Social networking

Social networking has emerged as a significant characteristic of the culture in the twenty-first century, thanks to recent advances in information and communication technology. As a result of this advancement, various organizations have created web applications and tools to aid internet networking and online social activities. A computer-enabled technology that allows the development and sharing of knowledge, career, ideas, and other forms of expression have been described as social media. Web 2.0 internet, video calls, digital picture sharing, and messaging, also known as online chats, are the most prominent features of today's social media in our nation. There is a need to point out at the juncture that adolescents are young adults between the ages of 10 -19 and it is important also to note that this group of people the forms the largest proportion of social media users in the world. In recent times there have been controversies about the benefit of social media to the lives of adolescents in the society. There have also been claims that the use of social media is adolescents will enhance their well-being. There is need to point out that this study is developed to take a stand against the belief that social media improves the lives of adolescents. The study holds that social media contain some vices that could be detrimental to the life of adolescents. Therefore the study shall provide valid proofs in support of its stand about social media and adolescent's lives, and at the end the study, it shall provide a sound conclusion to sum its idea.

Argument for social media and indolence wellbeing

There have been certain augments held by a group of people in the society about that the benefits of social media to the lives of adolescents, these claims have been based in on the fact that social media offers adolescents the avenue of networking, getting to know people and sharing ideas. It has also been alleged that social media will aid social and technological innovativeness among the adolescent generation. There is need to clearly stress that this alleged argument in support of social media as a means of enhancing the life of adolescents must be refuted based on the enormous negative vices the social media offers the adolescents society, (Moorhead, et al. 2013). The study shall begin by refuting any argument in support of social media by openly pointing out the vices associated with the use of social media by the adolescent.

Adverse social effects of social media

Social media has a lot of adverse effects that could hamper the lives of adolescents. There is need to start by stressing that primary among adverse impacts of social media on this group of people is the possibility of hacking. There are possibilities of incidences when their profile on social media platforms could be hacked and has led to several fatalities recent times. There have been occasions when social media accounts have been hacked, and some teens got invited to functions where some were raped, kidnapped and others even lost their life. Social media is also gradually turning a large proportion of adolescents in the society to hackers; there have been cases where these youths take up the challenge to hack each other's accounts. This problem is referred to as social engineering; social engineering has resulted in the development of several adolescents into professional hackers and criminals, (McGillivray, 2015).

Social media in recent times have been linked to a couple of antisocial in the society behaviors among young teenagers and adolescents. Predominant among such antisocial behavior include suicidal behaviors and extreme substance abuse. There is need to point out that in recent times suicide has been considered as the leading cause of death among adolescent and the reason behind such hike in suicide rates have also been associated with the increased rates of antisocial behavior that adolescent are exposed to on social media platforms. Researchers have in recent times continued to link the alarming rise in the suicide rate and the surge in the rates of drug abuse among adolescents to social media tendencies. There is need to point out that there are many ways by which social media can increase suicidal tendencies among adolescents, such method includes the link between social media and adolescent's self-image issues, cyberbullying and other forms of social media-induced insecurities. This side effect of the antisocial behaviors leads to an increased level of stress, worrying and anxiety among teens and adolescents which result in apparent suicide tendencies. (McGillivray, 2015).

Social media has also resulted in the recent practice of sexting among adolescent. Sexting can be defined as a sexually inclined communication between internet users most especially between people of different genders. Sexting can also involve the posting of sexually inclined photos on social media platforms. There is need to stress that these practices have led to many vices among teens and adolescents. The practice includes rape, criminal charges, and child pornography. Sexting has been classified as a practice that is against the moral fabrics on which the society is built. Sexting endangers the lives of the younger generation and exposes them to indecent practices, (Ahmad, 2016).

Social media has been considered as one of the primary causes of a waste of time among adolescents; most of the social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and etcetera provide users with notification about new posts. Most adolescents remain online to access new post hence they forfeit other important activities leading to a waste of precious time. Social media has also been referred to as one the primary reason for the reduction in academic performance among adolescent. The extensive use of social media among adolescent have also been referred to as one of the primary cause of poor writing and essay composition skills among students. The tendencies for the exhibition of poor writing and composition skills are due to excessive use and reliance on computer grammar and hence the reduction in level creativity and efficient command of English language resulting in the inability to effectively construct proper sentences, (McGillivray, 2015).

