(Natalie) discussion post 1
- What do you think is the most
significant factor of social media on adolescents?
I think the
most significant factor that affects adolescents on social media is the
violence that they can see in movies, tv shows, video games, or any of the many
social media platforms. Broderick and Blewitt write, “Violent video game
exposure is consistently related to aggressive behavior, aggressive thoughts,
aggressive feelings, reductions in empathy, and decline in prosocial behavior.”
(Broderick & Blewitt, 2020, p. 406) This is something I have unfortunately
seen in my classroom with my first graders. I have had instances where a
student has said something violent to another child. After discussing this with
the parents and the student, I learned that the violent thing that was said
came from a video game or a YouTube video the children were watching or
playing. I have had students that have lost relationships with peers because of
the violent words or behaviors they have shared in which they learned in a
video game or YouTube video. From my experience, these children are not bad
children or violent children, however they are watching videos or playing games
that are not appropriate for their age level and they do not understand the
severity of what they are saying or doing.
- How does the prevalence of media
in our culture affect adolescents/young adults ability to sustain
attention?
Broderick and
Blewitt write, “Parents reported higher levels of attention problems,
oppositional behavior, and depressive symptoms in their high-media-use
children.” (Broderick & Blewitt, 2020, p.405) This makes sense, when
adolescents are spending hours on end looking at a screen it is going to affect
how they are able to sustain attention while not on a screen or engaging with
media. This is something I have also seen as a teacher. I notice that my
students are more drawn to the ipad than to paper and pencil work. They are
able to sustain more attention to their ipad than to a book. To help this, I
try to reduce the use of media in my classroom during quiet times and free
time. It’s difficult because electronics in the classroom can be really
beneficial, however I don’t want my students to rely on it or feel gravitated
towards it.
- What advice would you give
parents who are concerned about their adolescent’s media use?
I would
advise parents to keep a close eye on what their children are doing on social
media or online. I would recommend monitoring their online use so they know
what it is their children are doing online. The text said that 71% of children
between the ages of 3rd and 12th graders have a TV in their bedroom. (Broderick
& Blewitt 2020). I would recommend that parents keep TVs, computers, and
i-Pads out of the child’s bedrooms so they can monitor what their children are
doing. The internet can be a scary place for children, even if they are not
looking for something violent or inappropriate it can easily come up. I would
also advise parents to pay attention to how much time a day their child is
using the media. Too much media use can lead to many different health risks.
Some of these include sleep problems, depression, and underachievement. It is
important that parents are aware of these effects and the statistics of media
use.
4. Identify
one action step that you could take to improve the lives of adolescents (those
you know).
Something I
can do to improve the lives of adolescents regarding media is making the
parents aware of how the media can affect their child’s development. I work
with young children who may not understand how the choices they make will
affect them. It is my job, and their parents’ job to protect them from the ways
media use can hurt them. I could also help parents understand how they can use
the media in a safe way for their young children. I think this is something
that needs to come from the school as a whole. There can be different
discussions that happen with administration, teachers and parents about how we
can protect our children from the harms of social media.
C., Broderick
Patricia; Blewitt Pamela. Life Span, The: Human Development for Helping
Professionals. Pearson Education. Kindle Edition.
(Anna)
discussion post 2
- What do you think is the most
significant factor of social media on adolescents?
The most
significant factor of social media on adolescents is its impact on mental
health, particularly in terms of self-esteem and body image. Social media
platforms often create environments where adolescents are exposed to idealized
versions of reality, leading to unrealistic expectations about appearance,
success, and happiness. Depression, anxiety, and feelings of unworthiness can
result from this continual comparison. Furthermore, these problems might be
made worse by the demand for social validation from likes and comments, which
increases the susceptibility of teenagers to mood and mental health disorders.
2. How does
the prevalence of media in our culture affect adolescents/young adults ability
to sustain attention?
The
widespread presence of media in our culture has contributed to a decrease in
adolescents’ and young adults’ ability to maintain attention. The endless
stream of information, notifications, and the fast pace of social media can
lead to shorter attention spans. This is known as “continuous partial
attention,” where people are constantly searching for new information but
rarely engage deeply with any single task (Stone, 2009). This can negatively
impact academic performance, the ability to focus on long-term goals, and the
capacity for deep, reflective thinking.
3. What
advice would you give parents who are concerned about their adolescent’s media
use?
For parents
worried about their adolescent’s media use, setting boundaries and talking
openly is important. Encourage a balanced approach by limiting screen time and
promoting activities like sports, hobbies, or family time (U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, 2021, p. 18). It’s also helpful to set a good
example with your own media habits and talk about what your teen is watching
online, helping them think critically about it. Having open discussions about
the pros and cons of social media can help teens make smarter choices about how
they use it.
4. Identify
one action step that you could take to improve the lives of adolescents (those
you know).
One action
step, that I learned from my best friend who is a first-grade teacher, is media
literacy education. To positively impact adolescents, promoting media literacy
education is a key step. By teaching them how to critically evaluate media
content, they can better distinguish between positive and negative influences,
understand the effects of social media on their mental health, and use
technology in ways that support their overall well-being. This can be
facilitated through school initiatives, workshops, or informal discussions that
encourage them to reflect on their media usage and the messages they are
exposed to.
Stone, L.
(2009, November 30). Beyond simple multi-tasking: Continuous partial
attention. Linda Stone. https://lindastone.net/2009/11/30/beyond-simple-multi-tasking-continuous-partial-attention/
U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. (2021). Social media and youth
mental health: A review of the evidence. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf