Running Head: FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

A study on how Facebook affects the Self Esteem, Cognitive, and Socio emotional
Development of Adolescents
Maria Ysabel Alyana L. Conty
De La Salle University

Abstract

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

This research study focuses on how Facebook, a social networking site affects the self esteem,
cognitive, and socio emotional development of adolescents aged 15 18 years old. This paper
will examine how an adolescent's development respond to the usage of social networking sites. it
will focus on the negative and positive effects on Facebook. The study will involve 50
participants that will come from 2 exclusive schools. It will cover the scales used by Steinfield,
Ellison, and Lampe (2008). This will measure the self - esteem of adolescents from the social
networking site, Facebook.
Keywords: social networking sites, Facebook, cognitive development, socio emotional
development, self esteem

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

A study on how Facebook affects the Self Esteem, Cognitive, and Socio emotional
Development of Adolescents
Media is one way to incorporate a lot of ideas into one. Internet usage, specifically social
networking sites is a big factor in the lives of the current generation. It is considered as one of the
best ways of communication, transfer of ideas, and expression of self (Johnson, G.M., 2014). It
shows how powerful this kind of media can be especially to the adolescents. Thus, this can give a
big impact in the aspects of development of an individual.
Social networking sites are commonly used forms of transmitting information. Based on
studies, it is now the best way of communication. It is a world-wide spread phenomenon. Social
networking sites include Facebook with 1.28 billion active users (Statista, 2014), Twitter,
Myspace, and Instagram and the like. This is a widely used medium especially for this
generation.
Knowing this, it is now a big issue for the community especially for the part of education.
Observing its existence is necessary for it affects the development of each individual. Most of the
people nowadays when asked if they have a phone number or a way to communicate, they
answer with, I have Facebook". It is a big phenomenon that clearly suggests that everyone is
affected with the existence of the social networking site. A vivid aspect that is greatly affected by
this social change is the human development.
Human development is consisted with a lot of aspects. The main factors are cognitive
development, socio-emotional development, and physical development. These factors are
associated with how people or an individual progresses. It covers the whole being of how each
one relates to their different communities. In relation to the human development, there is self
esteem where people tend to see how competent they are with their daily challenges. It is often

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

connected with socio emotional development, but it is really a branch of self concept. This is
how one views oneself on how they perceive who they are, what they can achieve, and their
worth. Thus, it clearly defines how they view themselves especially through their development.
Each of the different aspects and factors of development can be affected with social changes.
On Cognitive Development. Cognitive development is a way in which individuals are
tested intellectually. It is a factor in which a person can be assessed through their mental
capabilities and capacities. To increase the use of students mental capacities one must be able to
provide changes and effective activities to enhance their skills. Easy transmission of information
is one key to help provide fast and related topics to bring good education for the students (Aydin,
B. & Sari, S.V., 2011).
Social networking sites are used to help transmit information easily. It connects people
especially through learning and communicating. Facebook, a social networking site, is clearly
used as a medium for transferring learning and experiences for people nowadays. This is overly
used especially for adolescents. Teachers and students mostly generates their casual conversation
using Facebook. This does not only cover experiences in school but also through their homes.
With this, learning becomes more versatile and engaging. The usage of Facebook clearly
enhances their capabilities and skills with how they think and transmit communication.
With cognitive development being more engaging and permissive for the students and
teachers, the children's academic performance boosts and becomes more effective with the
proper use of Facebook. According to Liu, Shen, Xu & Gao in 2012, internet access has become
more popular as a medium for learning for students. It serves as a good way to establish student teacher relationship at the same time learning through it. One of the medium for internet access
is Facebook. Facebook gives students the privilege to communicate casually with their teachers,

