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The Effects of Social Networking Sites on an Individual’s Life Research Paper

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Introduction

Effects and impacts, works cited.

Social networking can be termed and described as the groping of individuals. This is done into specific groups. In this case, it should be known that social networking is most popular online than in any other place. We can not rule out the existence of social networking in other places like workplace and schools but it has been more popular on the internet and this is a fact that we all need to agree to.

The internet is filled with millions of people who are looking for new experiences as far as meeting others and making friends is concerned (Kelsey 13). Other aspects of sharing information have also picked up in recent years and this means that social networking has brought about a new approach to human beings relationships. This means that it has come with various impacts that need to be evaluated and looked at.

Such impacts and effects can be looked at from different perspectives depending on what we expect to see and evaluate. As much as social networking often involves grouping individuals together for a common goal, we need to critically evaluate the social networking sites that have been shaping the whole aspect of socializing as time goes by.

This therefore brings us to the important topic and aspect of social networking sites. In this case, a social networking site lays more emphasis on building social relations (Powers 21).

This can be amongst people who share different interests or have some specific characteristics that they can be distinctly identified with. Social networking sites have also been known to provide a virtual community that revolves around specific aspects. In this case, people with common and shared interests can communicate without any problem.

Social networking sites

It should be known that social networking sites have had various effects on individuals’ lives. This paper will therefore focus on the effects of social networking sites on an individual’s life. This is because social networking sites have been know to have a number of effects depending on the user.

For example, social networking sites can affect a students learning in a brood way. On the other hand, social networking sites can also have an impact on an individuals work life (Kelsey 19).

These are the effects that this paper seeks to analyze and evaluate. It should be known that social networking sites have positive and negative effects. It is therefore important that such aspects are looked at for long term sustainability.

Social networking sites have various impacts on the society, individuals, relationships, the youth, students, teenagers, communication and others. These sites have changed our lives in a broad and they will continue to change the way we relate as time goes by. We are described as social animals and this is based on our ability to form social groups.

Face book, YouTube, My space, Twitter and others have enabled individuals to form clusters that have revolutionized their interaction. With this kind of services around us, you can be sure that they will ultimately change the way we relate with each other (Baron 9).

Social networking has enabled people to meet with others without necessarily having to travel to different locations. This can be a long lost friend or school mate whom you have not seen in a while.

In this case, you can connect and re-connect with a number of lost friends. This is as far as students and workmates are concerned. Social networking sites have brought confusion about our weak ties and strong ties. In this case, there is no distinction between genuine friends and other acquaintances and this should be a worrying trend as far as individuals’ lives are concerned.

It should be known that most individuals take time to maintain relationships with people that they have never seen. In this case, they waste a lot of efforts to maintain these relationships yet they have never known each other personally (Barham 17). Social networking sites have led to electronic relationships and this has made people to misrepresent themselves.

Most individuals struggle and strive to show their best side and this is a bad precedent. There are individuals who maintain anonymity on social networking sites and this can be dangerous. It should be known that social networking sites have a high connectivity and these changes the way individuals react to other people.

This topic can be squarely focused on individual students and workers who are on social networking sites (Wilson 27). In this case, the impact and effects of social networking sites can be in the classroom and at work.

The dependency on social networking sites has increased in recent years and this is not good as far as the social aspect of individuals is concerned. Most individuals and students lack social skills because they are generally anti-social.

Social networking sites have affected and reduced productivity in the workplace and this cane be proved beyond reasonable doubt. These sites create distraction in the workplace and they have cost various organizations a lot of money. In this case, individuals will spend their time networking instead of being productive as far as their work is concerned.

There has been an argument that most employees spend almost an hour at work on social networking sites and this time can be used on something else (Baron 34).

Social networking sites have become part of employees’ lives and organizations should come up with better ways of approaching this issue. A business can only benefit from social networking sites as far as promoting their business is concerned. This is because it offers a large platform to promote businesses and this should be capitalized on.

Most employees face low performance scores because of social networking sites and this should be evaluated. Students are the most active lot on social networking sites and this means that they have been affected in a broad way. Students have been addicted to these sites and this has affected their concentration both in class and at home.

