Social Media + Teenagers = Problems Jennifer Ing, Breanne Meline, Tiarra Taggart, Maria Wiscombe
April 2018
Teenagers & Social Media
What can we do about it?
How are teenagers affected by social media use and what can we do about it?
problem Why is social media a problem for my teenager? The use of social media by teenagers is prevalent in our society. The availability and use of apps has blossomed astronomically. Access to the internet on multiple devices is on the rise. Smartphone and social media addiction is impacting our teens negatively. This addiction can be psychologically harmful.
Why is social media a problem for my teenager? With the explosion of social media apps such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat, smartphones have become a lifeline for most teens. For over 73% of teenagers, access to their friends is almost immediate. With the increased development of technology, social media apps and smartphones, teens can chat with their friends on a variety of apps as well as texting on their mobile device. According to a study done in 2015 by Pew Research Center (Lenhart, 2015) “teens are enthusiastic users of social media sites and apps. When asked a general question about whether they used social media, three-quarters (76%) of teens use social media, and 81% of older teens use the sites, compared with 68% of teens 13 to 14. When asked about seven specific sites (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, Google+ and Vine), and given the option to report another site used, 89% of all teens reported that they used at least one of the sites and two-thirds of teens (71%) reported using two or more sites. Among the 18% of teens who only use one site, 66% use Facebook, 13% use
Google+ and 13% use Instagram. Just 3% of the single site users use Snapchat, and another 2% say they use a site we didn’t ask about in the list, including Wattpad (a reading site), Youtube, Oovoo and ifunny, among others. Less than 2% (each) report using Twitter, Vine or Tumblr as their sole social media platform.” According to the same study by Pew, over 92% of teens go online daily, over 76% use social media, with 50% admitting to feeling addicted to their device. Race, socioeconomic status and gender play no bias in who has access to a smartphone. A c c e s s t o t h e i n t e r n e t , w h e t h e r t h ro u g h smartphones or other devices, is at an all-time high and increasing. Use of social media is also on the rise. And parents who say their teens are addicted to their mobile device, and teens who admit they are addicted, are increasing as well. Teens also admit that the effects of social media play a significant role in their “increased feelings of depression, anxiety, poor body image and loneliness.” (Ehmke)
example Why is social media a problem for my teenager? 92% of teens go online daily, and 24% say they are online almost constantly 76% of teens use social media (81% of older teens, 68% of teens ages 13 and 14) 71% of teens use Facebook, 52% use Instagram, 41% use Snapchat, 33% use Twitter
77% of parents say their teens get distracted by their devices and don’t pay attention when they’re together 59% of parents say they feel their teen is addicted to their mobile device 50% of teens say they feel addicted to their mobile device (Douillard, 2017)
Why is social media a problem for my teenager?
Why is social media a problem for my teenager?
Why is social media a problem for my teenager?
summary Why is social media a problem for my teenager? Smartphones have become a lifeline for most teens
Race, socioeconomic status and gender play no bias in who has access to a smartphone
Access to the internet is at an alltime high and increasing
Reported addiction to smartphones is increasing
3/4 of teens admit to using social media
Social media use aects feelings of depression, anxiety, poor body image, and loneliness
“My top concern is the distortion of reality. Teens are getting a warped sense of priorities, self-worth, and the quality of social relationships. They are not developing skills with face-to-face interactions and don't even realize how limited they are socially. They seem lost without constant, instantaneous connection with their peers.” – Karen Fairchild, LCSW, Utah Valley Psychology
scope Does social media influence more teenagers than mine?
Teenagers across the world have unrestricted access to the internet on their mobile devices.
