Impacts of social networks on young generation 1. Introduction a. Hook: What are the impacts of social media on young children and teenagers? i. Some online platforms used for interaction in social networks include: Facebook, twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp (O'Keeffe, Schurgin & Kathleen, pg.800). ii. Social networks can be used to share information or ideas, and get connected to a relative or friend who is difficult to stay in touch with. iii. However, young generations are misusing social networks, which leads to antisocial behaviour, addiction to social networks and lack of time with relatives or friends iv. Putting proper strategies and some restrictions on use of social networks can reduce effects on young generations. b. Thesis statement: The use of different forms of social media is affecting a large percentage of the young generation hence rendering ability to do their work effectively. 2. Body section 1 : Continuous innovations of new technology has generally affected younger people through the creation of social online platforms (Isabela, Adam & Rutger 66-70). a. Some of the problems associated with continuous use of social media by young generations are: i. Addiction to social media which leads to students forgetting to do their duties and class work hence performing poorly. Addiction is a type of psychological problem. Social media addicts have the following characteristics; 1. Youth addicted to social media have obsessive thoughts about the internet. “The addict is preoccupied with the Internet thinks about previous online activity or anticipates next online session” (Ma, Hing Keung, pg.. They spend an overly excessive amount of time on social networks. 3. Addicts have diminished impulse control which is associated to the reduced emotional self-regulation to regulate an individual’s impulses to reach an objective or a goal (Ma, Hing Keung, pg.. They show tolerance symptoms which is referred to as “needs to use the Internet with increased amount of time to achieve satisfaction” (Ma, Hing Keung, pg.. They tend to have less romantic and friendship relationships and instead live lonely lives. This is because they believe social media is the only thing that can satisfy their needs. 6. They spend less time with their family members and their parents and usually have tension when they are with them. 7. They have low academic performances, increased risks to diseases, and show withdrawal symptoms (Ma, Hing Keung, pg.2190). ii. Psychological problems such as depression are created if there is network failure or cyberbullying by others on social media. Cyberbullying creates physiological problems such as depression of the person being bullied as well as low self-esteem. a. Cyberbullying leads to withdrawals by the victim from the family members (O'Keeffe, Schurgin & Kathleen, and pg.801). b. Victims do their best to alter their appearance in the hopes of fitting into society. c. It also causes people to change their personalities for the worse. They often become angry or sad. iii. Social media also causes antisocial behaviour because young generations have little time to interact with their peers or relatives. Instead, they spend most of their time on social media. a. Anti-social behaviour is defined as “patterns of behaviour where a person disregards the feelings of others.” Social media encourages the use of violence among the youth because of the types of videos that are watched and shared. b. It encourages withdrawal from society by youth spending their time commenting on their peer problems instead of doing something important. iv. Moral degradation because of watching harmful videos or other graphical scenes on social media since there are little regulations on online video content. 3. Body section 2 : Use of social networks can have a lot of benefits if properly used. i. Sharing information from different areas of the world as it occurs instantly. a. Social media networks such as Facebook and WhatsApp have enabled people from different geographical areas to quickly share information. The information can be of various formats such as written text, videos, photos, or audio files. b. The media platforms have enabled fast and reliable exchange of information between various youth users. “Information exchange through social media can be reliable.” c. It has enabled strangers to get to know each other effectively since they can use various additional features of the social media to communicate. ii. Exchange of business ideas leading to entrepreneurship skills through globalization. A youth from the USA can share his or her business ideas with others from China, thus implementing their ideas individually or as a partnership. iii. Advertisement of products or businesses hence securing market opportunities by online advertising (Skaar, Hà¥vard, pg.240). Youths can start their own organizations and then can market their products or services. 1. The benefits of online marketing and advertisements are many. Of them is that it is easy to reach a wide customer target. Almost every youth uses social media daily, thus helping them reach their primary target customers. 2. Online advertising enables interactions between the organizations and the customers (Skaar, Hà¥vard, pg.240). This is because customers can provide feedback to the firm on their services and products, who then respond directly to them or implement the opinions raised. 3. Businesses that use social media marketing have no worries about opening and closing hours. This is because they can conduct business operations at any time and work to ensure they satisfy the needs and wants of the customers. 4. “It is less costly to run and market a business through online platforms” such as Facebook. Therefore, youth can utilize this opportunity to be entrepreneurs even if they do not have sufficient starting capital. iv. Tracing a lost friend or relative through tracing applications and software. A. GPS can be used in tracking electronic devices when lost. When a person gets lost, the GPS of their device such as iPhone will be used to locate their whereabouts. B. TiSPY is an application that parents can use to track their children, and when lost, it will provide information about their location. 4. Body section 3 : Every problem related to effects of social media use in youth can be solved. Problems which are linked to social networks can be minimized or addressed to save future generations (Acquisti, Alessandro, and Ralph Gross, pg.2). a. If people collaborate, issues will be handled more effectively. i. Collaboration from private and governmental organizations worldwide to help fight the menace. a. They must work together to educate the youth and the world at large on ways of using social media and the internet correctly to avoid problems of addiction (Acquisti, Alessandro, and Ralph Gross, pg.4). This can be achieved through public awareness and educational seminars globally. b. Youths must be educated on the importance of having real-world connections. Having connections to the world means creating friendships with people surrounding them. c. The government can work with stakeholders to introduce laws that limit social media usage while respecting freedom of speech and information sharing. ii. Involving parents, friends, relatives, and the affected groups to gather opinions. a. Parents can share their experiences on how social media has negatively impacted their children. b. Each parent with a negatively influenced child will give opinions and suggest alternatives to social media. iii. Any other interested parties, such as religious leaders or well-wishers, can be involved since they are essential stakeholders, applying consultative and participative management systems. b. Strategies and restrictions which can be incorporated to reduce moral degradation of the young generation need to be well analyzed (Isabela, Adam & Rutger, pg. 67). i. Allowing young children to use social networks for learning purposes and gathering information related to their classwork is beneficial. This can be achieved through: 1. Education and open communication. Parents can educate their children on the advantages and disadvantages of social media. They should inquire about which types of social media they want to use and teach them to avoid strangers, seeking parental guidance when necessary (Spiteri Cornish & Lara, pg.440). 2. Children should be advised to be safe online to prevent cyberstalking like “catfishing,” where fake profiles are used for abuse (Spiteri Cornish, Lara, pg.441). ii. There should be strict restrictions on access to harmful content. iii. Incorporating modern technology that detects when children are accessing harmful videos or graphics can significantly reduce exposure (Isabela, Adam & Rutger, pg.70). 5. Conclusion a. Young generations are being affected by social network use, leading to neglect of their duties. b. The advent of new internet technologies has contributed to easy access for young people. c. Addiction to social networks is linked to antisocial behavior and reduced time with friends and family, including obsessive internet use and withdrawal symptoms. d. Implementing collaborative strategies involving government, private sectors, parents, and other stakeholders can mitigate negative impacts effectively.