There is an argument that if you have not talked to a person for a year, you can tell his/her life by following his page or updates (Kelsey 25). Most students indicate and imply that there is a big relationship between satisfaction and social networking sites. In this case, they are implying that students who use such sites are more satisfied with their lives than those ones who do not use them.

It has been noted that most students use social networking sites to follow on specific topics that are even beyond their age. This is a bad precedent in the society because such students have ended up knowing things that they are not supposed to be aware of.

Most people do not read traditional newspapers because they can access them on social networking sites and this has an impact on the normal business traditions.

It has been proven that the general understanding of the term social networking has been misrepresented by individuals as time goes by and this needs to be well understood (Powers 37). Misleading and misunderstandings on social networking have brought a lot of problems in our society and this should be demystified.

Chatting does not translate to sharpening of social skills and this means that individuals have been doing it all wrong. Most individuals are highly dependent on technology to interact and this affects their personality in a broad way. Individuals should interact with the world around them and this can not be enhanced through social networking in any way.

As much as they provide an outlet for people to express themselves this can always be abused because there are certain ethics that have not been adhered to (Wilson 36). Other people use abusive language on social networking sites and this can be very disturbing. In this case you can not control what others say on such social networking sites.

People have different personalities as far as social networking sites are concerned. In this case, an individual can present a different personality online than what he/she is well known for. This will therefore cause chaos when the two personalities interact in any way. An example is the escalation of crimes that have increased because of social networking sites.

Online dating has been increasing as time goes by and the negative effects are mostly seen when couples meet face to face for the first time (Barham 37).

This is because an individual can be disappointed in what she or she is seeing as they can meet a different person from what they were meant to believe is the true picture. We all agree that it is easier to type the information that somebody wants rather than what you truly stand for and this is bad.

These are some of the effects that social networking sites have had on individuals’ lives. In this case, you can easily cheat about your true character and this has duped people and led them into serious problems. Some teenagers have met people who can harm them online.

In fact, there are cases where a teenager can meet with somebody online and then go on to be impregnated yet she does not know his other life (Powers 27).

Some individuals post nude and bad pictures on social networking sites and this has been disturbing to other users. It should be known that most users disregard their privacy and this has always exposed them to predators. Managers can easily stalk on an individuals profile ands this can open a new window of conflict on an employees life.

Students and workers have been lazy because of social networking sites and this is a fact that we have all faced in our lives. It should be known that the use of social networking sites can provide a good learning experience if they are used well. In this case, they can easily inspire themselves as time goes by.

Most students who rely on social networking sites lack learning skills and this is a worrying trend (Barham 32). We have seen that social networking sites have negative and positive effects on an individuals’ life. This topic is likely to generate a lot of debate in coming years because the use of social networking is likely to gain pace as time goes by.

Barham, Nick. Disconnected: Why our kids are turning their backs on everything we thought we knew. New York: Ebury Press, 2004. Print.

Baron, Naomi. Always on: language in an online and mobile world . New York: Oxford University Press, 2008. Print.

Kelsey, Todd. Social Networking Spaces: From Facebook to Twitter and Everything In Between . New York: Springer-Verlag, 2010. Print.

Powers, William. Hamlet’s Blackberry: A practical philosophy for building a good life in the digital age. New York: Harper, 2010. Print.

Wilson, Charles. Child porn ‘social networking site’ busted by feds . New York: Associated Press, 2010. Print.

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IvyPanda. (2018, May 28). The Effects of Social Networking Sites on an Individual's Life. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-effects-of-social-networking-sites-on-an-individuals-life/

"The Effects of Social Networking Sites on an Individual's Life." IvyPanda , 28 May 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/the-effects-of-social-networking-sites-on-an-individuals-life/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'The Effects of Social Networking Sites on an Individual's Life'. 28 May.

IvyPanda . 2018. "The Effects of Social Networking Sites on an Individual's Life." May 28, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-effects-of-social-networking-sites-on-an-individuals-life/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Effects of Social Networking Sites on an Individual's Life." May 28, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-effects-of-social-networking-sites-on-an-individuals-life/.