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

and still become transparent on how they learn through the skills taught by the teachers.
Facebook does not only teach the students to be more engaging but also interested with their
daily activities in school through online communication. It is considered by this generation as an
influential pedagogical tool (Reid, G.G. & Boyer, W., 2013) for learning. It connects teachers,
parents, students, and the community as they become a team for education.
On Socio-emotional Development. Socio emotional development is an important
aspect to which a person should be able to progress to interact with the community. Continuous
communication and expression is how a person converses well with others. Facebook allows
different individuals to engage themselves with the people around them. Knowing this, it is
important to establish a persons ability to communicate well with everyone especially their
society. To relate to them, there should be a big factor that connects them together.
Facebook provides a way to help this connection become broader and stronger. It relates
people from different races and countries to become one. The act of responding through
comments, liking pictures, and sharing posts gives the people an ability to socialize.
Socialization is greatly influenced with the presence of Facebook. Online socialization relates
people from different cultures, places, and races in which they become more confident and
versatile. Thus, Facebooks existence increases their communication development and boosts
their ability to express themselves.
Furthermore, the ability of one individual to engage with another is an interaction
wherein exchange of experiences and sharing knowledge is a key to healthy socialization. Also,
it provides better schema where people from across cultures can be knowledgeable of the
influences of each country. It will provide existing friendships from around the world to become
more intimate and closer where people can become relative and expressive.

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

On Self Esteem. One factor that greatly influences how a person responds to
everything is self esteem. Self esteem is an important factor in which individuals gain as they
progress in life (Steinfield, C., Ellison, N., & Lampe, C., 2008). According to Brown as stated in
Steinfield, Ellison & Lampe (2008), self esteem is a crucial aspect to acquire upon entering
adulthood (p. 435). Researches have stated that to boost self esteem can be linked into the
success of an individual in the latter years. Forming this aspect can help improve adolescent
socialization and interaction especially in this generation.
To maximize their self concept, it is important for them to interact frequently. Self
concept merely means of how a person perceives himself (Jackson, L.A., et.al., 2010). It is a way
of how a person shows himself towards others by actually knowing himself first. Self concept
is the main branch of self esteem. It is very important for a person to understand who he is
before he can relate with others.
Thus in order for him to engage, he must be able to activate his inner relations and
become more influential. Motivating himself in this fact is becoming more worthy on how they
will view themselves in their social networking site, which is Facebook. This will give them the
notion that they can become of a worthy person as they access online networks. They will
become more influential not only to themselves but also to others.
Facebook gives them a big chance in acquiring a lot of friends and become more
engaging through the activities in their online networks. Sharing information, posting
announcements, and providing comments boosts the confidence of each member of the
community especially when given the freedom to do it. Online interactions help people engage
freely with anyone, thus giving them self worth, boosting their self esteem.

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

To confirm this notion, this paper will focus on the effect of Facebook on the
development and self esteem of adolescents in the Philippines. This would include the hours of
exposure, activity on Facebook (posting, sharing, liking, and commenting) and number of friends
they have in and out of the network. It will also involve the gender, socio economic status, and
parents guidance (on using the internet) of the adolescents in their current setting. Related
studies will be discussed further as evidences, patterns and analyses for the study to be done in
the Philippines. Furthermore, the research will involve surveys that will help establish the results
of the problem.
Review of Related Literature
Research studies believe that social networking sites are a huge trend in the current
generation. A lot of articles have claimed that Facebook affects a lot of the factors of human
development. It is considered as an outbreak for socialization and is often seen as a kerfuffle for
students especially adolescents. Its presence is seen as an influence on how adolescents learn
things that can turn out negatively in their whole being. It is often misunderstood as an
unpleasant tool for learning.
Social networking sites are utilized to help communication become fast, easy, and
transparent (Aydin, B. & Sari, S.V., 2011). It increases relationships with their peers, teachers,
relatives, and community. These sites are used to help provide information in all sectors of
development. Thus, it becomes a big criticism in the world of education. Social networking sites
has become a big change in society.
Social change can become a critical issue especially if it affects the human development.
Social networking sites are considered as a big influence in the social change of the current
generation. For this, it was noted to have an influence on the development of the brain for the

