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Social media and culture
Impact of social media on teens: Truth alteration versus reality
Social media influence teens perceptions of reality by convincing them to believe what they see. As teens spend most of their time on the internet and social media they disconnect themselves from reality. Survival without screens is now impossible because teens are living in a technological world. Millennials are spending more time on social media that distances them from real people such as their family and friends. People are believing in what they see on social media. In reality, people may appear differently in reality than on social media. Teens are comparing themselves to the brighter lives of other people posted on social media. This causes adverse impacts on adolescents including discouragement, emotional and aggressive outrage.
Paradox-effect created by social media disconnects teens from reality. Youth is obsessed with social media relationships but lack social skills in real life. They may be inclined to have more dates on online platforms but are unable to communicate effectively in real life. As teens are lacking security that causes depression and anxiety. Social engagement is assessed by teens on the basis of selfies posted by people on social websites and photos. Natalia Lusinski, A relationship writer states, “ couples forget how to talk in real life with all the texting and social-media updating they do” CITATION Cla171 \l 1033 (Silva, 2017). This reflects how youth is living in an unreal world. The paradox effect of dating has established an illusion for that undermines the reality. The argument claims that excessive social interaction on social media masks the true persona of an individual. the concept of truth alteration depicts that it is easy for the youth to indulge in digital rather than a physical interface that causes emotional manipulation of youth. the majority is unable to see the difference between the digital world and reality because they rely on temporary pleasure.
Social media has promoted the notion of double-consciousness by creating original vs. digital existence. Teens are convinced to establish a better version of self on digital platforms. This gives birth to two identities; one existing on the online networks and the other one in the outside world. People are only sharing their positive selfies that portray the image of a perfect life. While in reality, they may be leading an entirely different life, lacking reality or originality. Social media has provided the opportunity of adding other layers to their personality, permitting them to convey positive facade. Because teens are convinced to portray a different side of their personality on social websites they become more self-conscious. They may not look as cool or perfect in real life so they start living in a delusional world.
Dependence on social media is linked to isolation, anxiety and depression. The notions displayed on various social websites are celebratory. The altering truth follows the ideology of ‘keeping us with the Joneses'. It states that an individual relying on social website believes in the unreal world showing that everyone that you know is having a great relationship. On online platforms, teens are convinced by the idea that everyone is living a dream and ideal life expect them. Teens have developed the habit of comparing themselves with the highlights of other people's lives. The true identity of people is masked on social platforms. Social media is altering the truth by portraying the notion that active social life cannot exist without online interaction CITATION Kat163 \l 1033 (Rost, Stahel, & Frey, 2016). This brings adolescents to a state of presenting a façade of who they actually are. Their existence on social media is entirely different from their real-life story. One who appears to be coolest and happiest often lacks both in the outside world. Teens are inclined to believe what social websites show them even if it lacks reality. When an individual finds his real self different from the online version it results in negative feelings of depression and dissatisfaction.
Teens fail to consider the facts that lives are different in the outside world. This develops feelings of dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. Teens are more inclined to fall for the lies paradox because what majority share on online platforms is not a complete story. Every person looks cool and happy on the website but this is limited to the social sites. In reality, everyone is having a challenging life, full of difficulties. Youth in real life encounter different situations and the majority is living a basic life. But on social media, they have created a distinctive life by presenting themselves as perfect teens. This is because on social websites youth is only showcasing the brighter side of their lives CITATION Cla171 \l 1033 (Silva, 2017). Teens are addicted to seeing updates of their friends that encourage them to share their lives also. Youth is tempted to the unreal version of life created on online platforms. This causes self-destruction and hopelessness in the long-term. low self-esteem is linked to the altering truth created by social media. When teens fail to attain the same happiness or appreciation in real lives they are more likely to feel less worthy.
De-individuation is the result of more dependence on online platforms. Dr Manoj Fernando, a professor at Rajrata University explains that increased dependence on social media and technology has disconnected youth from reality. This is against the development and wellbeing of teens. De-individuation is caused by addiction to social media. Fernando mentions, “people want to know what is happening around them and for this, they make use of media like Facebook. A result of this would be de-individuation, where people would be disconnected from the outside world” CITATION Kam19 \l 1033 (Wickramasinghe, 2019). Although on social media teens have many friends but in real-life they are alone. They are more concerned about increasing their friend list and getting more likes but in real life their social circle is limited. Today youth is living an isolated life due to their reliance on social media. They find relationships at online platforms more positive and encouraging that motivates them to disconnect from real relationships.