Does social media influence more teenagers than mine? We have a big problem on our hands, literally. Teens across the nation, and the world have smart phones that allow them to access the World Wide Web, abilities to text friends, call others, and use social media with little parental supervision. These teens are constantly connected and are exposed to much more than parents and adults realize. As parents and adults we need to be educated on what our kids are exposed to, what they have access to, and why parents must be confident to open the doors of communication with their children to help protect them and teach them how to be a master of their smartphone. Parents and adults must understand the scope of what our youth today are faced with. Not only are they dealing with puberty and self-confidence, they are also bombarded with social and mental health issues from excessive screen time, anxiety, depression, and suicide, and: Cyberbullying Sexting Hidden apps Social media pressures Dishonesty with parents Loss of sleep
Self image issues & pressures Too much game time Less face to face interaction Online popularity pressure Cyberbullying: Nearly 43% of kids have been bullied online; 1 in 4 has had it happen more than once 70% of students report seeing frequent bullying online Over 80% of teens use a cell phone regularly, making it the most common medium for cyberbullying Only 1 in 10 victims will inform a parent or trusted adult of their abuse Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyberbullying Bullying victims are 2 to 9 times more likely to consider committing suicide
Does social media influence more teenagers than mine? Sexting: Sending or receiving a sexually suggestive text or image under the age of 18 is considered child pornography and can result in criminal charges
17% of sexters share the messages they receive with others, and 55% of those share them with more than one person
11% of teen girls ages 13 to 16 have been involved with sending or receiving sexually explicit messages
Teenage girls have a few reasons for why they participate in sexting: 40 percent do it as a joke, 34 percent do it to feel sexy, and 12 percent feel pressured to do it
15% of teens who have sent or posted nude/ semi-nude images of themselves send these messages to people they have never met, but know from the internet 24% of high-school age teens (ages 14 to 17) and 33% of college-age students (ages 18 to 24) have been involved in a form of nude sexting
Sending semi-nude or nude photos is more common among teen girls- 22% of teen girls report sending images of this nature, while only 18% of same-age boys have (dosomething.org)
example Does social media influence more teenagers than mine? In March of 2018 Skipper Coates, a Science teacher at Pleasant Grove Jr. High School, gave her ninth-graders a class assignment to finish the statement, “What my parents don’t know about social media is…” and fill in the blank on an index card. According to Ms. Coates, “I asked 85 ninth-graders (ages 14-15) to finish the sentence. FIVE said they don't have social media accounts. Five. All 85 kids have an average academic grade of an ‘A’... by all accounts they are ‘good kids.’” Here are the common things confessed by 10 of the 80 kids with social media accounts: What my parents don’t know about social media is… “…that I actually have one.” “…how to find my pictures.” “What my parents don’t know about social media is that I’m on it till like 2AM everyday.” “…I can delete my messages.”
“…I have a secret rant account. I talk about my mental health…I also have internet friends.” “….is I swear so much & talk sh— on everyone. I get nudes from boys I don’t even know. I expose and make fun of cat fishing. But there’s lit things.” “I talk to people I’m not suppose to and I have a instagram when I’m not suppose to.” “…the pictures that are sent or received and the things that are said over social media that will disappear before anyone can see it.” “What my parents don’t know about social media is theirs a lot of ciber bullying, sexting, porn. And people that don’t care about you and try to make you feel like crap. “What my parents don’t about social media is that kids really get bullied & there is a lot of inappropriate things & nudity. A lot of kids have secret accounts or send inappropriate things.”
example Does social media influence more teenagers than mine?
Does social media influence more teenagers than mine?
Does social media influence more teenagers than mine?
Does social media influence more teenagers than mine?
summary Does social media influence more teenagers than mine? The influence of social media on teenagers is prevalent throughout the world
The majority of teenagers have unrestricted internet access
Teenagers are regular perpetrators and victims of cyberbullying and sexting
Parents and adults need to be aware of the pressures teenagers are dealing with on a daily basis
Social media use is linked to mental health issues
“It's not only in the schools; it's also around the dinner tables, in casual settings, and all around us. I see a decrease in communication skills because these kids are always on their phones.” –Joel Miller, School Administrator and Elementary School Principal
ramifications What is social media doing to my teenager? Teenagers are constantly connected to social media; they feel a need to connect to others. Ramifications of social media can include anxiety, sleep deprivation, and other ills. Smart phones can interfere with learning and memory, including, but not limited to, schooling.
What is social media doing to my teenager? Teenagers are connected to their phones day and night. This constant connection to an electronic world, whether it be via social media applications like Facebook, Instagram, Vines, Whatsapp, Snapchat, or others takes time out of actual reality.
Some of the problems can include: Anxiety Sleep deprivation
There is a need to feel connected to friends, and the outside world electronically that is much heightened and overpowers their physical surroundings and what is going on right in front of them. They have a need to feel connected, needed, and self-assured.
