Digital social networks (such as Facebook and Twitter) are very popular with individuals. Identify the reason that why individuals will prefer Digital social network over casual social networking or vice versa. List down mental health problems that may arises with excessive use of digital social networking Do we ever need to be concerned about becoming addicted to any Internet activities? Find one example in a news or journal article of a person who was “addicted” to using a social networking site or other online activity.
Answers
Answer:
Social media websites and applications allow users to create and exchange user-generated content on the web.
Explanation:
1. To stay in touch with what friends are doing (42%)
2. To stay up-to-date with news and current events (41%)
3. To fill up spare time (39%)
4. To find funny or entertaining content (37%)
5. General networking with other people (34%)
6. Because friends are already on them (33%)
7. To share photos or videos with others (32%)
8. To share my opinion (30%)
9. To research new products to buy (29%)
10. To meet new people (27%)
It is very interesting how most of the top reasons are all linked to what we call “passive networking” – that means users who come to social media to consume content rather than actively contributing to the stories. A growing trend is to utilize social media platforms to research new products to buy and that’s why brands still have a huge role to play.
Multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts. Social media may promote negative experiences such as: Inadequacy about your life or appearance.
This reliance on digital technology has fuelled concerns from parents, teachers, gov- ernments and young people themselves that digital technologies and social media are exacerbating feelings of anxiety and depression, disturbing sleep patterns, leading to cyber-bullying and distorting body image.
Spending more than 3 hours on social media per day puts adolescents at a higher risk for mental health problems. 13% of kids ages 12-17 report depression and 32% report anxiety. 25% of 18 to 25-year-olds report mental illness. These age groups report high usage of social media.
Internet addiction is a behavioral addiction in which a person becomes dependent on use of the Internet, or other online devices, as a maladaptive way of coping with life's stresses. Internet addiction is becoming widely recognized and acknowledged, particularly in countries where it is affecting large numbers of people, such as South Korea, where it has been declared a national health problem.1 Much of the current research on the subject of Internet addiction has been carried out in Asia. It is also a growing concern in developed nations in North America and Europe.
“I’m an addict. I just get lost in Facebook” replies a young mother when asked why she does not see herself able to help her daughter with her homework. Instead of supporting her child, she spends her time chatting and browsing the social networking site [1]. This case, while extreme, is suggestive of a potential new mental health problem that emerges as Internet social networks proliferate. Newspaper stories have also reported similar cases, suggesting that the popular press was early to discern the potentially addictive qualities of social networking sites (SNS; i.e., [2,3]). Such media coverage has alleged that women are at greater risk than men for developing addictions to SNSs [4].