The current generation has adopted social media means for maintaining social relationships that are limited to the online world. Youth may have many friends on social sites that do not guarantee their active social life in the outside world. It is claimed that teens that are more active on social websites lack a real social life. The more friends they make on social sites but in real life, they have very few friends. Such attitudes of adolescents depict that due to increased dependence on social sites they have become more isolated. This represents the lies paradox because they are convinced to show people their pleasant lives but at least concerned about their real lives. Such search of teens exhibits the darker side of the social media that encourage them to rely on fake happiness. Social websites have not served its purpose of removing loneliness or improved quality of life. Although the purpose for teens to join social media platforms is to improve their social engagement and interaction but these sites are working in the opposite manner. Teens have managed to make many friends on such platforms but still, lack social interaction in real life. This indicates that things happening on these sites have no influence on the real lives of individuals.
The social norm theory explains online aggression develops from one’s interaction with socio-political online settings. Different social media platforms promote online aggression that includes Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. Aggression and offensive commenting of the youth on various social media platforms exhibit their disconnection from reality. Such an approach to social media has negative implications. Social media, “raise the likelihood for hostile misinterpretations due to limited discursive action and social media’s absence of nonverbal cues. They reduce the risk for feedback reactions because users can “sneak off” after the aggressive act” CITATION Kat163 \l 1033 (Rost, Stahel, & Frey, 2016). Because youth has started living in an unreal world they are more likely to become affected by the hostile environment created by different online platforms. This has also increased the opportunities for cyberbullying. Aggressive online behaviours undermines positive approach. Such attitudes promote negative feelings such as restlessness and emotional instability.
As teens as relying on the digital version, they are less likely to follow norms. In real life, they may be constrained to engage in inappropriate behaviors such as making bold comments. Evidence suggests that “online aggression takes place more frequently than in the non-digital context because sanctioning of (perceived) norm violations occurs in low-cost situations” CITATION Kat163 \l 1033 (Rost, Stahel, & Frey, 2016). While on the digital world they are free to choose any behavior, irrespective of its consequences. This indicates that social media promote negative behaviors by giving excessive freedom to teens. Under such circumstances, teens care less about their reputation. They are convinced to engage in hurtful behaviors by making derogatory comments.
Teens lack interpersonal relationships in real life even when they have a larger number of friends on social websites. “Facebook users seek to maintain their known social network, post more highly interpersonal and emotional messages, and engage in reciprocal interactions” CITATION Deb18 \l 1033 (Ward, Dill-Shackleford, & Mazurek, 2018). Users of online platforms respond to the people in a reciprocal manner that means a good comment is responded with a good gesture. Similarly, a negative message will receive the same response. Such attitudes of teens on social platforms promote negative feelings of envy and depression. The reality of social media depicts that it undermines the happiness and satisfaction of teens. Youth spending more time on social websites starts believing in the online truth that generates adverse impacts. They have entrapped intro endless streams of stress and anxiety. Researchers have identified the negative influences of truth alteration on the minds of young people. Anxiety is the product of teens tendency of comparing their lives with others on social platforms. Feelings or restlessness and worry are the most commonly reported issues. While teens spending more time on social media also complaints about sleeplessness. Teens spending more time on social media exhibit high levels of anxiety. Social media by altering the truth is causing deteriorating effects on teens.
The overall analysis of social media’s role on teens depicts that it has encouraged them to live a digital world that is different from the outside world. Teens living in the digital world fails to accept that it lacks reality. their desire to creating a perfect image of self convinces them to disconnect from the real world. The argument claims that excessive social interaction on social media masks the true persona of an individual. This represents the lies paradox because they are convinced to show people their pleasant lives but at least concerned about their real lives. Youth is tempted to the unreal version of life created on online platforms. This causes self-destruction and hopelessness in the long-term.
References
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Silva, C. (2017). Social Media's Impact On Self-Esteem. Retrieved 03 27, 2019, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/social-medias-impact-on-self-esteem_us_58ade038e4b0d818c4f0a4e4
Rost, K., Stahel, L., & Frey, B. S. (2016). Digital Social Norm Enforcement: Online Firestorms in Social Media. PLoS ONE, 11 (6).
Ward, D. M., Dill-Shackleford, K. E., & Mazurek, M. O. (2018). Social Media Use and Happiness in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder. CYBERPSYCHOLOGY, BEHAVIOR, AND SOCIAL NETWORKING, 21 (3).
Wickramasinghe, K. (2019). Social media addiction: Disconnecting from reality. Retrieved 03 26, 2019, from http://www.dailymirror.lk/114546/Social-media-addiction-Disconnecting-from-reality
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