Lack of self-motivation
In a study done for Science Daily John Console remarks that “the cellphone directly evokes feelings of connectivity to others, thereby fulfilling the basic human need to belong. This results in reducing one's desire to connect with others or to engage in empathic and prosocial behavior.�
Working memory Issues
The smart phone is the most common and prevalent way of accessing social media. Out of 10 teenagers polled, all 10 did not use a laptop or desktop computer to access/use social media. There are many ramifications of cell phone & social media use by teenagers in a digital online world. Complications can overlap- they become isolated and change with time, moods, and events.
Selfishness Self esteem issues
Impulse iontrol Social implications, both online and in face-to-face interactions Cyberbullying Problems in school within a teaching environment
(Consoli, 2012)
What is social media doing to my teenager? Anxiety and teens are an increasing duo. Teens feel pressured to be near their phones at all times. This leads to increased feelings of anxiety and stress. The anxiety teens feel when waiting for a text, or a response on a social media post, can be overwhelming. Kids haven’t developed and/or been taught the correct coping mechanisms to deal with cell phone anxiety. Teens on their phones more than an hour a day are more likely to suffer from anxiety. In a study done by Kristen Berry for LiveStrong.com she writes: “the instant connection can cause feelings of elation and self-value only to be replaced by the disappointment of no response, a delayed response or the misinterpretation of a short or seemingly curt response. Waiting for an expected text response can be stressful for a teen.” Kids haven’t developed and/or been taught the correct coping mechanisms to deal with cell phone anxiety.
Self-esteem can be viewed as positive or negative depending on a social media post, comments, or other’s views. This is incredibly damaging to teenagers. Thoughts of suicide, self-harm, mutilation or neglect arise when self-esteem suffers. (Berry, 2017) Sleep deprivation is enhanced with frequent cell phone use among teens. Sleep deprivation due to cell phone use impairs teen’s cognitive ability and behavior. WEBMD reports to CBS News that “European researchers report that teenagers who use their phones more than 15 times per day have more trouble falling asleep and staying asleep than those who use their phones sparingly”. Sleeping next to phones impacts sleep cycles and can lead to insomnia and sleep problems for teens. This exacerbates their moody tendencies and can cause emotional distress. (CBS News, 2008)
What is social media doing to my teenager? Cell phones interfere with learning and working memory. “Working memory enables us to filter out information and find what we need in the communication. It enables us to work online and store what we find online, but it's also a limited resource, and when you try to store many things in your working memory, you get less good at processing information. You're also robbing the brain of time it needs to do some necessary housekeeping. The brain is designed for both activity and relaxation.� (Consoli, 2012) In an article published by Business Insider we learn that impulse control is a deeper ramification and can influence cyberbullying, especially in a school setting. Cyberbullying is in all areas of high school student life. Social interactions can fester and intensify inside the classroom during instruction time. Threats of violence and bullying can escalate before administers now that the threat exists, right within the school walls. Science Daily reports that kids see social media as a bigger stressor than teachers & school work. (Whelan, 2017)
The ramification of selfishness on social behaviors is far reaching. A study took cell phone users and non-cell phone users and compared their willingness to volunteer or work in a group setting. Cell phone users were much more unlikely to want to volunteer than the non cell phone users. Cell phone users become so wrapped up in their own world that they are less concerned about what is going on in the world around them. Teens use their cell phones as a way to escape social interactions that they feel are awkward or that they do not want to participate in. (Consoli, 2012)
What is social media doing to my teenager?
example What is social media doing to my teenager? Problems in school: An article found on Gadget Now purports that our working memory can only process 3 to 4 things at once. Social media takes up working memory. This can cause emotional distress and feelings of being overwhelmed. “The problem begins in a system of the brain commonly known as the working memory, or what most people know as short-term memory. That's the system of the brain that we need when we communicate�. (Franson, 2013).
School administrators and educators are constantly working on new solutions to help with phones/social media in school. Cited problems within school walls include impulse control and working memory issues. This could affect them as the reach adulthood as well.
What is social media doing to my teenager?
