite this social networking is having a larger effect on the amount of teenagers suffering. Eating disorders are caused by a distorted body image which has been proven to be linked to the overexposure of glamorous and skinny models. The rise of Facebook “pro-ana” (pro-anorexia) groups have caused concern, as it’s a place where anorexics can go to share hints and tips on how to get skinny quick and how to avoid hunger. Experts state that this is causing a rise in relapsing anorexics and new anorexics worldwide (Newsweek, 2008). It is such a prevalent issue that Beat released this statement; We are willing to advise and be consulted by social networking site owners to stop harmful images and lifestyle suggestions reaching young and vulnerable people who visit these sites (Beat, 2008).
Social Networking causing loneliness; Earlier this year it was found that nearly 60% of people aged between18 and 34 spoke of feeling lonely often (BBC 2010). This is said to be a huge rise on the past figures of teenage loneliness, and experts are calling that social networking is the cause. The rise of social networking is putting pressure on young people to “make friends” quicker than before, and when teenagers fail to do this, it can cause huge psychological damage. Tom Meltzer, recently published an interesting article, outlining the pressures that he has felt growing up in the online world he states; 'My Facebook account looked me in the eye and announced: "You have 0 friends".' (The Guardian, 2010).