Edgar Sanchez
Ms. Lehman
English 2-2A
6 February 2020
Pros & Cons of Phones
Seneca once said, “Everything that exceeds the bounds of moderation has an unstable foundation.” This applies to social media as well. Social media’s impact on teens is complicated, affecting well-being, connections with others, and even academic performance. In order to be wise users of social media, teens need to know how it impacts their well-being.
The effect of social media on teens’ well-being is complicated. Social Media offers teens the ability to talk to people with similar experiences, challenges, and struggles anonymously, which gives them desired support. “The ability to communicate anonymously can mitigate barriers, such as shame, that interfere with support-seeking offline” (72). The authors explain that social media allows teens to ask for help and receive support they might not ask for otherwise because they can remain anonymous. While social media does offer anonymous support, that is not the only way adolescents use social media. Often times, people who use social media compare themselves to others or even experience crimes such as cyberbullying. James et al explain the negative impacts of social media on young adults’ well-being. “Several investigations document correlations between heavy media use and reduced well-being – related outcomes, such as diminished life satisfaction, internalizing negative experiences, and various dimensions of ill-being, such as depression, anxiety, attention problems, and stress” (James et al 72). When social media is used too much or irresponsibly, it can have serious, negative effects on people’s lives. Limiting time on social media and using it responsibly could help increase the positive effects on well-being while decreasing the negative. Social media not only impacts well-being, but can influence our relationships to other people as well.
When examining the effects of social media, we cannot only examine the media itself, but must also consider the personalities of its users. “The child’s personality –not the platform –is the more important factor when determining the influences of social media”(K.Y. 18). Every social media user is different, so its impacts are different for evey user. The one consistent finding is that an excessive use of social media increases negative effects. Social media use affects people’s face-to-face communications. “In fact, 38 percent of teens today say they use social media multiple times an hour, including 16 percent who say they use it ‘almost constantly’” (K.Y.18). The more people use social media, the less they use face-to-face communication. In fact, even if they are face-to-face, a majority of teens say they are distracted by their phones. Because of this they should strive to use their phones wisely.
Some argue that social media has only positive effects. While this sounds good, the reality is that social media’s impact is complicated and can be negative. Research has shown that too much time spent on social media has a negative impact on academic performance. Pieró -Velert et al write, “ Regarding academic performance, overall sedentary SMU[Screen Media Use] is indirectly related to it, either because screen time displaces homework and learning or because it involves intermediate processes that negatively affect academic performance” (7). When young adults use social media excessively, it lowers sleep time, which causes lower academic achievement. It is obvious that social media’s effects are not all positive. Social media is complicated and should be used responsibly.
Teens can control how social media affects them. If teens use social media wisely, it can improve their well-being, connections with others, and academic performance. Monitoring time spent on social media can curb negative effects. When spending time in person with others, teens can strengthen connection by putting down their phone. Scheduling to be off the phone and sleep can improve academic performance. By exercising moderation in social media use, teens can create a more stable foundation for their lives.
Research Paper Reflection
Please answer all questions in complete, grammatically correct sentences.
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
We had to pick a topic as a class. Then we read an article we all agreed on and started to take notes as we read. As we typed the paper, we included an introduction, two paragraphs dealing with articles we read, a rebuttal, and finally a conclusion. We also wrote a cited page along with an Annotated Bibliography.
2. What qualifies this paper as an argumentative essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
It gives you cited facts about how social media affects teens and why we need to use it reasonably. Which can lead to bad grades and lack on face-to-face communication.
3. Explain one thing you learned about reading research or taking notes on research that you can apply to your next research paper.
I learned that if you are on social media to much and a lot of screen time, it affects your face-to-face communication and can drop your grades.
Ms. Lehman
English 2-2A
6 February 2020
Pros & Cons of Phones
Seneca once said, “Everything that exceeds the bounds of moderation has an unstable foundation.” This applies to social media as well. Social media’s impact on teens is complicated, affecting well-being, connections with others, and even academic performance. In order to be wise users of social media, teens need to know how it impacts their well-being.
The effect of social media on teens’ well-being is complicated. Social Media offers teens the ability to talk to people with similar experiences, challenges, and struggles anonymously, which gives them desired support. “The ability to communicate anonymously can mitigate barriers, such as shame, that interfere with support-seeking offline” (72). The authors explain that social media allows teens to ask for help and receive support they might not ask for otherwise because they can remain anonymous. While social media does offer anonymous support, that is not the only way adolescents use social media. Often times, people who use social media compare themselves to others or even experience crimes such as cyberbullying. James et al explain the negative impacts of social media on young adults’ well-being. “Several investigations document correlations between heavy media use and reduced well-being – related outcomes, such as diminished life satisfaction, internalizing negative experiences, and various dimensions of ill-being, such as depression, anxiety, attention problems, and stress” (James et al 72). When social media is used too much or irresponsibly, it can have serious, negative effects on people’s lives. Limiting time on social media and using it responsibly could help increase the positive effects on well-being while decreasing the negative. Social media not only impacts well-being, but can influence our relationships to other people as well.
When examining the effects of social media, we cannot only examine the media itself, but must also consider the personalities of its users. “The child’s personality –not the platform –is the more important factor when determining the influences of social media”(K.Y. 18). Every social media user is different, so its impacts are different for evey user. The one consistent finding is that an excessive use of social media increases negative effects. Social media use affects people’s face-to-face communications. “In fact, 38 percent of teens today say they use social media multiple times an hour, including 16 percent who say they use it ‘almost constantly’” (K.Y.18). The more people use social media, the less they use face-to-face communication. In fact, even if they are face-to-face, a majority of teens say they are distracted by their phones. Because of this they should strive to use their phones wisely.
Some argue that social media has only positive effects. While this sounds good, the reality is that social media’s impact is complicated and can be negative. Research has shown that too much time spent on social media has a negative impact on academic performance. Pieró -Velert et al write, “ Regarding academic performance, overall sedentary SMU[Screen Media Use] is indirectly related to it, either because screen time displaces homework and learning or because it involves intermediate processes that negatively affect academic performance” (7). When young adults use social media excessively, it lowers sleep time, which causes lower academic achievement. It is obvious that social media’s effects are not all positive. Social media is complicated and should be used responsibly.
Teens can control how social media affects them. If teens use social media wisely, it can improve their well-being, connections with others, and academic performance. Monitoring time spent on social media can curb negative effects. When spending time in person with others, teens can strengthen connection by putting down their phone. Scheduling to be off the phone and sleep can improve academic performance. By exercising moderation in social media use, teens can create a more stable foundation for their lives.
Research Paper Reflection
Please answer all questions in complete, grammatically correct sentences.
1. Explain the process you went through to write this paper. Please be specific.
We had to pick a topic as a class. Then we read an article we all agreed on and started to take notes as we read. As we typed the paper, we included an introduction, two paragraphs dealing with articles we read, a rebuttal, and finally a conclusion. We also wrote a cited page along with an Annotated Bibliography.
2. What qualifies this paper as an argumentative essay? What are the requirements for this genre and how did you meet them?
It gives you cited facts about how social media affects teens and why we need to use it reasonably. Which can lead to bad grades and lack on face-to-face communication.
3. Explain one thing you learned about reading research or taking notes on research that you can apply to your next research paper.
I learned that if you are on social media to much and a lot of screen time, it affects your face-to-face communication and can drop your grades.