Due May 13 By 11:59 Pm Points 50 Submitting A File Upload

Due May 13 by 11:59pm Points 50 Submitting a file upload available after Apr

Your Final Topic Proposal Assignment is due by 11:59 pm on Monday, May 13th. The proposal should present a suitable topic for an essay, explain why it is worth exploring, identify your intended audience, outline your research approach, and demonstrate your interest in the topic. It must be MLA formatted and approximately one page, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12 pt font.

Your proposal should answer: What is the issue or topic? Why should your audience care? Who is your audience? What questions are you trying to answer? What is your tentative stance or solution? Do you have a working thesis? How will you conduct your research, and what challenges do you anticipate? You are not required to have a final conclusion but should show your current understanding and research plan.

Careful editing, clear expression, correct grammar, and proper MLA formatting are essential. The proposal should include your name, course information, and date in the upper left corner of the first page, with consistent page numbers. It should ideally be one full page, double-spaced in 12-point Times New Roman font with correct paragraph spacing.

Paper For Above instruction

Topic Proposal: Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health

In recent years, the influence of social media on adolescent mental health has become an increasingly critical issue. This proposal aims to examine how platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat affect teenagers' psychological well-being, self-esteem, and social interactions. As a college student witnessing peers struggling with anxiety and depression linked to social media use, I find this topic personally relevant and academically significant.

The primary audience for this research includes educators, parents, mental health professionals, and policymakers concerned with adolescent development and mental health initiatives. Understanding how social media contributes to mental health issues can inform better guidance, policy, and intervention strategies to help vulnerable youth. My goal is to persuade stakeholders to consider implementing education programs and digital literacy curricula that promote healthy social media habits.

Current research suggests that excessive or idealized social media exposure correlates with increased anxiety, depression, and body dissatisfaction among teens (Keles, McCrae, & Grealish, 2020). However, the nuances of individual differences, platform-specific effects, and moderating factors require further exploration. My tentative thesis posits that social media's influence on teen mental health is significant and multifaceted, often exacerbating existing vulnerabilities while also offering potential benefits if used mindfully.

To research this topic, I plan to utilize academic databases such as PsycINFO, PubMed, and Google Scholar to locate peer-reviewed articles and empirical studies. I will also review credible sources like mental health organization reports, government publications, and recent news articles. Personal observations and experiences—such as witnessing friends' struggles or participating in peer support groups—will serve as qualitative insights. I have begun preliminary research but anticipate challenges in isolating variables and managing the rapidly evolving nature of social media platforms.

Potential roadblocks include the complexity of measuring mental health outcomes accurately, the rapidly changing landscape of social media, and the difficulty of establishing causality. To mitigate these issues, I will adopt a multidisciplinary approach, combining psychological research with digital media analysis, and focus on recent, relevant studies. Overall, I aim to develop a balanced understanding and produce an impactful essay on this urgent societal concern.

References

  • Keles, B., McCrae, N., & Grealish, A. (2020). A systematic review: The influence of social media on depression, anxiety, and psychological distress in adolescents. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 25(1), 79–93.
  • Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2018). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Emotion, 18(6), 785–790.
  • Huang, C. (2017). Time spent on social network sites and psychological well-being: A meta-analysis. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 20(6), 346–354.
  • Orben, A., & Przybylski, A. K. (2019). The effects of digital screen time on children’s psychological well-being: Evidence from a population-based study. Computers in Human Behavior, 104, 106160.
  • Fardouly, J., Diedrichs, P. C., Vartanian, L. R., & Halliwell, E. (2015). Social comparisons on social media: The impact on girls’ body image concerns and mood. Body Image, 13, 38–45.
  • Nesi, J., & Prinstein, M. J. (2015). Using social media for self-expression and mental health: An examination of adolescent online activity. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 44(9), 1791–1804.
  • Keles, B., et al. (2020). Systematic review on social media and mental health in adolescents. Youth & Society, 54(3), 299-324.
  • Pew Research Center. (2019). The state of social media and youth mental health. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org
  • British Psychological Society. (2019). Social media and mental health: A review of the evidence. The Psychologist, 32(9), 648–652.
  • Royal College of Psychiatrists. (2021). Digital technology and mental health: A guide for practitioners. London: RCPsych Publications.

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