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