It should be commonly known that technology is drastically impacting the younger demographic in a number of ways. We assign technology as our new source of learning, promoting, and even communicating through social media by performing thoughtless acts such as liking a photo on Instagram. Impactful leaders, including our current President, actively take advantage of the benefits social media possesses by voicing their opinions on current issues and boosting their self-image. While this may come off as a luxury to young millennials in our current society, multiple issues have emerged regarding the effects it displays on our mental health. The younger the audience, the more impact it can have on the way we socialize with one another and potentially affect the way we lead in the future. The intentions of social media were nothing but positive; however, it has taken over the lives of millions of young teenagers. With the constant worry of how many likes a photo will get or sending a text message without receiving a response, socializing through an electronic device cannot only affect how others view us, but how we perceive ourselves. Throughout this essay, I will be emphasizing on the positive and negative effects social media can have on the way we interact with others and how it can potentially be an obstacle for leadership in the future.
Before observing the benefits and negatives social media possesses, we must understand how it emerged into the global sensation it is today. Prior to the internet being introduced, contacting a friend or family member consisted of simply mailing a letter or meeting in person. However, once the internet became apparent, online activities such as instant messaging and blogging developed a replacement for face-to face-communication. The original source of social media emerged in 1997, with a media site known as Six Degrees. This famous website “allowed users to create a profile and then friend other users . . . even allowed those who didn’t register as users to confirm friendships and connected quite a few people this way” (History Cooperative 3). After Six Degrees was discovered, socializing online became a global phenomenon, with new websites surfacing out of every corner. Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat: all commonly used applications we currently interpret in our daily lives. This new discovery opened a door for motivated leaders such as Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg to design an effortless way of communicating. Without indulging in creativity and knowing how to reach an audience by listening to the requests of others, companies like Apple would not have been as influential as it became. Social media is now the first thing we gravitate to when we wake up, and the last thing we focus on before going to bed. Research states “Americans check their phone on average once every 12 minutes – burying their heads in their phones 80 times a day” (NY Post 2). While this routine is becoming more common amongst the younger demographic, could it potentially be affecting millennials permanently?
Social media is a constant controversial topic when deciding whether it is benefiting our generation or potentially destroying it. Arguments have emerged stating that this new form of communicating comes with multiple positives, starting with the ability to voice debatable opinions on any subject from politics to a new song released from a favorite artist. Influential leaders, including our current President, have taken advantage of this for numerous reasons. It allows the publisher to witness the reactions of his or her followers, establishing if they agree with the post or decide against it. Social media also allows influencers to know the content followers enjoy through the amount of like or “retweets” the post receives. This can be extremely useful when improving a company’s status through ways such as social media marketing, for their followers help decide what the company is doing successfully and what requires more focus. Social media also “makes socializing easy and immediate. Teens who struggle with social skills . . . might benefit from connecting with other teens through social media” (Hurley 2). Through forms of nonverbal communication such as direct messaging and texting, millennials find socializing through technology to be more beneficial, for it removes non-verbal communicating from the discussion and allows the sender to provide honest answers without feeling threatened or attacked.
Furthermore, while social media can uphold a positive influence in some ways, the older demographic believes that technology is becoming a threat to our teenage audience, with risks such as cyber bullying and permanent issues towards nonverbal communication. One of the media’s biggest concern with social media is how addictive it can be on a millennial’s mind. It has developed into a form of identification through acts such as choosing what type of picture to upload and what reaction the user will receive from his or her followers. Although this may seem innocent at first, the more followers a millennial has, the more influence they can have, depending on the user. Self determination theory states “different individuals may consider social media use to be more central to their core motivations than casual users” (Berryman 3). It adds a responsibility of maintaining the perfect image and can lead to young adults posing as someone they are not. Additionally, it has the effect of lowering their self esteem by comparing themselves to others, and even uncovers emotions of jealousy or anger. Stina Sanders, a well-known model with over 100,000 followers on Instagram, admits “I know from my experience I get FOMO when I see my friend’s photos of a party I didn’t go to, and this, in turn, can make me feel quite lonely and anxious” (Barr 5). The longer these negative thoughts linger, the more affect it can possess over our mental health and the way we perceive ourselves. Research shows that “41 percent [of Generation Z] stated that social media platforms make them feel anxious, sad or depressed” (7) to which raises concern amongst worried parents.