What is social media doing to my teenager?
summary What is social media doing to my teenager? Teenagers feel the need to be connected through mobile devices
Smartphones are the most common way to access social media
Social media use in school is problematic
Teens feel pressured to be available through their phones
Sleep deprivation is just one common problem of social media use
“Bullying is a problem. Texts, snap chats, or whatever can’t show feeling or connotation behind them. Kids don’t get that. Someone is quick to anger then sides get taken. Things get spread around really fast. The football team was against the soccer team, and that spilled over into my classroom.” –David Ellingson, Science Teacher & Athletic Coach of 23 years
solution one Family Media Plans
Promote family media plans to help with supporting teens as well as providing boundaries with their use of social media.
Family Media Plans
Family Media Plans The problem we are facing is that teens are becoming more and more addicted to social media. Social media can be a go-to for instant gratification and validation. The more likes a post gets, the more dopamine is released in the brain, providing false gratification. These addictions can affect their relationships with friends and family, school work, anxiety, depression, insomnia and distraction. Social media app developers add to the problem as they purposely develop apps that cause a dopamine loop (constantly seeking information that provides a dopamine rush; loop = never ending.) Promote and educate parents about Family Media Plans. These plans are backed up by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP.) Each plan can be tailored to the values, lifestyle, and ages of the children in your family. The plans help establish screen-free time, screenfree zones, device curfews, device manners, safety, and balance. The AAP states “as a parent, it is your job to talk with your teen about smart and safe media use.� (healthychildren.org)
Teach by Example. Parents need to start monitoring their social media use first and make sure they are walking the walk before stepping in to monitor their teen’s use. Parents can start by setting parameters for themselves and turning off their phones when they are spending time with their teens. Also, they can replace time they would spend on their device checking social media with activities such as reading a book, doing an activity with their family, and having a conversation faceto-face with their spouse or teens. Learn what signs to look for in social media addiction. Knowing what signs to look for in our teens will help parents know when to step in to help provide guidance and boundaries. Changes in behavior and physical health, such as spending more time on their own, becoming cranky and irritable, having frequent headaches, and not sleeping well are possible addictive behaviors. Parents can do a self-assessment with their teens if concerns arise. These assessments can help determine the seriousness of the addiction and let parents know if they need to seek professional help for their teen.
Family Media Plans Self-assessment for teens and social media use: http://www.momjunction.com/articles/teenageaddiction-to-social-media_00353048/#gref Get help. Excess use of a smartphone and/or social media can cause a release of dopamine that can alter one’s mood, similar to a drug or alcohol addiction. If this happens excessively, it may mean it is time to seek professional help. Sometimes teens will listen better to a professional or another authoritative figure than to their parents. Worrisome signs include trouble completing tasks, isolating themselves from friends and family, hiding their device use, being anxious about missing out on something, and feeling panicked if they forget their phone or leave it somewhere. Has your smartphone use become a problem? Ta k e t h i s t e s t t o fi n d o u t . h t t p s : / / w w w. h e l p g u i d e . o r g / a r t i c l e s / a d d i c t i o n s / smartphone-addiction.htm
Withdrawal symptoms from smartphone addiction: A common warning sign of smartphone or internet addiction is experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you try to cut back on your smartphone use. These may include: Restlessness Anger or irritability Difficulty concentrating Sleep problems Craving access to your smartphone or other device N o m o p h o b i a t e s t / q u e s t i o n n a i re : h t t p s : / / www.cnn.com/2017/11/30/health/smartphoneaddiction-study/index.html
advantages Family Media Plans If taken seriously, parents and teens will recognize at what level they are addicted to their cell phones and social media and can make adjustments to a healthier lifestyle They will also recognize if the addiction is at the point of needing professional help Making a family media plan will provide families more opportunities to spend quality individualized time together, increasing their interactions with each other and strengthening relationships
disadvantages Family Media Plans Parents have to change their social media habits in order to set an example for their teens, which means parents have to be willing to buy in to the idea of putting restrictions on themselves Teens may hide their social media use even more, whether using their friends’ phones or accessing social media on devices outside of the home Parents and teens may not want to take the time to put together a structured plan and follow it and may feel controlled and resistant to restrictions
solution two Empathize & Communicate
As adults, we need to educate ourselves on understanding more about the scope of this issue and talk more openly with our teens.