Statistics shows that an average adolescent spends about 30% each hour on social media hence a reduction in time dedicated to studying. Social media has also been considered as a primary form of addiction among the youths of today. Some the members of the younger generation have gotten addicted to social media that is practically impossible for them to stay out of the use of such media. Social media addiction has it has led several adverse behaviors such as a complete disconnect from society and lack of attention to details, (Macerate, 2016).

Adverse health effects of social media

There is need to stress that apart from the adverse physical and social consequences of social media on adolescents, social media also have enormous medical effects on the wellbeing of adolescents in the society. There have been reports about a huge quantum of metal and health challenges that are associated with social media. Adolescents spend a huge proportion of their time on social media the result in the exhibition of withdrawal symptoms. This group of people after a period of extreme addiction to social media will begin to exhibit certain forms of social disconnects. Most addicted users of social media tend to have difficulty in engaging in physical interaction sand, therefore, resulting in common features of anxiety among such adolescents which includes boredom, loneliness, anxiety, and distress. (Kaplan, and Haenlein, 2010). There are a lot of medical problems faced by adolescents who spends a huge proportion of their time on social media, such as reduction in their level of productive, increased burnouts and a level of distractions which result in gross mental illnesses. There is need to clearly emphasize that the society thrives on social interactions most especially the physical forms of social interactions. However, the excessive use of Social media has provided reduced social interaction among adolescents which has resulted in an increase in the number of teens and adolescents suffering from stress related diseases and mental disorders, (Caron and Light, 2017). There is need to point out that based the huge demerits associated with the use of social media by teens and adolescents. It is important to clearly refute all augments in support of the adoption and use of social media by adolescents. Therefore the notion that social media enhances the wellbeing of adolescents should be considered as false.

Conclusion

Facing our world today is the reality of social media; social media is a primary characteristic of the society in the 21st century. Social media has been adopting for various uses ranging from personal use to official purposes. Social media has been defined as computer enabled technology that allows the creation and sharing of information, career, ideas and other forms of expression. There is need to rightfully point out that the use of social media has resulted in some negative effects on specific individuals of the society. Prominent among such individuals are the members of the younger generation most especially the adolescents. The study focused on discovering the contributions of the social media to the well-being of adolescents in a bid to find out whether or not it enhances their lives. Based on the discoveries of this study, it should be rightfully pointed out that social media has resulted in a lot of adverse effects in the life of adolescents. The use of social media has increased the number of antisocial behavior among adolescents such behavior includes increased crime rates, increased sexual tendencies, increased suicide rates and mental dysfunctions. There is need also to note that there have also been some augments in some quarters about the benefits of social media. However based on the findings of this study such benefits should be refuted as the adverse effect posed by social media to adolescents clearly outweighs any of its derived benefits













References

Ahmad, B. (2016). 10 Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media for Society –

Techmaish.com. Retrieved 25 May 2017, from https://www.techmaish.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-social-media-for-society/

Caron, J. G., & Light, J. (2017). Social media experiences of adolescents and young adults with

cerebral palsy who use augmentative and alternative communication. International journal of speech-language pathology, 19(1), 30-42.

Kaplan, A. M., & Haenlein, M. (2010). Users of the world, unite! The challenges and

opportunities of Social Media. Business horizons, 53(1), 59-68.

Macerate, S. (2016). Negative Effects of Social Networking Sites for Students –

Performancing. Performancing. Retrieved 25 May 2017, from http://performancing.com/negative-effects-of-social-networking-sites-for-students/

McGillivray, N. (2015). What Are the Effects of Social Media on Youth?. TurboFuture.

Retrieved 25 May 2017, from https://turbofuture.com/internet/effects-of-social-media-on-our-youth

Moorhead, S. A., Hazlett, D. E., Harrison, L., Carroll, J. K., Irwin, A., & Hoving, C. (2013). A

new dimension of health care: systematic review of the uses, benefits, and limitations of social media for health communication. Journal of medical Internet research, 15(4).