Social Media Use and Social Connectedness in Adolescents: The Positives and the Potential Pitfalls

2014 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly A. Allen ◽  
Tracii Ryan ◽  
DeLeon L. Gray ◽  
Dennis M. McInerney ◽  
Lea Waters
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Adolescent Development ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Developmental Psychology ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Online Groups ◽  
Psychosocial Wellbeing ◽  
Online Tools

As social media use is rising among adolescents, the issue of whether this use leads to positive or negative outcomes warrants greater understanding. This article critically reviews the literature related to this important topic. Specifically, we examine how social media use affects social connectedness in terms of three elements of adolescent development: sense of belonging, psychosocial wellbeing, and identity development and processes. Mixed findings are reported regarding the role that social media plays in fostering social connectedness, which suggests that young people may experience both positive and negative psychological outcomes. As a result, this article argues that online tools create a paradox for social connectedness. On one hand, they elevate the ease in which individuals may form and create online groups and communities, but on the other, they can create a source of alienation and ostracism. This article contributes to ongoing discourse in the area of educational and developmental psychology, and has implications for researchers and practitioners working with adolescents.

scholarly journals How Social Are Social Media? A Review of Online Social Behaviour and Connectedness

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracii Ryan ◽  
Kelly A. Allen ◽  
DeLeon L. Gray ◽  
Dennis M. McInerney
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Social Behaviour ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Key Aspects

The use of social media is rapidly increasing, and one of the major discussions of the 21st century revolves around how the use of these applications will impact on the social relationships of users. To contribute to this discussion, we present a brief narrative review highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of social media use on three key aspects of social connectedness: social capital, sense of community, and loneliness. The results indicate that using social media can increase social capital, lead to the formation of friendships and communities, and reduce loneliness. However, some social media site users may experience weakening friendships, online ostracism, and heightened loneliness. Therefore, we argue that the use of social media has contradictory effects on social connectedness. Moreover, the direction of these outcomes is contingent upon who is using the site and how they are using it. Based on these arguments, possible directions for future research are discussed. It is recommended that discourse be continued relating to the association between online social behaviour and connectedness, as this will enable researchers to establish whether the positive outcomes of social media use outweigh the negative.

Exploring the “Social” in Social Media: Adolescent Relatedness—Thwarted and Supported

2021 ◽  
pp. 074355842110621
Author(s):  
Monique West ◽  
Simon Rice ◽  
Dianne Vella-Brodrick
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Rich Picture ◽  
Relational Experiences ◽  
The Social ◽  
Media Research

The pervasiveness of social media in adolescents’ lives has important implications for their relationships. Considering today’s adolescents have grown up with social media, research capturing their unique perspectives of how social media impacts their relationships is needed to increase understanding and help guide behaviors that nurture social-connectedness. Utilizing multiple qualitative methods, this study explores adolescents’ perspectives of how their social media use impacts their relationships. The sample comprised 36, Year 9 students aged 15 years from four metropolitan schools in Melbourne, Australia. All participants completed a rich picture mapping activity and focus group discussions. To gain deeper understandings, a sub-sample of 11 adolescents participated in subsequent one-on-one interviews. Reflexive thematic analysis generated two overarching themes (1) developing and strengthening relationships and (2) diminishing relationships. Sub-themes included; making new friends, maintaining relationships, deepening connections, enhancing belonging, rifts and strains, and anti-social behavior. Findings revealed nuanced insights into “how” and “why” adolescents believe social media impacts relationships. Adolescents explained that social media transforms interactions through amplifying and intensifying relational experiences resulting in both beneficial and detrimental outcomes for their relationships. Cultivating the positive aspects of adolescents’ social media use whilst mitigating the negative is important toward supporting relatedness and fostering wellbeing.