Empathize & Communicate As a parent it will help to begin your discussions by reminding your child that you love him or her and that you care about his or her happiness and wellbeing. Children often interpret questions about their behavior as blame and criticism. You need to reassure your child that you are not condemning him or her. Rather, tell your child you are concerned about some of the changes you have seen in
his or her behavior and refer to those changes in specific terms, such as fatigue, declining grades, giving up hobbies, social withdrawal, and so on. Assign an Internet time log. Tell your child that you would like to see an accounting of just how much time he or she spends online each day and which internet activities are engaged.
Empathize & Communicate
advantages Empathize & Communicate Finding balance Rules Media plan Talking with your teenager Getting help Leading by example Exercise Energy (Miller, 2018)
disadvantages Empathize & Communicate Boredom Lack of imagination Escaping reality ADD & ADHD Chemical stimulation Pleasure vs. pain Rebellion (Miller, 2018)
solution three Setting Limits
Setting limits on screen-time can help your child master skills to succeed in life.
Setting Limits
Setting Limits Helping teens develop a positive and healthy relationship with cell phones and social media is a must in our society today. Parents can have the most influence on the relationship teens have with their smartphone and social media.
Make sleep a priority
Some ways parents can help include:
Cultivate an open trust relationship with teens to help with problems they encounter with cell phones
Set common sense limits; don’t make it a punishment Meals are a no-phone zone Use technology to control technology Be willing to be the worst parent ever Let kids help set rules Dumb it down- don’t give kids more apps or technology than they need and/or understand.
Parents must set and enforce cell phone hours to help create a healthy balance with teens and smartphones/social media
Help teens start to develop their own authority; this will help teens not feel pressured or give in to peers if they realize their own autonomy with social media and cell phone use A parent/teenager contract is a proven effective way to enhance responsibility with teen cell phone use (Gross, 2014)
advantages Setting Limits Screen-free time enhances selfawareness and opens minds
Creates expectations and respective boundaries between parent & child
Allows for unplugged creativity
Helps strengthen face to face relationships and bonds
Teaches time management
Enhances sleep time
Increases positive behavior and personal communication
May help reduce obesity
disadvantages Setting Limits Teens may feel anxiety & stress when they are not freely able to check their phones; if they haven’t developed healthy tools to deal with these feelings there could be the potential for behavior issues between adults & teens
Teens could face backlash from friends and others if they don’t respond to a text, snap chat, or status update as expected from their friends/peers
Teens could hide their access time, which encourages lying, cheating, and manipulation
A battle of the wills could exist between parent & child that could result in negative behaviors and feelings- it could turn into an unharmonious living situation
Teens do not want to feel isolated or left out
We hope you now feel empowered to answer this question:
How are teenagers affected by social media use and what can we do about it?
List of Organizations and Websites netaddiction.com clearrecoverycenter.com/7-signs-your-teen-is-addicted-to-social-media www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/smartphone-addiction.htm netaddictionrecovery.com www.teensafe.com www.rehabs.com/about/internet-addiction-rehabs www.cnn.com/2017/11/30/health/smartphone-addiction-study/index.html www.momjunction.com/articles/teenage-addiction-to-social-media_00353048/#gref www.commonsensemedia.org/about-us/our-ten-beliefs
List of Organizations and Websites www.nbc26.com/news/national/stunning-results-afterresearchers-look-at-effects-of-cell-phones-on-kidsnational caglaryildirim.net/portfolio/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/ NMPQ_English.pdf cyberwise.org dosomething.org parentingteenagersacademy.com
List of Organizations and Websites www.huffingtonpost.com www.nbcnews.com www.businessinsider.com pewinternet.org cyberbullying.org commonsensemedia.org
Appendix Jennifer Ing (writer 3), Breanne Meline (writer 2), Tiarra Taggart (editor), Maria Wiscombe (writer 1)- April 2018
Selection of Issue Jennifer This topic is one that effects society in general. As a parent I have seen the decline in attention span among my own children and their peers. As a business professional I have seen how the instant messaging, email, and smartphone communication has changed the way people do business, their expectations, and impatience. Teenagers walk a tight-rope in discovering and navigating reality vs. virtualsocial media. Some do it well, most I have observed do not. It is a concerning social issue that is beginning to span generations. Breanne We choose the topic of teens and smart phones because it directly hits home for each of us personally, either with our children, with nieces and nephews, or with our brothers and sisters. As a parent of children ranging in ages from 23 years-of-age to 9-years-old I personally see the effects of electronics and social media on a first-hand basis. These teenagers are facing a lot more than I did when I was their age. I believe we need to be educated as adults so we can understand how big the scope of this problem really is. Tiarra Our team chose to approach the issue of teenagers and social media. Our past projects were in the realm of smart phones and social media respectively so we felt connected to this subject. We chose this topic by popular vote- we each named things that we were interested in and this was a common interest. This is a prevalent issue in society today and we wanted to explore the scope of the problem and come up with possible solutions in order to help our communities.