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IvyPanda . "The Effects of Social Networking Sites on an Individual's Life." May 28, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-effects-of-social-networking-sites-on-an-individuals-life/.

The impact of social networking sites on students’ social wellbeing and academic performance

• Published: 15 January 2019
• Volume 24 , pages 2081–2094, ( 2019 )

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• Sarminah Samad 1 ,
• Mehrbakhsh Nilashi 2 &
• Othman Ibrahim 3  

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Social networking sites have played an important role in enhancing students’ social presence. As an educational tool for online courses, they have significantly contributed in promoting students’ motivation for learning. The aim of this research is to investigate the impact of social networking sites on students’ academic performance. We conduct a comprehensive review on the usage of social networking sites in academic environments to identify the influential factors and propose a new model based on several research hypotheses. To evaluate the hypotheses and verify the proposed model, a survey is conducted on the female students from a major research university in Malaysia. We use Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory to perform the data analysis. In relation to the statistical technique, this technique can find the casual relationships among the factors, their effect size and their importance levels. The results of our survey revealed that there is positive relationship between social presence, students’ social wellbeing and their academic performance.

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CBA Research Centre, Department of Business Administration, Collage of Business and Administration, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Sarminah Samad

School of Computing, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, 81310, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

Mehrbakhsh Nilashi

Azman Hashim International Business School, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

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Samad, S., Nilashi, M. & Ibrahim, O. The impact of social networking sites on students’ social wellbeing and academic performance. Educ Inf Technol 24 , 2081–2094 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-019-09867-6

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Received : 07 October 2018

Accepted : 09 January 2019

Published : 15 January 2019

Issue Date : 15 May 2019

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-019-09867-6

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Creating unforgettable social media research paper with ease.

Research papers on social media are becoming a norm for almost every college and university. The advancement of the digital age has made these assignments inevitable. Furthermore, emerging issues and trends in social media add fuel to the matter.

If you have a research paper on social media and wonder where to start, this post is the perfect place to begin. On top of the outline and structure, we have social media research paper ideas to keep you going. Read on.

How To Write Social Media Research Papers

Many students underrate writing such a research paper since it does not seem to deal with a technical aspect. Nevertheless, the fact remains that without the necessary writing ideas and expert writing tips and tricks at hand, it would be impossible to complete it.

Let us begin with the outline:

Read and understand the research topic on social media that you are handling Brainstorm to find the necessary points for your paper Please write down the main points and narrow down your research to them Have a skeleton of how you intend to write your paper Begin writing your social media research paper Proof-read to make sure that your paper is devoid of any errors

For an influential social media paper, currency and relevance should be at the core of your writing. Make it as practical as possible to make your reader relate to it. Ensure that your paper is in tandem with the structure below:

Introduction

Here, you’ll mention your social media topic and state its thesis. Any essay or research paper is dependent on the thesis statement. Therefore, as you write your introduction, ensure that the thesis is clear and precise. It will help you determine the arguments to include in the body paragraphs of your research paper.

Social Research Paper Body Paragraphs

The body comprises paragraphs, each with arguments supporting the thesis statement. Include facts, data, examples, and any other pieces of evidence to prove the topic sentence.

A typical research paper will have the body made up of the Literature Review, Research Methods, Findings and Analysis, Discussion, and limitations. Each part should contribute to the overall intended meaning stated in the thesis statement.

Conclusion of A Social Media Research Paper

It is a summary of your main arguments. You also restate your paper’s main thesis statement, assuring the reader that the paper’s stated goal has been achieved. Some social media research questions in conclusion include:

• What you learned about social media that you didn’t know before
• What conclusions have you made from the research?
• What other areas of study can you suggest?

With that, you are ready for a top-tier social media research paper!

Social Media Research Topics – Facebook

• What should be the age limit for joining Facebook?
• Does Facebook, as a company, invade people’s privacy?
• How to crowd-source people for a common goal on Facebook
• Why is Facebook still a giant social media platform in the 21st century?
• How to curb theft and conning on Facebook

Research Topics on Social Media For High School

• How to use social media as a practical learning tool
• Should governments have control over social media posts?
• How Trump used social media to win a majority of voters
• Is social media making the world a global village or not?
• How social media has led to families being kept apart

Media Research Topics For College

• What are the technological advances in social media?
• Why does Twitter limit the number of words for a post?
• Is social media making people live fake lives?
• Why parents should be worried about teenagers joining social media platforms
• What is the best way to make social media a haven for everyone?

