Social Media : An Addiction

of Teenagers

Cuasay, John Russel P.

Grade 12 – Mo. Dionisia
 Chapter I

The Problem

Introduction

Social Media is a computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas

and information and the building of virtual networks and communities. By design, social
media is internet based and offers users easy electronic communication of personal
information and other content, such as videos and photos. Users engage with social media
via computer, tablet or smartphone via web-based software or web application after
utilizing it for messaging. Social media is originated as a tool that people used to interact
with friends and family but was later adopted by businesses that wanted to take advantage
of a popular new communication method to reach out to customers. The power of social
media is the ability to connect and share information with anyone on earth ( or multitudes
of people ) as long as they also use social media. Social media can take the form of a
variety tech-enabled activities, such as photo sharing, blogging, social gaming, social
networks, video sharing, business networks, virtual worlds, reviews and more. For
individual, social media is used to keep in touch with friends and extended family,
network for career opportunities, find people from all over the globe who share a
common interest, share contetnt and more. Those who engage in these activities are part
of a virtual network. For business, social media is an indispensable tool for finding and
engaging with customers, sales, advertising and rpromotion gauging trends and offering
customer service. Governments and politicians utilize social media to engage with
constituents and voters.

Social networking sites were created to allow individuals to communicate with

others who share similar interests/activities, or information or friends. Most social
network services are web based and provide a variety of ways for users to interact, such
as email and instant messaing services. Social network visits increased 82% year-over-
year and the average itme spent per person at such sites increased by 67% year-over-year
in (Ocean Web, 2009 ) AdsGoogle. In the Philippines Facebook is hands-down the most
popular and most effective social networking media, says ( Mattel Solivion 2001 ),
adding that it uses a “persuasive strategy” since it can persuade people to participate and
interact. Facebook was also recently the top website in the Philippines on Alexa Website
growing over 1,000 percent from January to September 10 last year, In terms of Web
traffic, or the amount of visitors and visits a website gets. Social networkers in the
Philippines also showed the highest level of engagement on social networking sites
averaging 5.5 hours per visitor in February, with visitors frequenting the social
networking category an average of 26 times during the month.

Social media continues to evolve. Today there are number of sites whee users can
interact with each other and share information. The influence of social networks on
human mentality is unquestionable today. One thing has been established by all of them.
Social network sites my affect people’s mind in different ways depending on what king
of information is shown to them. Thirty-two percent of online teens have experienced
some form of harassment via the Internet, a problem also known as “cyber bullying”
According to recent data, 15% of online teens have had private material forwarded
without permission, 13% have received threatening messages and 6% have had
embarrassing photos posted without permission. In light of the event discussions
surrounding social network and privacy issues, its important to note that social network
new push towards becoming a more open, public network won’t just have an effect on an
adult population concerned with worries of “friending” bosses and colleagues or
adjusting the privacy setting on their children’s photos- it will affect the children
themselves, as well as teens and young adults, all of which combined make over a quarter
of the social network’s user base.

The addiction of teenage to social media causes so man effect to the youth. Some
effects to the teenagers are improper eating time because they focus on what they are
doing instead of eating their meal. It causes ulcer and other digestive problems. Another
effect is they believe on what they see or what they have red on the social media instead
of listening to the real facts being though in school.

There are some good effects of sical media to teenagers just like it helps them to
research easily and lets them know a lot of things but sometimes they need to be careful
on what they are reading about. Social media also helps them to interact and
communicate with other people. With the orientation of the proper usage of the social
media properly.

Social Media has a big impact to us, we deal with this because of society
influence. We, teenagers has the capacity to do such things in social media unlike to the
older ones, for we are more knowledgeable about it. We sometimes sleep lae at night in
order for us to take advantage of using social media for us to become updated, that’s why
we become addicted. It has aslso have a great impact to our health as we do lack of sleep.
Neglecting our responsibilities as a teenager and as a student as ewll for we focus our
time in using it rather than doing school works or even at home.

Statement of the Problem

This study attempts to find out the benefits of Teenagers in using Social
Networking sited specially, it seeks to investigate the following

1. Why Teenager turn to be addicted of using social media?

2. What are the benefits of using social networking sites among the teenagers in
terms of :
2.1 Sending Messages
2.2 Encoding Messages
2.3 Decoding Messages
2.4 Give Feedback
3. What measures and suggestion to prevent social media addiction?

Scope and limitation of the Study

This research focuses on the benefits and effects of social media in the lives of the
people in our society. It also focuses on the improvements brought of innovating
technology. It is limited to the users of technology and the people involved in this issue.

Significance of the Study

The result of this research will make ample information available for the society
especially to youth. This study is deemed significant to the following :
Internet users. This study would help users to realize the perception most of them
have about the proper usage of internet and how it becomes an essential work tool for
millions of people who have adopted the internet concept for communications

School. The result of the study will help them to come up with idea that
engaging the students in virtual community will help them understand the purpose of
proper use of social network site such in educational way.

Researcher. The study’s results will make use to the current status of media
world today specially in the Philippines.