Maria I came across an article titled “What Parents Don’t Know About Social Media Use, as Explained by Teens” shared on Facebook from a local news source. A local high school teacher assigned her students to finish the phrase, “What my parents don’t know about social media is ….” The responses she received were eye-opening to her as well as the parents. And eye opening to me! We decided to take this topic to see what we could find out about resources available to families as well as ideas parents can use to better support their teenagers and their use of social media.
Team Member Tasks Jennifer I contributed the ramifications portion. I also completed a solutions segment. I found eight resources that were incorporated into my research and subsequent contribution. I found four graphs and three pictures that appropriately detailed my research and enhanced my ramification agenda. I interviewed six teenagers and one high school educator. Breanne I contributed the research portion on the scope of the issue. I contributed eight sources, five facts and statistics on Cyberbullying, seven facts and statistics on sexting, a graph on Cyberbullying, and ten pictures and direct quotes from teenagers from Pleasant Grove Junior High School via their Science Teachers Facebook post and article on KSL News. I also interviewed about ten tweens, two teenagers, two adults, and one elementary school principal. Tiarra I am the editor for this team, and thus far have compiled the issue book template, reminded everyone of their weekly tasks, commented on work submitted, made suggestions, and encouraged each team member. I followed up with each team member numerous times to gather all the necessary information and passages. I gathered all submissions and information from team members and compiled them into the issue book template and appendix respectively. Maria I was responsible for the history and nature of the problem as well as solution one: promote family media plans to help support teens as well as provide boundaries with their use of social media.
Team Member Bios Jennifer Ing, 39, business owner, single mother of three children. Professional licenses include: Oregon Real Estate license, CPM license and an Accounting Accreditation. Currently a senior at BYU-Idaho in Business Administration/Communication. Volunteers for the City of Woodburn. Serves as treasurer on the Woodburn Youth Baseball Board. Annually completes a fundraiser and 60-mile walk for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Teaches Youth Sunday School and volunteers in children’s classrooms. Breanne Meline, 45, full-time student at BYU-Idaho, part-time Assessor for Alpine School District with D.I.B.E.L.S testing, mother of seven children. Committee chair of School Community Council for Valley View Elementary in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Fourth year parent volunteer for Battle of the Books at Valley View Elementary. Leads a group of adults who teach young children in several of our surrounding neighborhoods. Tiarra Taggart, 34, student at BYU Idaho nearing completion of BS degree in Marriage & Family Studies. Married to her hard-working and compassionate husband Andrew and has a step-son that is preparing to get baptized in a couple of months. Currently working as a nanny but has a background in veterinary medicine and has owned and run a pet-sitting company. Born in Utah, raised in the San Francisco Bay Area in California, moved to Portland, Oregon to marry her husband a couple of years back, and will be moving to Delaware shortly to be closer to family. Loves the outdoors, reading, drawing, playing video games, and doing the best she can to make the world a better place. Maria Wiscombe, wife, mother of six young adults, four sons-in-law and grandmother to five. In her senior year at BYU Idaho, working towards a bachelors degree in University Studies with a minor in business administration and an emphasis in communication. Works parttime as a parent consultant for the Utah Parent Center, a non-profit that serves families who have a child with special needs. When not working or studying she enjoys going on dates with her husband, spending time with her family, hiking and the outdoors, sewing, baking bread, and working in the garden.