Exemplary Media Topics For Research

• Network connectivity and bandwidth concerning social media
• What legislations can countries pass to improve the effectiveness of the media?
• Do online games pay?
• The impact of online dating sites on relationships
• Why everyone should be concerned about their data online.

Social Networks Research Topics

• How to develop private business firms on social networks
• The role of social networks in the rising cases of suicide
• Using social networks during the coronavirus pandemics
• How to maximize your social network
• What causes social media addiction?

Current Media Topics To Write About

• The role of the media in propagating false information
• How social media has helped in COVID-19 sensitization
• The rift between social media and religion
• How Twitter has helped save lives
• Is it right to monitor your spouse’s activity online?

Digital Media Research Topics

• The 5G network and digital media
• Improving interactivity on social media
• Is hyper protection by parents online necessary?
• The danger of a profile picture online
• Disconnecting people through social media

Mass Media Research Paper Topics

• Censorship in mass media
• Children advertising and media ethics
• Copyright law in mass media
• Mass media bias during elections
• Mass media ownership

Media Studies Research Topics

• Remediation of new media
• Growth of mobile journalism
• Blogging and fake news
• Accreditation of journalists
• Currency of news

Mass Communication Topics For Research Papers

• Media and crime
• Democracy and mass media
• Mass communication; pros and cons
• Advancements in mass communication
• Impact of coronavirus on mass media

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How to Cite Social Media Sources in Academic Writing? 

Authors and research students often get anxious when it comes to citing sources in academic writing. For most, this is a task done at the far end of the research writing process, where they face the challenge of including proper citations collected over a long period. While many are disciplined when it comes to the tedious task of citation management, others struggle to find and accurately cite every source used. This is either because they fail to collate and note down the sources referred to, or, they are unsure of the citation styles to be used.   

Now, with social media emerging as a popular channel where research is being shared, researchers and authors must be aware of how to cite all sources that are used appropriately. This article explains how to cite social media sources accurately in academic writing and illustrates how these can be cited in different styles and formats. 

Social media referencing in academic writing

The evolution of digital technology and the emergence of social media platforms has redefined how sources are used and cited in scholarly writing. The reason is simple: social media and online platforms are now accepted channels for sourcing valid information and are acknowledged across all known citation styles around the world. While you must be very careful while referencing articles or research papers from unknown or predatory journals, with social media referencing, readers can always go back and verify the information that is provided.  

Citing sources in academic writing from social media generally follows the same rules and guidelines as with other sources that are cited. However, due to the ever-evolving form and nature of online channels and social media platforms and the content available on them, specific principles and rules need to be kept in mind and followed by research students and authors to ensure the credibility of general information.  

What are the different ways to cite social media sources ? 

Providing a reference to social media sources can be done in the following manner. 

• While using a uniform resource locator (URL)  – you can choose to give a reference to the social media website URL while referring to either Facebook or X as opposed to referencing specific posts on either online platform (the URLs can be put in parenthesis).  
• When using personal communication  – in case the content of the social media has been marked as restricted or private, these references can be styled in the manner of personal communication. For example, “Andrew Song (personal communication, January 2023) indicated that the government needs to focus on specific policies to target the rising inflation.” 
• Adopting a reference list entry  – if research students and authors are using a quote or paraphrasing a source from social media, they can be stated as a reference list entry with a parallel in-text citation.  

How to cite social med ia sources in various formatting styles ? 

In this section, we will look at how social media sources need to be cited in the different Modern Language Association (MLA) and American Psychological Association (APA) style formats, along with some examples.  

MLA format  

Posts on X: Last name, First name (X username). “Place the entire post here.” Date and time of post. Followed by the post.  

Posts on Facebook: Last name, First name. “Title of the Post.” Date of post. [Date accessed.<link to post here>] 

Video links on YouTube: Last name, First name (or YouTube username). “Title of the Video.” Online video. YouTube, date link posted. Date accessed. 