Screen Time, Social Media Use, and Adolescent Development

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 485-502
Author(s):  
Candice L. Odgers ◽  
Stephen M. Schueller ◽  
Mimi Ito
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Adolescent Development ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Positive Development ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Social And Emotional

Adolescents spend much of their daily lives online, and fears abound that digital technology use, and social media in particular, is harming their social and emotional development. Findings to date do not support causal or robust associations between social media use and adolescents’ development. Instead, prior studies have produced a mix of small positive, negative, and often null associations. The narrative around social media and adolescent development has been negative, but empirical support for the story of increasing deficits, disease, and disconnection is limited. This article reviews what is known about the association between social media use and adolescent social and emotional well-being, identifies key limitations in current research, and recommends ways to improve science while also minimizing risk and creating opportunities for positive development in an increasingly digital and uncertain age.

scholarly journals Social media use and social connectedness among adolescents in the United Kingdom: a qualitative exploration of displacement and stimulation

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lizzy Winstone ◽  
Becky Mars ◽  
Claire M. A. Haworth ◽  
Judi Kidger
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Peer Relationships ◽  
Time Management ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Breathing Space

Abstract Background Connectedness to family and peers is a key determinant of adolescent mental health. Existing research examining associations between social media use and social connectedness has been largely quantitative and has focused primarily on loneliness, or on specific aspects of peer relationships. In this qualitative study we use the displacement hypothesis and the stimulation hypothesis as competing theoretical lenses through which we examine the complex relationship between social media use and feelings of connectedness to family and peers. Methods In-depth paired and individual interviews were conducted with twenty-four 13–14-year-olds in two inner-city English secondary schools. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, coded and thematically analysed. Results Analysis identified four themes: (i) ‘Displacement of face-to-face socialising’ (ii) ‘Social obligations’ (iii) ‘(Mis)Trust’ and (iv) ‘Personal and group identity’. Results indicated stronger support for the stimulation hypothesis than the displacement hypothesis. We found evidence of a complex set of reciprocal and circular relationships between social media use and connectedness consistent with a ‘rich-get-richer’ and a ‘poor-get-poorer’ effect for family and peer connectedness – and a ‘poor-get-richer’ effect in peer connectedness for those who find face-to-face interactions difficult. Conclusion Our findings suggest that parents should take a measured approach to social media use, providing clear guidance, promoting trust and responsible time management, and acknowledging the role of social media in making connections. Understanding and sharing in online experiences is likely to promote social connectedness. Supporting young people to negotiate breathing space in online interactions and prioritising trust over availability in peer relationships may optimise the role of social media in promoting peer connectedness.

scholarly journals Problematic Social Media Use and Social Connectedness in Adolescence: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Family Life Satisfaction

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Savci ◽  
Muhammed Akat ◽  
Mustafa Ercengiz ◽  
Mark D. Griffiths ◽  
Ferda Aysan
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Life Satisfaction ◽  
Family Life ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Problematic Social Media Use ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Moderating Role

AbstractProblematic social media use (PSMU) among adolescents has become an area of increasing research interest in recent years. It is known that PSMU is negatively associated with social connectedness. The present study examined the role of family life satisfaction in this relationship by investigating its mediating and moderating role in the relationship between problematic social use and social connectedness. The present study comprised 549 adolescents (296 girls and 253 boys) who had used social media for at least 1 year and had at least one social media account. The measures used included the Social Media Disorder Scale, Social Connectedness Scale, and Family Life Satisfaction Scale. Mediation and moderation analyses were performed using Hayes’s Process program. Regression analysis showed that PSMU negatively predicted family life satisfaction and social connectedness. In addition, family life satisfaction and PSMU predicted social connectedness. Mediation analysis showed that family life satisfaction had a significant mediation effect in the relationship between PSMU and social connectedness. Family life satisfaction was partially mediated in the relationship between PSMU and social connectedness. Moderation analysis showed that family life satisfaction did not have a significant effect on the relationship between PSMU and social connectedness. The study suggests that family life satisfaction is a meaningful mediator (but not a moderator) in the relationship between problematic social media use and social connectedness.