Paper For Above instruction

The rapid proliferation of social media platforms has profoundly impacted the younger generation, affecting their social behavior, mental health, and academic performance. While these platforms facilitate instant communication, information sharing, and social connectivity across geographic boundaries, their misuse and overuse pose significant challenges that require urgent attention and strategic interventions.

One of the primary concerns associated with social media use among youth is addiction. As noted by Ma (Hing Keung, 2010), internet addiction manifests as obsessive thoughts about online activities, diminished impulse control, and increased tolerance requiring more time online to achieve satisfaction. These addictive behaviors often lead to withdrawal from family, poor academic performance, and physical health risks. Young users tend to prioritize virtual interactions over real-life relationships, which can result in social isolation and impaired social skills in the long run. Furthermore, excessive internet use has been linked to emotional disturbances including depression and low self-esteem, especially when cyberbullying occurs (O'Keeffe & Kathleen, 2011). Victims of cyberbullying often withdraw further from their social environments, seek to alter their appearances and personalities, and suffer from physiological problems such as depression and anxiety (Kowalski et al., 2014).

Additionally, the consumption of harmful content on social media fosters antisocial behavior. Many young individuals spend significant time engaging with violent videos, graphical images, or provocative material, leading to moral degradation and increased aggression in some cases. The lack of regulatory oversight on online content exacerbates this issue. Such exposure can diminish empathy, promote aggressive tendencies, and decrease respect for societal norms (Livingstone & Haddon, 2010).

Despite these negative effects, social media also offers considerable advantages when properly harnessed. Platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram enable instant sharing of information, foster cultural exchange, and facilitate the development of entrepreneurial skills among youth. For example, online marketing allows young entrepreneurs to reach broad markets at minimal costs, and online collaboration can lead to innovative business ideas (Skaar & Hà¥vard, 2012). Moreover, social media tools aid in locating lost friends or family members through GPS tracking and other software applications, thereby strengthening social bonds and providing safety nets (Skar & Hà¥vard, 2012).

Addressing the negative impacts of social media on youth requires coordinated efforts from governments, private organizations, families, and educational institutions. Education plays a central role; parents should guide children on safe online practices, educate about potential dangers, and establish restrictions on harmful content (Spiteri Cornish & Lara, 2014). Governments can enact regulations that limit exposure to inappropriate materials and promote digital literacy. Collaborative campaigns and public awareness seminars can help inculcate responsible usage and foster a balanced relationship with digital technologies. Importantly, involving stakeholders such as teachers, religious leaders, and community elders ensures diverse perspectives and more effective policy-making.

In conclusion, while social media presents invaluable opportunities for communication, learning, and entrepreneurship, its misuse can lead to addiction, antisocial behavior, and moral decline among the youth. To mitigate these adverse effects, multifaceted strategies involving education, regulation, and community engagement must be adopted. Through collective efforts, it is possible to harness the benefits of social media while minimizing its detrimental consequences for the younger generation.

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