Personal Reflection Jennifer Smartphones and social media are permanently a part of our everyday lives. Any child beyond the age of 8-years-old has grown up with smart phones and touchscreen capability. They know no different. Notably and historically the teenage years are full of young people figuring out their selves and the world around them. In today’s age, while that is no different, the added pressure of smart phone and social media capability has changed the teenage way of life. Teenagers are surrounded with more technology and knowledge at their fingertips than ever before. Their constant need for instant gratification is met within these devices and social media access. The growing and insurmountable need to feel connected, belong, and feel of worth can be overwhelming to teens. This smartphone social media driven world affects teens at school, home, playing sports, music, church, romantic relationships, parental relationships, sibling and friend relationships, and in other numerous ways. It can negatively affect their health, well-being, and self-perspective. It can make them lazy, apathetic, and more interested in the virtual digital reality than in what is going on in the present around them. When used appropriately the smartphone and social media can be a tool for knowledge, growth, and positive self-image and perspective. This technology can enlighten minds, open doors, and be a catalyst for change and improvement. Education is further possible due to this technology and other continuing advances. Teens must learn to cultivate, develop, and maintain a healthy relationship with smartphones and social media that includes boundaries, limits, and healthy expectations. In the solutions explored the number one help for teens begins at home. Parents and caregivers must take an active role in educating teens and monitoring their social media and smartphone activity and behavior. The saying it takes a village to raise a child is true. As adults we must lead by example and help protect and uphold this rising generation that will soon enough be the leaders of our world. Breanne Smartphones and teens has been a topic of conversation for my husband and I for the last ten years. When I began the study of this issue I felt I already had a pretty good grasp on what to expect. However, the deeper I dug, the more astounding statistics I found. It felt like all the pieces to a jumbled puzzle were fitting together in a sequential movement and a clearer picture was unfolding before my eyes. It was evident how these problems were all fitting together, not only for teens, but for adults too. It was very eye opening to see how big this problem really is, yet how important it can be to put into check as we work to discipline ourselves to being the master, not the servant, of these devices. In my research I didn’t even touch the topic of video games. To me this is an issues book in and of itself. I think one of my favorite finds was a NOMOPHOBIA test, a test to see if you’re a nomophobic, or a person who cannot live without his/her phone. It is short for No More Phone. This added hope to those who may feel helplessly addicted to their phones. There is a way to let go and not have to feel like you have to carry a phone 24/7.
Personal Reflection Tiarra This project has been quite interesting. In my role as editor I thoroughly enjoyed working on the look of the presentation. Putting together the drafts of the issue book was incredibly time -consuming, but wonderfully rewarding and fun. Since I did not research this issue I have my information from the research and hard work of my fellow teammates. I enjoyed reading what they had to say, and especially their comments. They were struck by how deep and prevalent the problems that teenagers have with social media are. I am taking a class on parenting right now and have gained several insights from that as far as protecting children. The best thing that we can do as parents is to work on our own personal character, build great relationships with our spouse and children, and then teach them to choose right from wrong. Only after that point can we correct them by applying consequences that will help; preferably natural and logical ones at that. If we are missing any aspect of that formula then our children will not learn how to make good choices. I am grateful that I have the gospel in my life and the Holy Ghost to help teach me the difference between right and wrong, between truth and error. Maria It's been very enlightening to learn more about our topic of social media and teens. There is a lot of information online about so many issues that are caused by social media. It really is alarming! Our youth are facing some overwhelming challenges that come from social media use and addiction. Fortunately there are some great tools that individuals and organizations have created to help families and individuals who are struggling with the effects of social media: tools that help with addiction as well as tools that can help families and individuals avoid falling into some of the traps of social media. These tools can hopefully help avoid addiction and other issues such as anxiety and depression. There is so much useful information, resources, and tools online! I could have spent even more time researching and studying about this issue. Overall I learned so much about the effects of social media on teens as well as what parents can do to help their teens avoid the negative effects. I want to pass what I learned on to my children and their young families as well as my friends and neighbors. I also want to be more cognizant of my use of social media, when I'm on my phone, how often and how long I am on my phone, and learn to put it down and walk away from it. My main take away from this project is that parents can and do play a very important role in their teens use of social media. Having open communication with their teens and setting boundaries with them can make a significant difference in their future.
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