Additionally, when the constant attention towards social media becomes a source of affirmation and reassurance, it has the power to become life threatening. Cyber bullying has been mentioned as a serious issue shortly after websites such as Facebook and Twitter became well known. Multiple cases have reported teen suicides from hasty comments on Instagram posts and personal accounts embarrassing the victim. A horrific incident occurred in December of 2016 when a young girl named Brandy Vela shot herself due to students using social media to criticize her weight. Her family shares “They would make dating websites of her . . . and they would put her picture (on the sites), and lie about her age and say she is giving herself up for sex for free, to call her,” (cbsnews 5). In addition, a research project focused on the effects social media has on a millennial’s brain development and discovered a comparison to various health problems including “loneliness, suicidal thoughts, decreased empathy, social anxiety and overall mental health” (Berryman 12). Furthermore, evidence has discovered a link between social media and increased violence; however, “unlike real-life violence exposure, many children selectively expose themselves to media violence” (12). With easy access to media regarding violence, a child’s brain development gravitates towards images that come off as shocking or uncommon. Terrorist attacks and school shootings are now common tragedies that occur and are immediately reported on news channels like Fox News and CNN. With simply the click of a button, a young child can gain entry to gruesome videos and traumatizing reports that are meant to be seen by a mature audience only. Age restrictions are becoming more of a choice and less of a requirement due to the lack of security social media upholds throughout their content. For example, in June 2014, an unspeakable event occurred between two pre-teen girls and a friend of theirs. As stated, they “lured their best friend into the woods and stabbed her 19 times. When asked why, these girls reported that the internet meme “Slenderman” drove them to do it” (Gansner 1).
Not only can social media become a risk for millennials in the present, but have permanent affects for their future. Malvin Foo, the founder of The Maven Co believes that “today’s leaders need to be comfortable driving real time social conversations while navigating the risks that come with an environment they have little control over” (Hardasmalani 3). Having the ability to socialize face to face allows leaders to make relationships with their followers and have more influence on difficult decisions. There are many changes the younger demographic can make in their daily life to avoid lacking true leadership. One choice that can be easily made is restricting the time spent on social media. Reports have stated “the average person will spend more than five years of their lives on social media” (Cohen 2). By cutting down time on electronic devices, we can be more observant of the things happening around us. Furthermore, participating in small group activities can improve the way teenagers express themselves through servant leadership and gaining experience with communicating with different cultures. This can include joining an organization at your school or even volunteering at a local animal shelter. Lastly, rather than posting on social media with the intention of influencing others, millennials should share their experiences because of the enjoyment they felt when they took the photo. By sharing content that you enjoy, hasty comments won’t have a negative affect on how you perceive yourself. Many people care about how others perceive them; However, the only opinion that should matter is your own.
Works Cited
Gansner, M. (2017). “The Internet Made Me Do It”—Social Media and Potential for Violence in Adolescents. Web. Psychiatric Times. 1 Nov. 2018
Nypost.com. (2018). Americans Check Their Phones 80 Times A Day. Web. 1 Nov. 2018 https://nypost.com/2017/11/08/americans-check-their-phones-80-times-a-day-study/
Barr, S. Six ways social media negatively affects your mental health without you even knowing. Web. 11 Oct. 2018 https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/social-media-mental-health-negative-effects-depression-anxiety-addiction-memory-a8307196.html
CBS. Cyberbullying pushed Texas teen to commit suicide, family says. Web. 2 Dec. 2016
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cyberbullying-pushed-texas-teen-commit-suicide-family/
K. The History of Social Media: Social Networking Evolution. Web. 06 July 2018.
http://historycooperative.org/the-history-of-social-media/
Cohen, David. How Much Time Will the Average Person Spend on Social Media During Their Life?. Web. 22 March 2017 https://www.adweek.com/digital/mediakix-time-spent-social-media-infographic/
Hardasmalani, Rumi “How Does Social Media Affect Leadership?” Web. 27 Nov. 2016
https://www.todayonline.com/business/how-does-social-media-affect-leadership
Berryman, C., Ferguson, C.J. & Negy, C. Psychiatr Q (2018) 89: 307. https://doi-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/10.1007/s11126-017-9535-6
Merritt, A., LaQuea, R., Cromwell, R. et al. Child Youth Care Forum (2016) 45: 241. https://doi-org.ezproxy.baylor.edu/10.1007/s10566-015-9328-8
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