A look at some of the latest studies showing how social media has an effect on Americans, and how research shows social media’s influence on society, relationships and mental health.
By Molly Mason
Social networking sites have changed several aspects of American life. From the way people communicate, date, speak their minds to the way they get their news.
A Generation Gap
Many experts agree Generation Y is the most educated in social media. USA Today says that Generation Y is anyone born 1977 to 2002, estimated to be around 70 million Americans. They take up the majority of Internet users, according to several studies by Pew Research Institute.
According to one of the studies, released in August, 89 percent of Internet users, between the ages of 18-29 active are on social networking sites.
People can rely on the instant gratification felt by having a lot of “likes” on their latest profile picture, seeing how many retweets they can get and smiling a little when they see their long-time ex is still listed as single on Facebook.
This is a significant difference between Generation Y and their parents, who weren’t used to this new form of communication.
Since 2005, there has been a 54 percent increase in Internet users-between the ages of 50-64-that are connected to social networking sites, according to Pew Research.
In America, social media sites often are a part of daily life. Often used as a news site, a way to meet new people or to keep in touch with family and friends. But social media sites also can make the average person a journalist, photographer, event planner, promoter or blogger. It can even make them famous in an instant if the information they post goes viral.
According to a study by Experian Marketing Services, Americans spend 16 minutes of every hour on social media.
Although studies show social media maybe bad for your health, there are people that like many of the aspects of social media, and would not have it another way.
Marc Colcer, a Michigan State University student and social media enthusiast said, “I don’t consider social media a distraction though because a distraction is something you want to get rid of. I don’t want to get rid of the social media aspect of my life.”
Social media and relationships
Facebook has had an effect on the way people communicate with each other in social, professional, and intimate relationships.
Colcer , who asserts his social media fame on MSU’s campus by adding thousands of friends and promoting his opinions and views on Facebook, said his name brand recognition could not exist without the website.”
“Social media overall has allowed me to make a name for myself on campus,” Colcer said. The majority of people who know who “Marc Colcer” is only know me from social media.”
The world of dating has also changed because of the popularity of texting and social networking sites. Terms like F.B.O. have developed to accommodate the changes. F.B.O., a slang term that stands for “Facebook official”, indicates a new step in a relationship proces that involves updating a person’s status to “in a relationship” on their Facebook profile.
71 percent of social media users, between the age of 18 and 29, say the major reason they use social Internet sites is to stay in touch with current friends, according to a Pew Research study.
This is compared to the 53 percent of the same age group that say they use social media as a way to connect with friends they have lost contact with.
Paul Lang, a Michigan State University student and a new user to Facebook since August, said he likes Facebook because it makes it easy for him to stay connected with his family and friends that live far away.
Mental impacts of social media
With all the changes social media has brought into peoples’ lives,there have been recent studies conducted that show the effect social media has on the mental health of Americans.
“I check my Facebook about 10 times a day and I have noticed a difference in my attention span,” said Lang. “I feel the need to check it more and more often.”
Active Beat, an online health website, reports social media can promote depression, sadness and happiness. The site recently came out with a list of eight ways social media affects mental health.
Some ways mentioned on the list are stopping people’s ability to be alone, promoting inactivity, missing out on the outside world and creating a fear of self-loathing because of the idea that people are always comparing lives with those who appear in newsfeeds or Twitter homepage.
Dr. Dennis Martell, an expert in student wellness and the MSU Olin Health Services coordinator, said anything in excess, including social media, can have a negative impact on a person’s health.
“If it stops you from making real connections in real time, or stops you from moving ahead in life, then it can be a problem,” he said.
According to a study conducted by The Public Library of Science, Facebook is unique because it is making people unhappy by a constant comparison of the user’s life with the lives of their friends.
A majoir negative side effect the trend has had on the U.S. population os the increase in cyber-bullying, when a person is harassed by others online. There have been many extreme cases of suicides attributed to cyber-bullying through social networking sites.
In a study by the Center for Disease Control, it was reported that 67 percent of cyber-bullying comes from instant messaging or social media sites.
According to The Huffington Post, 12-year-old, Rebecca Sedwick committed suicide on, Tuesday Sept. 10 2013, because of cyber-bullying. She was harassed through online chats by 15 of her female classmates.
Recently, some states, such as New York and Maryland, have proposed legislative action in an attempt to stop cyber-bullying.
The girls that bullied Sedwick might be charged with felony cyber-stalking, according to The Huffington Post.
Martell suggested several ways to maintain a healthy balance with social media and reality.
“There are many ways to use it in a positive way, like connecting people to resources and help and raising support. But do not use it as a replacement for real relationships,” he said. “Facebook friends are not like real friends.”
Molly Mason 