Impact of Social Media on the Mental Health of the
Youth
MODE: Research Based Project
ALS PROJECT PORTFOLIO
The Project Report is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the
CBSE CLASS 12, TERM 2, ASSESSMENT OF LISTENING AND SPEAKING (ALS)
By:
Name:
Class:
Reg. No:
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
SPRINGDALES SCHOOL, DUBAI
ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-24
INDEX
[Link]. Title Page No.
1 Declaration 3
2 Bonafide Certificate 4
3 Acknowledgement 5
4 Index 2
5 Objective 6
6 Action Plan 7
7 Introduction 8
8 Research Aim 8
9 Research Objectives 8
10 Explaining Research Objectives 9
11 Results of the Questionnaire 12
12 Analysis of the Study 14
13 Conclusion 15
14 Reflection 16
15 Bibliography 17
DECLARATION
I, …………………………………, hereby declare that this project entitled
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Impact Of Social Media on the Mental Health of the Youth.
is submitted to the CBSE in partial fulfillment for the award of the CLASS XII, ASSESSMENT OF
LISTENING AND SPEAKING and is a Bonafide work carried out by me under the guidance of Ms.
Neethu K.M, Department of English and that no part of this project has been previously formed the basis for
the award of any degree, diploma, or any other similar title.
Dubai NAME:
Date REGISTER NO:
Springdale School, Dubai
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I am overwhelmed in all humbleness and gratefulness to acknowledge my depth to all
those who have helped me to put these ideas, well above the level of simplicity and into
something concrete.
I am dearly obliged to my chemistry teacher, Ms. Neethu K.M, for giving me an
opportunity to work on this project which has provided valuable information about Impact Of
Social Media on the Mental Health of the Youth.
Any attempt at any level can’t be satisfactorily completed without the support and
guidance of my parents who guided me from time to time in making this project, despite of
their busy schedules, they gave me different ideas in making this project unique.
Last but not the least, I am humbly grateful for my friends without whom, this project
would have been incomplete.
OBJECTIVE
To enhance competency in listening and speaking skills by integrating real-life situations to
the theme of the lesson – The Interview
ACTION PLAN
Week 3, June- Identification of goal /objectives
June 30 Selection of a topic and the mode of the project, under the
guidance of the subject teacher
August 2 Work delegation and organizing various tasks
August 5 Brainstorming and formulation of a logical, deliverable
and a practical plan
August 10 Execution of the plan
August 28 Submission of the first draft to the subject teacher
October 30 - Moderations according to the teacher’s
feedback/suggestions
November 15- Submission of the final draft to the teacher
INTRODUCTION
Today, there are more than 3.8 billion social media users globally. Nearly 90% of
16-24 year olds use the internet for social networking. Social media has become a part
of daily activities for many people, especially the youngsters.
Dr Siegal, a professor who specializes in psychiatry, revealed that social media
physiologically rewires the human brain. He believed that social media is now
replacing the time for positive and prodctive face-to-face interations and
communications. Social media can include Facebook (now, META), Instagram, X,
YouTube, etc.
Several studies have been conducted on the impact of social media. These
research studies indicate that the prolonged use of these platforms may lead to
depression, anxiety, and stress. A study done by Frison and Eggermont (2017) found
that adolescents have more chnaces of developing a depression mood if they often
browse Instaram. Twenge and Campbell (2018) have stated that adolescents spending
more than 7 hoirs a day on screens are twice as likely to be diagnosed with increased
(upto 65%) depression and anxiety, whole moderate use is associated with lower
psychological problems.
EXPLAINING RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
1) Define social media and its importance in day-to-day life?
Jean Burgess and Poell, (2017) provided a definition that; by social media
technologies, we mean those digital platforms, services, and apps built around the
convergence of content sharing, public communication, and interpersonal connections.
Read & Ginn (2015) define social media as “forms of electronic communication
through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal
messages, and other content”.n
The following social media channels were studied. User details are also
measured individually. Social media includes Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok,
YouTube, and Twitch. Forums, reviews, blogs, news, Google trends, surveys, and
Pulsar are audience intelligence and social listening tools.
2) What are the health and wellbeing affects of social media? How it affects
some people more than others?
3) What are the mental health affects caused by social media and
Investigate how anxiety, fueled with fear of missing out is related to
social media?
Researchers call excessive social media use Facebook melancholy, SNS Addiction,
iDisorder, and FOMO (O'Keeffe & Clarke-Pearson, 2011).
Social media causes anxiety, insomnia, attention issues, and reliance. Social media
are ideal for learning about others and comparing lifestyles since they make social
connections easy and increase perceived social involvement. Przybylski et al. (2013)
Secure couples may not need to stay in touch. FOMO was connected to worse life
satisfaction and a lesser sense of being met (Przybylski et al., 2013). Social media may
have accelerated FOMO. FOMO is the need to constantly check social media (Abel et
al., 2016).
FOMO is an emotional response to unmet psychological needs like involvement,
freedom, and social connectivity, according to SDT. It's OCD or anxiety, not addiction
(Nauert, 2010).
4) Explore The Benefits of Social Media For Youth
“We cannot always build the future of our youth, but we can build our youth for the
future”
~ Franklin D. Roosevelt
5) What are possibilities for managing the social media platforms to affective
reduce its negative impact?
RESULTS OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE
ANALYSIS OF THE STUDY
75% of the participants heard about the social media challenges but never
participated and 10% were unaware of the challenges. However, 15% admitted
•
to participating the challenges.
70% do not feel the need to participate challenges with other friend on social
media. The participants are not involved in the social media challenges, because
•
of their age group the are cautious in their approach.
The result indicated that female respondents are 55% and the male respondents
are 45% so the study is not able to indicate the effect of social media on gender.
•
70% of the respondents said that they experience a feeling of increased
connectivity with their friend through social media.
•
75% admitted to have a feeling of envy looking at the influencers and their lives.
50% agreed that they get bothered when missing out a planned get-together.
•
25% chose to remain neutral on the statement.
CONCLUSION
From the secondary research, a strong association is found between the intense
social media use, fear of missing out, depression and anxiety.
The secondary research shows that social media is not the only factor, rather, it
enhances mental health issues in adolescents. Furthermore, social media has several
positive impacts when managed efficiently.
There are several confounding factors other than social media, which
contributes to the mental health issues of young people.
Social media affects young people by addicting, distracting, and exposing the
user to bullying, online challenges, unrealistic views of other people’s lives and peer
pressure. These affects are related to the extent of the usage of social media.
Furthermore, a few positive benefits of social media have also been identified
through the research which opens future research opportunities to find practical
solutions in expanding the positive benefits.
REFLECTION
This research is in line with the previous research available on this subject {done
in major universities and research centres}. The results indicated the negative
influence on the mental health of young people, especially matters related to anxiety,
depression, and FOMO.
There are positive findings as well, such as gathering useful information,
promotion of productive causes and increased connectivity.
The study clearly shows that the participants are addicted to social media which
is not good for both mental health and personal wellbeing.
It was found that with increased time spent on social media, the participants are
getting more exposed to negative influences. To capitalize on the beneficial impact,
less time should be spent on social media.
Receiving posts of only happy moments from friends and acquaintance, using
filters on the photographs, may end up in jealousy, depression, and anxiety.
Participants admitted feeling stress and pressure, while using social media,
which leads to many negative impacts.
The study also shows that the participants fear of missing out any event or get-
together which clearly indicates that they are affected by the problem of FOMO
knowingly or unknowingly.
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