So psychologist have found something I thought about for years. Social media websites like Facebook may be harming students ability to socialize. To see that their may be evidence that could connect social networking to narcissistic behavior, alcohol dependence and other psychiatric disorders is pretty scary. Now normally I don't pay attention to most studies done by "the professionals", because if they wanted to find something wrong with something they could. Like cell phones causes cancer. Or how babies shouldn't drink formula because it will stunt their growth. I've even heard that we should only eat organic fruits and vegetables because of the pesticides in them. However, this study done by psychologist Larry Rosen has some thought interesting things to consider. I especially agree with his assessment that he makes about how teenagers and young adults are not mature enough to process information they receive over the internet. They often get confused and are much more vulnerable to internet predators. Another important point Dr. Rosen makes in this article is that some kids may feel pressured to send lewd pictures of themselves to their friends which could lead to them eventually having their picture posted all over the internet. This could lead to depression and social anxiety. Other teens may be afraid to deny a friend request because the rejection may lead to them being harassed at school or cyberbullied. These are some very legitimate findings and I do feel that it is the responsibility of parents to educate their children on the effects of being on the internet and social networking.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
What's Facebook's Effect on Kids?
Original Article: http://www.technologyreview.com/web/38258/?ref=rss
So psychologist have found something I thought about for years. Social media websites like Facebook may be harming students ability to socialize. To see that their may be evidence that could connect social networking to narcissistic behavior, alcohol dependence and other psychiatric disorders is pretty scary. Now normally I don't pay attention to most studies done by "the professionals", because if they wanted to find something wrong with something they could. Like cell phones causes cancer. Or how babies shouldn't drink formula because it will stunt their growth. I've even heard that we should only eat organic fruits and vegetables because of the pesticides in them. However, this study done by psychologist Larry Rosen has some thought interesting things to consider. I especially agree with his assessment that he makes about how teenagers and young adults are not mature enough to process information they receive over the internet. They often get confused and are much more vulnerable to internet predators. Another important point Dr. Rosen makes in this article is that some kids may feel pressured to send lewd pictures of themselves to their friends which could lead to them eventually having their picture posted all over the internet. This could lead to depression and social anxiety. Other teens may be afraid to deny a friend request because the rejection may lead to them being harassed at school or cyberbullied. These are some very legitimate findings and I do feel that it is the responsibility of parents to educate their children on the effects of being on the internet and social networking.
So psychologist have found something I thought about for years. Social media websites like Facebook may be harming students ability to socialize. To see that their may be evidence that could connect social networking to narcissistic behavior, alcohol dependence and other psychiatric disorders is pretty scary. Now normally I don't pay attention to most studies done by "the professionals", because if they wanted to find something wrong with something they could. Like cell phones causes cancer. Or how babies shouldn't drink formula because it will stunt their growth. I've even heard that we should only eat organic fruits and vegetables because of the pesticides in them. However, this study done by psychologist Larry Rosen has some thought interesting things to consider. I especially agree with his assessment that he makes about how teenagers and young adults are not mature enough to process information they receive over the internet. They often get confused and are much more vulnerable to internet predators. Another important point Dr. Rosen makes in this article is that some kids may feel pressured to send lewd pictures of themselves to their friends which could lead to them eventually having their picture posted all over the internet. This could lead to depression and social anxiety. Other teens may be afraid to deny a friend request because the rejection may lead to them being harassed at school or cyberbullied. These are some very legitimate findings and I do feel that it is the responsibility of parents to educate their children on the effects of being on the internet and social networking.
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Your post intrigued me so I ventured off to read the full article. There certainly seems to be quite the controversy over the effects of Facebook. One of my biggest concerns is cyberbullying and the inability of people to escape from this type of cruelty. In addition, since the bully can’t see the other person’s reaction, I think that teens can be much harsher online than in face to face situations. Just like face to face situations students need to learn appropriate behavior and education is fundamental in helping young people understand the use and effects of Facebook on their lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree with John Suler on the obsession over Facebook. He believes that “Over time, as the technology craze starts to quiet down, we'll realize once again that balance in online/offline activity is as important as any kind of balance in life” (Vezina, 2011).
Vezina, Kenrick. (2011, August 9). Status update: what's facebook's effect on kids?. Technology Review, Retrieved from http://www.technologyreview.com/web/38258/?ref=rss
I too have concerns about cyberbullying. I also see where kids are texting and facebooking all the time and yet when they are setting right next to the person they have been talking to electronically they have nothing to say to each other. That is pretty scary.
ReplyDeleteI am always "lecturing" my kids and their friends about what they put on Facebook. No matter how much I talk they just don't take me serious about the harm they can do to themselves. I also think that some parents don't understand the harm that their kids are doing to themselves posting inappropriate pictures and the comments that they make, including profanity. To the kids, it is all about fitting in and being cool until they are passed over for the job of their dreams or worse.