NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
Tyler Vanderwater
Image from picjumbo
Image from picjumbo
73% of people aged 18-24 check their phones immediately before going to bed.
This means that social media is on our minds when we try to sleep. This also
messes with our sleeping habits as bright lights and colours should be avoided
immediately before sleeping. (3)
A professor asked students to watch a 15 minute video and
allowed them to use social media during viewing. When tested
on the video’s content, the students who checked social media
often performed much poorer than the ones who did not. (4)
“Students today have begun to rely on the
accessibility of information that is available on
the social media platforms specifically as well as
the web in general in order to get answers. This
means that there is a reduced focus on learning
as well as on retaining information.” (5)
•“While grades did improve for
light users, the grades of
students who are heavy users of
social media tend to suffer. One
study shows that student users
have an average GPA of 3.06
while non-users have an average
GPA of 3.82.” (6)
THESE EFFECTS CONTINUE IN
THE WORKPLACE.
Job interviewers can look at the
social media accounts of
applicants. Any applicant with
pictures or posts containing
alcohol or drug use, profanity, or
other questionable content can be
rejected from these posts alone.
“Social networking sites
harm employees'
productivity. 51% of users
aged 25-34 checked social
media at work.” (6)
Through pictures, posts,
and “checking in” to
various locations, people
always know where we are.
This can be dangerous.
Identity theft and hacking happen on
social media daily. This can provide an
unknown person with information they
should not have about your life.
•“68% of users share their real birth date, 63%
share the name of their high school, 18% share
their phone number, 12% share a pet's name:
This information might be used in identity
theft.” (6)
Because users can
remain anonymous
and hide behind their
laptop screen, online
bullying happens
every single day to
thousands of people.
REFERENCES
• (1) Payne, E. (2015, Aug 08). Teens' poor mental health linked to social media use. The Ottawa Citizen Retrieved from https://search-proquest-
com.proxy.queensu.ca/docview/1702249271?accountid=6180
• (2) Krashinsky, S. (2014, December 04). Four ways Canadians are consuming media differently. Retrieved from
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/four-ways-canadians-are-consuming-media-differently/article21949630/
• (3) Krashinsky, S. (2015, May 11). Advertisers cash in on attention spans of digitally savvy Canadians. Retrieved from
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/marketing/microsoft-study-looks-at-attention-span-of-digitally-savvy-
canadians/article24359527/
•(4) Financial Times. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ft.com/content/4f5d0404-de90-11e4-b9ec-00144feab7de
•(5) Armstrong, S. (2012, October 21). Negative Effects of Social Networking Sites for Students. Retrieved from
http://www.business2community.com/social-media/negative-effects-of-social-networking-sites-for-students-0311887#3xyEyP7Wq50Y06pO.97
•(6) McGillivray, N. (2015, October 12). What Are the Effects of Social Media on Youth? Retrieved from https://turbofuture.com/internet/effects-of-social-
media-on-our-youth
•(7) NoBullying. (2016, October 13). Social Media Bullying Has Become a Serious Problem . Retrieved from https://nobullying.com/social-media-bullying-
has-become-a-serious-problem/
•CC0 Images retrieved from www.pexels.com
Top Related