Google+ post: Last name, First name. “Title of the Post.” Google+. Date posted. [Date accessed<post link here>] 

APA format  

 Posts on X: Last name, First initial. [X username]. (Year, Month Day). Write the entire post here [Post]. Retrieved from <post the link here> 

Posts on Facebook: Last name, First initial. [Facebook username]. (Year, Month Day). Write the first 40 words of the post here [Facebook status update]. Retrieved from <post the link here> 

Videos on YouTube: Last name, First initial. [YouTube username]. (Year, Month Day). Write the title of the video here [Video file]. Retrieved from<post the link here> 

Google+ post: Last name, First initial. [YouTube username]. (Year, Month Day). Write the first 40 words of the post here [Google+ post]. Retrieved from <post the link here> 

Similarly, researchers and authors can use permalinks, timestamps, and archive tools to depict the social media content and include the link in their citations. To conclude, it is also essential to check the citation style guides periodically for any changes in formats or adaptation styles for the various kinds of social media platforms.  

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imagine you are writing a research paper on social networking sites. which of the following thesis statements would be the most effective? a.social networking sites have become incredibly popular in recent years and have millions of members. many of these sites are now working on improving their privacy measures. b.social networking sites are popular online tools that help people connect on topics of interest. one of the challenges social networks are facing today is privacy protection. c.millions of people joined social networking sites to share pictures and videos with their friends. however, many people wish their private images and thoughts would be treated more securely.

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The thesis statements that would be the most effective for research on social networking sites is 'social networking sites are popular online tools that help people connect on topics of interest. one of the challenges social networks are facing today is privacy protection'. Therefore, the correct option is b.

As the task requires an effective thesis statement for writing a research paper on social networking sites, option B would be the most effective thesis statement. The given options provide three thesis statements for writing a research paper on social networking sites .

Option A includes some basic information about social networking sites, such as its popularity and privacy measures. But it lacks the essence of the research paper, which could explore more specific topics about social networking sites.

Option C only highlights the private thoughts and images that people wish to be treated securely. But it is not a comprehensive thesis statement that can serve as the backbone of a research paper.

Option B, on the other hand, is a well-crafted thesis statement that covers two aspects of social networking sites. It acknowledges social networks' popularity and their role in helping people connect with like-minded individuals. Then, it highlights the issue of privacy protection, which is a relevant topic to be covered in the research paper.

Therefore, the most effective thesis statement for writing a research paper on social networking sites is option B: Social networking sites are popular online tools that help people connect on topics of interest. One of the challenges social networks are facing today is privacy protection.

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B. Social networking sites are popular online tools that help people connect on topics of interest. One of the challenges social networks are facing today is privacy protection.

Explanation:

This thesis statement is the most effective because it clearly defines the purpose of social networking sites (connecting people based on interests) and highlights a significant issue they are currently dealing with (privacy protection). It sets a focused direction for the research paper. It also explains that the paper will explore how social networks facilitate connections while examining the issue of safeguarding user privacy.

Additionally, this thesis statement offers a balanced approach by acknowledging both the positive aspects of social networking sites (facilitating connections) and the challenges they encounter (privacy concerns). This balance is essential in providing a well-rounded perspective on the topic and allows for a more comprehensive exploration of social networking sites in the research paper.

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Teens and social media: Key findings from Pew Research Center surveys

For the latest survey data on social media and tech use among teens, see “ Teens, Social Media, and Technology 2023 .” 

Today’s teens are navigating a digital landscape unlike the one experienced by their predecessors, particularly when it comes to the pervasive presence of social media. In 2022, Pew Research Center fielded an in-depth survey asking American teens – and their parents – about their experiences with and views toward social media . Here are key findings from the survey:

Pew Research Center conducted this study to better understand American teens’ experiences with social media and their parents’ perception of these experiences. For this analysis, we surveyed 1,316 U.S. teens ages 13 to 17, along with one parent from each teen’s household. The survey was conducted online by Ipsos from April 14 to May 4, 2022.

