SOCIAL MEDIA, HELP OR HINDRANCE: WHAT ROLE DOES SOCIAL MEDIA PLAY IN YOUNG PEOPLE\u27S MENTAL HEALTH?

Social media is a huge force in the lives of young people with wide ranging effects on their development; given the importance of adolescence in the genesis of mental illness, social media is a factor in the mental health of young people. Despite the role that social media obviously plays in the development of mental illness, little research has been done into the impact that social media has on in the mental illness of young people. In general, what research there is points towards social media having a large impact on young people in both positive and negative ways. In particular, certain studies show a greater incidence and severity of bullying online compared to offline which may contribute to the development of depression. This contrasts with the positive impact that social media seems to have for young people in minority groups (ethnic minorities and those with chronic disease or disability) by allowing them to connect with others who live similar lives despite geographical separation. This acts as a positive influence in these people\u27s lives though a direct link to mental illness was not shown. Overall, several important issues are raised: firstly, the lack of research that has been conducted in the area; secondly, the gulf that exists between the generation of younger, \u27digital native\u27 generations and the older generations who are not as engaged with social media; and finally, the huge potential that exists for the use of social media as a protective influence for adolescents. With proper engagement, policy makers and health professionals could use social media to connect with young people on issues like mental health

Two-play game: Playing casual video games with outgroup members reduces prejudice towards that outgroup

Video games have traditionally held a dubious reputation in the media and have been linked to many antisocial behaviors. A large amount of research has borne out some of these concerns, linking video games with addiction and particularly aggression. However, recent work in this area has begun to examine the positive aspects of video gaming. In this work, we examine how playing casual, low-involvement video games with an outgroup member may reduce prejudice. In Study 1, participants played cooperatively or competitively with a (trivial) outgroup member or alone. In Studies 2 and 3, a meaningful social identity was used: students’ university affiliation. Participants played either cooperatively with a rival university student against the computer, or alone. Analyses of all three studies showed that attitudes toward the outgroup were more positive after playing with an outgroup member compared with control conditions. How these findings may be applied to real world groups and extensions for future research are then discussed

When is computer-mediated intergroup contact most promising? Examining the effect of out-group members' anonymity on prejudice

Computer-mediated intergroup contact (CMIC) is a valuable strategy to reduce negative sentiments towards members of different social groups. We examined whether characteristics of communication media that facilitate intergroup encounters shape its effect on out-group attitudes. Specifically, we propose that concealing individuating cues about out-group members during CMIC increases prejudice, as interaction partners are perceived as less socially present. To assess these hypotheses, we conducted two mixed-factorial experiments. Participants engaged in synchronous intergroup contact via text-chat with out-group members (Study 1) and a confederate (Study 2) who either shared or concealed their name and photo. Overall, CMIC reduced negative out-group sentiments. Study 2 showed, however, that out-group members' anonymity decreased perceived social presence, which was associated with less positive evaluations of the CMIC and higher prejudice. In conclusion, CMIC can contribute to conflict resolution interventions, preparing individuals for direct intergroup contact, if its affordances or conversation topics enhance interaction partners' social presence

Not Just A Place For Friends : Teenagers, Social Networks, and Identity Vulnerability

This study is an empirical analysis of adolescents\u27 risk management on internet social network sites such as Facebook and MySpace. Using a survey of 935 U.S. adolescents gathered by the Pew Internet and American Life Project, I investigate the influence of offline social networks on online socialization, as well as the impact of parental and self mediation tactics on risky online information-sharing practices. Overall, the relationship between offline social network strength and online communications methods was inconclusive, with results suggesting that most teens use online communications in similar ways, regardless of offline connectedness. Some relationships were discovered between parental and individual mediation tactics and risky online information sharing, largely supporting the use of active mediation techniques by parents and informed control of shared information by individual users. User demographics had a strong effect on risky information sharing, with gender and age playing a significant role. This study also offers some suggestions for parents and policy-makers interested in the topic

Psychosocial factors impacting identity development in biracial-biethnic youth: a socioecological analysis

