Does The Internet Socialize Adolescents?

In the article “ Teenage Social Media Butterflies May Not Be Such A Bad Idea “ by Melissa Healy, social media isn’t as bad as you think. According to Amori Yee Mikami teenages are using social media to communicate with their friends and not strangers . Some adolescents count their parents as their friends on social networking sites. According to a L.A. psychology professor kaveri Subrahmanyam says children on and offline have the same relationship on social networking sites and in reality . Another thing Subrahmanyam said was that teens use social media in wayś that don't harm their well being. Some teens that struggle with depression or other type of behavior are most likely to be bully or harass, and also take online risks such as sexting

The internet can be used for socializing with people in the article "Social media as a Community" it says that" An average user of a social networking site has more close ties and was half as likely to be isolated as the average American."Social media makes you have more friends than people who don't use social media. Social media users also know people from a greater variety of backgrounds.

“How young is too young for cellphones in school?” by Donna St. George says there was “near-silence at lunch when [a] middle school allowed phones for a week.” These middle-schoolers were so absorbed in their phones they did not have a normal conversation. If teens are so obsessed with their social media life that they cannot function normally when given a phone, they will not make conversation and will have weaker relationships. Teens are literally withdrawing themselves from normal social life to become “social” online. As stated in “Is Technology Killing our Friendships” by Lauren Tarshis, “1 in 4 teens are online almost constantly.” This “1 in 4” could be doing things in real life, rather than staying online nearly endlessly. Therefore, youth is more into their social media than actual

This could negatively affect the children, because this would make it harder for parents to teach their kids manners and/or talk to them about the process of growing up. In "What Adolescents Miss Growing Up in Cyberspace," Brent Staples argues that children that have easy access to internet connection have a difficult time maturing. He points out that people who often use electronic devices have a hard time socializing in person: "teenagers nowadays are both more connected to the world at large than ever, and more cut off from the social encounters that have historically prepared young people for-the move-into adulthood." Having internet connection allows children to gain information they do not need to know (such as sex, drugs, prison, family problems, and etc.) So when their parents try to educate their children about the process of growing up, the child feels like they know everything their parent is going to say because they have already gained some information about the subject on social

Amanda Lenhart of the Pew Research Centre performed a study and the results suggested that the teenagers that text the most are actually more likely to spend time with friends face-to-face. As the article states, “One form of socializing doesn’t replace the other. It augments it.” This means that social networking just enhances socializing in person. Social networking helps teenagers with things like meeting new friends and keeping in touch with people about plans.

The article, “What Adolescents Miss When We Let Them Grow up in Cyberspace,” written by Brent Staples discusses negative influences that internet has toward teens. The author elaborates that teens are far more comfortable with online conversations. Social Media has high expectations to how a teen should act or look. Media emotionally scars teens, demanding them to have clear skin and skinny body. The more people that are connected to their phones, higher the chance of losing relationships. The internet has left many teens with unreal social skills. Real life experiences such as law, teens are not knowledgeable. Teenagers miss out on life experiences that can help them grow into adulthood.

　　Besides these two articles mentioned above, there are many research studies that relate to the issue of whether or not online friendships hurt adolescent development. Each side has its own reasons. For instance, those who believe that online friendships hurt adolescent development, Donchi and Moore claim that Internet use can psychologically impair adolescent development. They found that more time spent online was related to more loneliness. According to the article, Donchi and Moore mention that longer amounts of time could be interpreted as relatively antisocial,

In fact, the quick, simple access to the Internet causes our generation to spend more time online in our everyday lives. As the years go by, technology advances furthermore every day. Survey research shows the intellectual habits that complement them are slipping. (Source 1) This easy access to the information we can learn from has shaped what our society is today. With these new social media, teenagers are glued to their phone more than ever before. Teens then share their creations and receive feedback from others online. (Source 3) Teenagers feel the need in updating their status every second of every hour. Many times pre-teens just create their social media because they want to blend in with the crowd due

In the article “Are Kids More Social Because of the Internet?”, written by Manton Angus, the author suggests that kids are socialized more because of the internet. He supports his suggestion by describing how social media impacts children. First Angus explains how the internet is necessary for everyone. With all the technology it is ultimately impossible to not have some sort of world wide communication. Next, Angus claims that younger children could easily learn to socialize within the first couple years of their life with a few pros. For example he says this about the internet; “it not only satisfies the child’s curiosity to know more about his world but also offers it in pleasing and colorful way”, which is arguable. Thirdly Angus explains

What evidence exists that supports the idea that the internet has positive effects on the social development of adolescents? The existing evidence that supports the idea that the internet has positive effects on the social development of adolescents are the studies conducted by Tidwell & Walthers in 2002 and Valkenburg & Peters in 2007. These and various other studies showed that adolescents are more likely to self-disclose (tell more intimate details) about themselves online than in person. Because social cues, such as eye contact, have been taken away, adolescents are more relaxed and at peace with divulging more about themselves. Adolescents are able to connect

Although others may say that the use of media leaves teens in their rooms for hours and in the end makes antisocial, it is proven to create a chance for a new friendship. Many people also may say that teens could post something that they will later regret, or that they will encounter a cyber bully or perhaps be hunted by an online predator. Teens are more likely to show how responsible they are with their use of social

Loneliness and social depression are additional effects of social networks. Teenagers live to compare. The questions of “Whose smarter/prettier/thinner/more fun?” always seem to be in mind and social networking sites are making this worse. With the ability to view others changed profile pictures, status updates, and check ins. These online destinations have also been reported increase cyber bullying, and the feeling of rejection, Aaron Smith states. For example when a girl sees her ex change relationship statues, yet she clearly has not moved on yet, seeing it right there knowing all their friends can see it, only caused harm and sadness that could have been avoided. Also teenagers who are naturally outgoing start losing the distinction between genuine friends and acquaintances. People are spending time maintaining relationships with

The amount of time a teen spends on the computer can affect how well they socialize with people in the real world. Teens have a hard time interacting with one another in person because what someone will say online could be something they would in no way say in person. This can cause an individual to become extremely timid in person because they sit on the computer knowing they have the ability to state whatever they want.

Even though social media isn’t only used for social interaction, it is an important aspect of adolescents’ lives. Social media provides an avenue for them to stay connected with peers they have met through school, sports teams, church, etc (Ito, 2008). Social networking can also help shy adolescents have a more non-threatening way to interact with peers because they aren’t interacting face-to-face (Rosen, 2011).

As I look back at my personal history with communication technology I remember using many forms of social media to communicate with my friends and family. Back in the day when I was in junior high I remember using MySpace, Skype, and phone calls. Today on the other hand I mainly use Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. There are many reasons why I use these sites but I use some sites more frequently than others it just depends on the person I want to communicate with.