This research was reviewed and approved by an external institutional review board (IRB), Advarra, which is an independent committee of experts that specializes in helping to protect the rights of research participants.

Ipsos invited panelists who were a parent of at least one teen ages 13 to 17 from its KnowledgePanel , a probability-based web panel recruited primarily through national, random sampling of residential addresses, to take this survey. For some of these questions, parents were asked to think about one teen in their household. (If they had multiple teenage children ages 13 to 17 in the household, one was randomly chosen.) This teen was then asked to answer questions as well. The parent portion of the survey is weighted to be representative of U.S. parents of teens ages 13 to 17 by age, gender, race, ethnicity, household income and other categories. The teen portion of the survey is weighted to be representative of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 who live with parents by age, gender, race, ethnicity, household income and other categories.

Here are the questions used  for this report, along with responses, and its  methodology .

Majorities of teens report ever using YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. YouTube is the platform most commonly used by teens, with 95% of those ages 13 to 17 saying they have ever used it, according to a Center survey conducted April 14-May 4, 2022, that asked about 10 online platforms. Two-thirds of teens report using TikTok, followed by roughly six-in-ten who say they use Instagram (62%) and Snapchat (59%). Much smaller shares of teens say they have ever used Twitter (23%), Twitch (20%), WhatsApp (17%), Reddit (14%) and Tumblr (5%).

Facebook use among teens dropped from 71% in 2014-15 to 32% in 2022. Twitter and Tumblr also experienced declines in teen users during that span, but Instagram and Snapchat saw notable increases.

TikTok use is more common among Black teens and among teen girls. For example, roughly eight-in-ten Black teens (81%) say they use TikTok, compared with 71% of Hispanic teens and 62% of White teens. And Hispanic teens (29%) are more likely than Black (19%) or White teens (10%) to report using WhatsApp. (There were not enough Asian teens in the sample to analyze separately.)

Teens’ use of certain social media platforms also varies by gender. Teen girls are more likely than teen boys to report using TikTok (73% vs. 60%), Instagram (69% vs. 55%) and Snapchat (64% vs. 54%). Boys are more likely than girls to report using YouTube (97% vs. 92%), Twitch (26% vs. 13%) and Reddit (20% vs. 8%).

Majorities of teens use YouTube and TikTok every day, and some report using these sites almost constantly. About three-quarters of teens (77%) say they use YouTube daily, while a smaller majority of teens (58%) say the same about TikTok. About half of teens use Instagram (50%) or Snapchat (51%) at least once a day, while 19% report daily use of Facebook.

Some teens report using these platforms almost constantly. For example, 19% say they use YouTube almost constantly, while 16% and 15% say the same about TikTok and Snapchat, respectively.

More than half of teens say it would be difficult for them to give up social media. About a third of teens (36%) say they spend too much time on social media, while 55% say they spend about the right amount of time there and just 8% say they spend too little time. Girls are more likely than boys to say they spend too much time on social media (41% vs. 31%).

Teens are relatively divided over whether it would be hard or easy for them to give up social media. Some 54% say it would be very or somewhat hard, while 46% say it would be very or somewhat easy.

Girls are more likely than boys to say it would be difficult for them to give up social media (58% vs. 49%). Older teens are also more likely than younger teens to say this: 58% of those ages 15 to 17 say it would be very or somewhat hard to give up social media, compared with 48% of those ages 13 to 14.

Teens are more likely to say social media has had a negative effect on others than on themselves. Some 32% say social media has had a mostly negative effect on people their age, while 9% say this about social media’s effect on themselves.

Conversely, teens are more likely to say these platforms have had a mostly positive impact on their own life than on those of their peers. About a third of teens (32%) say social media has had a mostly positive effect on them personally, while roughly a quarter (24%) say it has been positive for other people their age.

Still, the largest shares of teens say social media has had neither a positive nor negative effect on themselves (59%) or on other teens (45%). These patterns are consistent across demographic groups.

Teens are more likely to report positive than negative experiences in their social media use. Majorities of teens report experiencing each of the four positive experiences asked about: feeling more connected to what is going on in their friends’ lives (80%), like they have a place where they can show their creative side (71%), like they have people who can support them through tough times (67%), and that they are more accepted (58%).

