CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Social media has been gaining tremendous popularity among adolescents. It has become an
integral part of their daily routine and has been found to have a significant impact on their lives.
According to a study by Kuss and Griffiths (2017), social media use has been associated with
increased levels of anxiety, depression, and stress among adolescents. Moreover, excessive use
of social media has been linked to poor academic performance and decreased face-to-face social
interactions. These negative effects can be attributed to various factors such as cyberbullying,
social comparison, and FOMO (fear of missing out). Therefore, it is important to understand the
impact of social media on adolescents to develop effective intervention strategies.
Cyberbullying is a growing concern among adolescents, and social media platforms have
become a popular tool for bullies to target their victims. According to a study by Hinduja and
Patchin (2018), about 34% of adolescents have experienced cyberbullying, and social media
platforms such as Facebook and Instagram were the most common mediums for cyberbullying.
Moreover, the study found that cyberbullying has a significant impact on the mental health of
adolescents, leading to anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation. Therefore, it is important
to address cyberbullying and develop effective intervention strategies to mitigate its impact on
adolescents.
Monitoring in Social Media Use
Parental monitoring has been found to be an effective strategy in reducing the negative effects of
social media use among adolescents. According to a study by Coyne et al. (2019), parental
monitoring of social media use was associated with lower levels of anxiety and depression
among adolescents. Moreover, the study found that parental monitoring was more effective than
restrictive mediation strategies (i.e., limiting social media use) in reducing the negative effects of
social media use. Therefore, it is important for parents to monitor their children’s social media
use to mitigate the negative impact on their mental health.
Social media has become an integral part of modern society, with platforms like Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat offering people a way to connect, communicate, and share their
experiences with others. However, the rise of social media has also brought with it a number of
concerns, including the potential for abuse and cyberbullying. In a study conducted by Hinduja
and Patchin (2018), they found that 34% of high school students in the United States reported
experiencing some form of cyberbullying in the previous year. The study further notes that the
use of social media has made it easier for bullies to target their victims, as it allows them to
remain anonymous and operate from a distance.
Moreover, research has also shown that the excessive use of social media can lead to negative
outcomes, including decreased academic performance and increased levels of anxiety and
depression. A study conducted by Woods and Scott (2016) found that excessive use of social
media can lead to reduced academic performance, as students spend more time on social media
platforms than studying. This study highlights the importance of monitoring social media usage
among students and implementing policies to reduce excessive use.
Additionally, social media has been linked to the development of addictive behaviors, with some
individuals exhibiting symptoms similar to those of substance addiction. A study conducted by
Andreassen, Pallesen, and Griffiths (2017) found that excessive use of social media was
associated with symptoms of addiction, including withdrawal, mood modification, and tolerance.
The study further notes that individuals who exhibit addictive behaviors towards social media
may be more likely to engage in abusive behaviors online, as they may be more likely to lose
control over their online behavior.
In conclusion, the rise of social media has brought with it a number of concerns, including the
potential for abuse and cyberbullying. It is essential for educators and parents to be aware of
these issues and to implement policies and strategies to address them. This includes monitoring
social media usage among students, educating them about responsible social media use, and
providing them with support and resources if they experience online abuse.
:
Social media is an integral part of modern-day communication, and its use is rapidly increasing
worldwide. Adolescents are among the most active users of social media, and their behavior is
influenced by its usage. This section reviews the literature related to social media and adolescent
behavior. Adolescents use social media for various reasons, including entertainment,
communication, and information gathering. Social media can influence adolescent behavior by
providing opportunities for social interaction and self-expression. However, social media use can
also have negative consequences, including cyberbullying, online harassment, and addiction.
According to a study conducted by Lenhart et al. (2015), 92% of American teenagers go online
every day, and 24% report being online “almost constantly.” Social media has become a popular
platform for communication among adolescents, with 71% of teenagers using more than one
social media site. The study also found that social media has a significant impact on adolescent
behavior, with 76% of teenagers reporting that social media helps them feel more connected to
their friends.
Social media use can have both positive and negative effects on adolescent mental health.
Adolescents who use social media to connect with others and find support can experience
positive mental health outcomes. However, excessive social media use can lead to depression,
anxiety, and other mental health problems. According to a study by Woods and Scott (2016),
social media use can lead to depression and anxiety in adolescents. The study found that
adolescents who spent more than two hours a day on social media had a higher risk of depression
and anxiety than those who spent less time on social media. The study also found that social
media use can negatively impact sleep quality and lead to increased stress.
Adolescents are vulnerable to cyberbullying and online harassment, which can have a negative
impact on their mental health and well-being. Social media platforms can be used to spread
rumors, make threats, and harass others, leading to feelings of isolation and helplessness among
adolescents. According to a study by Kowalski et al. (2014), cyberbullying is a prevalent
problem among adolescents, with 34% of students reporting being cyberbullied at some point in
their lives. The study found that cyberbullying can have negative effects on adolescent mental
health, including increased anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts.
The rise of social media has brought about significant changes in the behavior of adolescents.
While social media has its benefits, such as allowing adolescents to connect with friends and
family, share their thoughts and feelings, and explore their identities, it has also been associated
with negative consequences, such as cyberbullying, addiction, and poor mental health (Chua &
Chang, 2016). This section reviews the literature on the relationship between social media use
and adolescent behavior.
Adolescents spend a significant amount of time on social media platforms. A study by Common
Sense Media (2019) found that 70% of adolescents aged 13-17 use social media multiple times a
day, with the average time spent on social media being over two hours per day. The same study
found that social media use is associated with negative mental health outcomes, such as
depression, anxiety, and poor sleep.
Social media use has also been linked to cyberbullying, which is defined as the use of electronic
communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or
threatening nature (Kowalski & Limber, 2013). Cyberbullying can have serious consequences
for victims, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation (Hinduja & Patchin, 2015).
Research has shown that adolescents who spend more time on social media are more likely to
experience cyberbullying (Wang et al., 2019).
Another negative consequence of social media use among adolescents is addiction. Adolescents
who spend excessive amounts of time on social media may become addicted to it, which can
have negative effects on their academic performance, mental health, and relationships (Kuss &
Griffiths, 2017). A study by Andreassen et al. (2017) found that adolescents who use social
media excessively are more likely to experience symptoms of addiction, such as anxiety,
depression, and insomnia.
In conclusion, while social media has benefits for adolescents, such as allowing them to connect
with friends and family, it also has negative consequences, such as cyberbullying, addiction, and
poor mental health. Parents, educators, and policymakers should be aware of these negative
consequences and take steps to help adolescents use social media in a safe and responsible
manner.
References:
Andreassen, C. S., Pallesen, S., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). The relationship between addictive
use of social media and video games and symptoms of psychiatric disorders: A large-scale cross-
sectional study. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 31(8), 959–964.
[Link]
Chua, T. H. H., & Chang, L. (2016). Follow me and like my beautiful selfies: Singapore teenage
girls’ engagement in self-presentation and peer comparison on social media. Computers in
Human Behavior, 55, 190–197. [Link]
Common Sense Media. (2019). Social media, social life: Teens reveal their experiences.
[Link]
Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2015). Bullying beyond the schoolyard: Preventing and
responding to cyberbullying (2nd ed.). Corwin Press.
Kowalski, R. M., & Limber, S. P. (2013). Psychological, physical, and academic correlates of
cyberbullying and traditional bullying. Journal of Adolescent Health, 53(1 Suppl), S13–S20.
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Lenhart, A., Purcell, K., Smith, A., & Zickuhr, K. (2015). Social media & mobile internet use
among teens and young adults. Pew Research Center.
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