Exploring Parents’ Intentions to Monitor and Mediate Adolescent Social Media Use and Implications for School Nurses

2020 ◽  
pp. 105984052098328
Author(s):  
Kimberly D. Douglas ◽  
Kandy K. Smith ◽  
Mary W. Stewart ◽  
Jean Walker ◽  
Leandro Mena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Parental Monitoring ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Media Monitoring

Social media may promote health and social connectedness, but its misuse and frequency of use may pose risks. Social media use during adolescence requires parental monitoring and mediation to mitigate potentially harmful effects such as depression, anxiety, and risk-taking behaviors. While parents and health care professionals convey concern surrounding exposure to inappropriate content, prolonged screen time, and cyberbullying, appropriate social media monitoring remains challenging. The purpose of this study was to explore parental monitoring and mediation of social media use in adolescents. Online recruitment yielded a nationwide sample ( n = 836) of parents of adolescents. The results of the online survey indicated that parents are concerned about adolescent social media use and endorse positive attitudes toward monitoring. Yet parents perceived little control over monitoring. Findings from this study support the school nurse in promoting healthy social media use, media literacy among parents and adolescents, and the use of screening tools.

Social media use, experiences of social connectedness and wellbeing during COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. 283-300
Author(s):  
Jacqui Taylor-Jackson ◽  
Imogen Abba ◽  
Alessandra Baradel ◽  
Jeremy Lay ◽  
Jasmin Herewini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Social Media Use

scholarly journals Social media ‘addiction’: The absence of an attentional bias to social media stimuli

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Thomson ◽  
S. C. Hunter ◽  
S. H. Butler ◽  
D. J. Robertson
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Social Media Addiction ◽  
Addiction Severity ◽  
Social Media Engagement

AbstractBackground and aimsSocial media use has become a ubiquitous part of society, with 3.8 billion users worldwide. While research has shown that there are positive aspects to social media engagement (e.g. feelings of social connectedness and wellbeing), much of the focus has been on the negative mental health outcomes which are associated with excessive use (e.g. higher levels of depression/anxiety). While the evidence to support such negative associations is mixed, there is a growing debate within the literature as to whether excessive levels of social media use should become a clinically defined addictive behaviour.MethodsHere we assess whether one hallmark of addiction, the priority processing of addiction related stimuli known as an ‘attentional bias’, is evident in a group of social media users (N = 100). Using mock iPhone displays, we test whether social media stimuli preferentially capture users' attention and whether the level of bias can be predicted by platform use (self-report, objective smartphone usage data), and whether it is associated with scores on established measures of social media engagement (SMES) and social media ‘addiction’ severity scales (BSNAS, SMAQ).ResultsOur findings do not provide support for a social media specific attentional bias. While there was a large range of individual differences in our measures of use, engagement, and ‘addictive’ severity, these were not predictive of, or associated with, individual differences in the magnitude of attentional capture by social media stimuli.ConclusionsMore research is required before social media use can be definitively placed within an addiction framework.

scholarly journals Teens and social media during the COVID-19 pandemic: Staying socially connected while physically distant

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Hamilton ◽  
Jacqueline Nesi ◽  
Sophia Choukas-Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Adolescent Development ◽  
Media Use ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Ongoing Debate ◽  
Social Media Use ◽  
Daily Lives ◽  
Use Of Social Media

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the health, safety, and daily lives of all individuals. Adolescents may be uniquely sensitive to this abrupt disruption in their lives due to the biological and psychological changes that occur during this developmental period. Social media has rapidly transformed the ways in which adolescents socialize and interact with one another, which has contributed to an ongoing debate about whether social media is helping or harming teens today. The COVID-19 pandemic has only magnified this societal dilemma as teens are spending more time than ever before on social media. Thus, it is important for parents, educators, and teens to better understand social media use in the context of COVID-19. This article discusses the implications of social media for adolescent development and mental health in the context of COVID-19, with attention to the ways in which social media may be especially helpful for teens in the midst of physical distancing practices, as well as how social media behaviors can negatively impact teens’ physical and mental health during this time. Using research and theory, the article provides practical guidance on facilitating teens’ helpful use of social media and mitigating its negative effects during the COVID-19 pandemic. As more people than ever before are relying on social media to maintain social connection and ward off social isolation, this article may be useful for people of all ages who aim to understand the benefits and drawbacks of social media use during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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