When it comes to negative experiences, 38% of teens say that what they see on social media makes them feel overwhelmed because of all the drama. Roughly three-in-ten say it makes them feel like their friends are leaving them out of things (31%) or feel pressure to post content that will get lots of comments or likes (29%). And 23% say that what they see on social media makes them feel worse about their own life.

There are several gender differences in the experiences teens report having while on social media. Teen girls are more likely than teen boys to say that what they see on social media makes them feel a lot like they have a place to express their creativity or like they have people who can support them. However, girls also report encountering some of the pressures at higher rates than boys. Some 45% of girls say they feel overwhelmed because of all the drama on social media, compared with 32% of boys. Girls are also more likely than boys to say social media has made them feel like their friends are leaving them out of things (37% vs. 24%) or feel worse about their own life (28% vs. 18%).

When it comes to abuse on social media platforms, many teens think criminal charges or permanent bans would help a lot. Half of teens think criminal charges or permanent bans for users who bully or harass others on social media would help a lot to reduce harassment and bullying on these platforms. 

About four-in-ten teens say it would help a lot if social media companies proactively deleted abusive posts or required social media users to use their real names and pictures. Three-in-ten teens say it would help a lot if school districts monitored students’ social media activity for bullying or harassment.

Some teens – especially older girls – avoid posting certain things on social media because of fear of embarrassment or other reasons. Roughly four-in-ten teens say they often or sometimes decide not to post something on social media because they worry people might use it to embarrass them (40%) or because it does not align with how they like to represent themselves on these platforms (38%). A third of teens say they avoid posting certain things out of concern for offending others by what they say, while 27% say they avoid posting things because it could hurt their chances when applying for schools or jobs.

These concerns are more prevalent among older teen girls. For example, roughly half of girls ages 15 to 17 say they often or sometimes decide not to post something on social media because they worry people might use it to embarrass them (50%) or because it doesn’t fit with how they’d like to represent themselves on these sites (51%), compared with smaller shares among younger girls and among boys overall.

Many teens do not feel like they are in the driver’s seat when it comes to controlling what information social media companies collect about them. Six-in-ten teens say they think they have little (40%) or no control (20%) over the personal information that social media companies collect about them. Another 26% aren’t sure how much control they have. Just 14% of teens think they have a lot of control.

Despite many feeling a lack of control, teens are largely unconcerned about companies collecting their information. Only 8% are extremely concerned about the amount of personal information that social media companies might have and 13% are very concerned. Still, 44% of teens say they have little or no concern about how much these companies might know about them.

Only around one-in-five teens think their parents are highly worried about their use of social media. Some 22% of teens think their parents are extremely or very worried about them using social media. But a larger share of teens (41%) think their parents are either not at all (16%) or a little worried (25%) about them using social media. About a quarter of teens (27%) fall more in the middle, saying they think their parents are somewhat worried.

Many teens also believe there is a disconnect between parental perceptions of social media and teens’ lived realities. Some 39% of teens say their experiences on social media are better than parents think, and 27% say their experiences are worse. A third of teens say parents’ views are about right.

Nearly half of parents with teens (46%) are highly worried that their child could be exposed to explicit content on social media. Parents of teens are more likely to be extremely or very concerned about this than about social media causing mental health issues like anxiety, depression or lower self-esteem. Some parents also fret about time management problems for their teen stemming from social media use, such as wasting time on these sites (42%) and being distracted from completing homework (38%).

Note: Here are the questions used  for this report, along with responses, and its  methodology .

CORRECTION (May 17, 2023): In a previous version of this post, the percentages of teens using Instagram and Snapchat daily were transposed in the text. The original chart was correct. This change does not substantively affect the analysis.

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Emily A. Vogels is a former research associate focusing on internet and technology at Pew Research Center .

Risa Gelles-Watnick is a former research analyst focusing on internet and technology research at Pew Research Center .

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Imagine you are writing a research paper on social networking sites. Which of the following thesis statements would be the most effective?

"the impact of social networking sites on society: a comprehensive analysis of their influence on communication, relationships, and individual behavior.".