Research Problem and Justification: Social media has become incessantly present within modern life. Americans now spend more time engaging with social media than they do any other online activity. With the affordance of the smart phone, people are now able to stay constantly connected to their various social media accounts. We are now able to post content and give and receive feedback at any time throughout the day. Social media use is most noticeably present in the lives adolescents. This is of concern given that adolescence is a time of increased sensitivity to evaluations of the self. Social media affords its users with the ability to carefully construct an ideal self- image and portray that image directly to other users. Based on the feedback received through these sites, the user tends to evaluate his or her image as good or bad. This is normal for adult and adolescent users alike. Positive feedback in the form of 'likes' or encouraging 'comments' make the user feel liked, valued, and confident. When the user receives a less than satisfying amount of positive feedback, he or she may feel some insecurity about their image. However, what is note worthy in the practice of adolescent users is the intensity of their response to the feedback received. Due to the fact that creating and maintaining a social media presence is a very essential part of how modern day teens define themselves, they are more likely to respond intensely to the feedback. The younger users’ tendency to respond intensely to feedback will lead them to become dependent on, or even addicted to, the feelings of validation social media provides. This focus on external validation then contributes to low levels of self-esteem in young social media users. In the case of the older users, self-esteem is less likely to be affected by the feedback received since they did not grow up with social media playing such an essential role in their life. The generational effect of growing up with online social media is worthy of research because it is a fairly new phenomenon. It can be argued that older generations, such as Generation Y, also grew up with social media. However, the main distinction is that they were not born into it. Rather, online social media use became more prevalent as they were maturing. The cohort specified in this research, on the other hand, was born directly into a culture obsessed with social media. As social media becomes more and more popular for younger ages, it is important to begin to shed light on some of the effects it may be having on them.
Methods: To research this topic, I will review the some of the literature already presented regarding the relationship between adolescent social media use and self-esteem. I will also compare social media use to another adolescent cultural form from a previous time.
Main sources: 1. Friend Networking Sites and Their Relationship to Adolescent’ Well Being and Social Self-Esteem, by PATTI M. VALKENBURG, Ph.D -CyberPsychology & Behavior Journal -Argues that the tone of the feedback received through social media (whether it is positive or negative) is the factor that effects an adolescents self-esteem and consequently their well-being. -This study also provides useful information for my comparison to a previous cultural form. Valkenburg asserts that compared to face to face interactions, social media provides a medium in which “participants can usually more easily eliminate undesirable encounters or feedback and focus entirely on the positive experiences”
2. Measuring Up: Social Comparison on Facebook and Contributions to Self-Esteem and Mental Health -A thesis submitted by Angie Zuo in fulfillment of Masters degree requirement -Her main argument is that social media increases social comparison, and that social comparison often leads to lower self-esteem. She also makes the distinction that social comparison is not always unhealthy, often times it can motivate a person to improve aspects of themselves, but she asserts that social comparison online only leads to lower self-esteem. This is because users often only post content that paints themselves in a positive light, so online social comparison often leads people to believe that all of their online friends are happier and leading a more fulfilling life than they are.
Research Problem and Justification:
Social media has become incessantly present within modern life. Americans now spend more time engaging with social media than they do any other online activity. With the affordance of the smart phone, people are now able to stay constantly connected to their various social media accounts. We are now able to post content and give and receive feedback at any time throughout the day. Social media use is most noticeably present in the lives adolescents. This is of concern given that adolescence is a time of increased sensitivity to evaluations of the self. Social media affords its users with the ability to carefully construct an ideal self- image and portray that image directly to other users. Based on the feedback received through these sites, the user tends to evaluate his or her image as good or bad. This is normal for adult and adolescent users alike. Positive feedback in the form of 'likes' or encouraging 'comments' make the user feel liked, valued, and confident. When the user receives a less than satisfying amount of positive feedback, he or she may feel some insecurity about their image. However, what is note worthy in the practice of adolescent users is the intensity of their response to the feedback received. Due to the fact that creating and maintaining a social media presence is a very essential part of how modern day teens define themselves, they are more likely to respond intensely to the feedback. The younger users’ tendency to respond intensely to feedback will lead them to become dependent on, or even addicted to, the feelings of validation social media provides. This focus on external validation then contributes to low levels of self-esteem in young social media users. In the case of the older users, self-esteem is less likely to be affected by the feedback received since they did not grow up with social media playing such an essential role in their life.
The generational effect of growing up with online social media is worthy of research because it is a fairly new phenomenon. It can be argued that older generations, such as Generation Y, also grew up with social media. However, the main distinction is that they were not born into it. Rather, online social media use became more prevalent as they were maturing. The cohort specified in this research, on the other hand, was born directly into a culture obsessed with social media. As social media becomes more and more popular for younger ages, it is important to begin to shed light on some of the effects it may be having on them.
Methods:
To research this topic, I will review the some of the literature already presented regarding the relationship between adolescent social media use and self-esteem. I will also compare social media use to another adolescent cultural form from a previous time.
Main sources:
1. Friend Networking Sites and Their Relationship to Adolescent’ Well Being and Social Self-Esteem, by PATTI M. VALKENBURG, Ph.D
-CyberPsychology & Behavior Journal
-Argues that the tone of the feedback received through social media (whether it is positive or negative) is the factor that effects an adolescents self-esteem and consequently their well-being.
-This study also provides useful information for my comparison to a previous cultural form. Valkenburg asserts that compared to face to face interactions, social media provides a medium in which “participants can usually more easily eliminate undesirable encounters or feedback and focus entirely on the positive experiences”
2. Measuring Up: Social Comparison on Facebook and Contributions to Self-Esteem and Mental Health
-A thesis submitted by Angie Zuo in fulfillment of Masters degree requirement
-Her main argument is that social media increases social comparison, and that social comparison often leads to lower self-esteem. She also makes the distinction that social comparison is not always unhealthy, often times it can motivate a person to improve aspects of themselves, but she asserts that social comparison online only leads to lower self-esteem. This is because users often only post content that paints themselves in a positive light, so online social comparison often leads people to believe that all of their online friends are happier and leading a more fulfilling life than they are.