A mixed methods systematic review with socioecological analysis was conducted to identify specific psychosocial factors impacting identity development and well-being and biracial-biethnic youth. Findings from this review aimed to summarize and synthesize the most recent research literature on biracial-biethnic youth, with particular attention to factors contributing to negative identity development, psychosocial stressors (e.g., substance use) that impact both identity and well-being, and protective factors that promote well-being. This systematic review also aimed to utilize a socioecological framework to better understand on what level these psychosocial factors occur and the interaction between the individual and the larger environment. Methods. Data was collected from seven electronic databases and included peer-reviewed English language articles that were published between 1980 and 2022 and were conducted with youth identifying as more than one race or ethnicity, aged 13 to 25. All studies were required to evaluate at least one socioecological level (Individual, Microsystem, Community/Organizational, Macrosystem) and include biracial-biethnic participants with at least one minority-identified parent. Results. Findings from 338 studies revealed that 91% of studies were conducted within the United States. A total of 133 studies (40.2%) utilized the word multiracial to describe individuals of more than one race or ethnicity. The majority of studies (\u3e 50%) indicated that psychosocial factors most often occur on the individual level across each research question. There were significant factors noted across all four socioecological levels of analysis. Conclusions. There was a lack of consensus in the language utilized by researchers to define individuals of two or more races or ethnicities, with no consistent term used. It was also found that individual factors and interpersonal relationships have a significant impact, both negatively and positively, on identity and well-being in biracial-biethnic youth. Future research should continue to expand upon using more inclusive language, further explore protective factors and identity development, and focus on systemic factors that could lead to increased sustained change for the biracial-biethnic population

Facebook and depression in late adolescence: Intensity of use, quality of interactions, and the role of self-definition and identity

In contemporary society, online Social Networking Sites (SNS) such as Facebook provide increasingly popular contexts within which late adolescent peer interactions and accompanying identity experiments can occur. Consequently, of increasing interest is exploring the impact of SNS use on psychological functioning in this age group. There is some evidence suggestive of a relationship between greater SNS use and increased depressive symptoms. However, findings are inconsistent, with a large body of literature also indicative of possible beneficial effects of SNS use on adolescent social and emotional adjustment. Therefore, as a means to address this divergence, the present study aims to investigate whether it is the quantity of use, including use of the site to connect with existing or new contacts, or the quality of Facebook interactions that might relate to depressive symptoms. Moreover, the present research attempts to identify for which late adolescents these associations are more likely to be a risk, drawing on constructs implicated in offline self-definition and identity development. One hundred and sixty-nine late adolescents (mean age 18.6 years) participated in this quantitative, cross-sectional study. Participants completed an online survey comprising self-report questionnaires validated by previous research assessing depressive symptoms, the intensity of Facebook use, strategy used to connect with peers on Facebook, self-reported quality of interactions on Facebook, and self-definition and identity variables; self-concept clarity (SCC), separation-individuation, and ego-identity commitment. Consistent with previous research, no relationship was found between the intensity of Facebook use, including number of Facebook friends, time spent on the site each day, perceived integration of the platform into daily life, and connection strategy and depressive symptoms. There was, however, evidence suggestive of a relationship between reports of feeling down following interactions on Facebook and increased depressive symptoms. Self-definition and identity variables were not found to moderate this relationship

Why are all the Black kids tweeting together? : exploring the impact of Black social media spaces on Black college students at historically White institutions.

Why are all the Black Kids Tweeting Together? is a mixed methods study that applies critical race theory (CRT) and the campus racial climate framework to explore the role same-race peer groups created on social media platforms play in the experiences of Black students at Historically White Institutions (HWIs). Building on the research that examines how peer groups influence student experiences, this study gauges why Black students choose to create and participate in Black social media spaces and the influence of the campus climate on their decisions to do so. Using data collected from virtual focus group interview sessions, photo-elicitation, and a survey, this study seeks to uplift the voices of Black college students and encourage them to use their voice to share their stories individually and collectively. Evidence from this study suggests that Black social media spaces operate as a source of joy, self-preservation, and resistance to assimilation. Study findings also indicate that Black students at HWIs use Black social media spaces to expand their sense of community, thrive in spite of being minoritized, and engage in spaces that support racial identity expression and affirmation. As colleges and universities continue to search for and develop ways to support students from underrepresented groups, they must acknowledge how these groups use agency to develop their own strategies to be successful as valid and sources of knowledge that can inform the decisions of campus administrators. This study offers up a new lens through which the experiences of Black students at HWIs can be understood, with a specific focus on how same-race peer groups on social media provide supportive, safe, and affirming spaces that aid in their persistence and success in environments that can be racially challenging