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

future adolescents, as stated by Jeter, A. in 2013. Although, there are still gaps in this study, it
was considered to have a change on how the brain grows and develops with the presence of these
social networking sites. Facebook, for one has been a huge criticism for educators and
professionals. Thus, the existence of such online networks has become a big impact on society.
In the article by Amichai Hamburger and Hayat in 2011, it was objected as a big help
for the social well being of an individual. It is considered as a good source of information,
announcements and a simple connection with peoples lives. Through the help of activities and
posts done by users, the users get to be aware of the activities happening around them. As stated
in the article, Internet usage can actually enhance the social lives of its users. (Amichai
Hamburger & Hayat, 2011). It confirms that Facebook helps the users build up their relationships
with people thus enhancing their capabilities to reach out and socialize with them. It engages the
users and the online network to become more productive and relative.
The impact done by Facebook on this notion clearly suggests that the use of a social
networking site relates different peoples into a positive outcome. Socialization boosts as it is
responded immediately, and so development comes after. The information transmitted in the
online network shows how the users become aware of the current situations happening in their
society. Thus, awareness and responsibility reacts to each user.
Furthermore, users claim that they become even closer to their friends on their network
and become more sociable with them in personal (Zhao as stated in Amichai Hamburger &
Hayat, 2011). Not only that, they also suggested that they learn more through the help of chatting
and observing comments from their posts and receiving opinions from individual persons. It
clearly shows the healthy side of using social networking sites to help promote learning and
development.

FACEBOOK AND EFFECTS ON DEVELOPMENT

Another article by Ljepava, Orr, Locke, and Ross in 2013 compared the difference
between Facebook users and non users. It was established in the study that frequent users are
suggested to have more intimate relationships with close friends and even closer when out of
their online networks. Facebook users tend to become more engaging and sociable. They have
time to reach out and be updated with all their friends and colleagues even without seeing
personally. Thus, it gives them the chance to socialize through online networks.
Given this notion, Facebook non users tend to become timid and self disclosed. It is a
big help for them to realize that social networking sites have big benefits for them to reach out
and become more active in having friends. Furthermore, having Facebook made them become
more knowledgeable through ideas, information, and learning being shared with each individual.
It also gave them a huge impact on expressing themselves with their friends, colleagues, and
relatives (Sisman, B., Yoruk, S., Eleren, A., 2013). Thus, it gives them the freedom to reveal
themselves to the crowd.
On one note, it is important to see how much information is being shared on Facebook.
On one article by Jordan Conde, Mennecke, and Townsend in 2013, it was released that people
around the Facebook user should also be given security to provide a healthy access upon using
Facebook. It is important to guide students or adolescents as they access their profiles.
Socialization is healthy, but too much of it may give negative effects especially on how they
compare themselves with their peers and classmates. Although, with proper guidance and eager
explanations, they can use Facebook as a means of friendly interactions and a healthy boost for
the self esteem of each individual.
A model in which Facebook can relate to is the Self determination Theory. Self
determination theory (SDT) aims to show that it is a theory for motivation. (Ryan, M. & Deci, E.,

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2000). Motivation perhaps is a big influence on how students or an individual reacts to changes
in society. To be motivated is to have more self concept on doing things for the greater good.
Facebook is one of the ways to help the current generation be motivated to learn. The presence of
different members in Facebook constitutes the awareness of users that they are part of a group
and community. Facebook invites users to be more self worthy, thus increasing motivation to
work with peers, relatives and colleagues.
According to Ryan and Deci in 2000, intrinsic and extrinsic motivation comes from
interpersonal and intrapersonal exchanges. Thus, it enhances engagement and being involved
with activities, such that it utilizes chemistry with people around the user. Facebook provides
interpersonal at the same time intrapersonal activities that will activate motivation to learn from
self and from others. This gives them the notion to become more compelling and an easy access
for students to appreciate how Facebook works with their education (Ljepava, N., Orr, R.R.,
Locke, S. & Ross, C. 2013).
In summary of all articles, Facebook has been a huge help in providing a good help for
the students, teachers, parents, and relatives to connect with their adolescents. It has been a
helpful tool in which education has mustered to develop activities. Facebook has become a
pedagogical tool to increase learning and boost self - confidence. It also imbibes the abilities and
capabilities of students. Not only that, recognition has been a big influence on how they view
themselves to become worthy to their community.

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Theoretical Framework

Peer influences
Community Relations

Academic Performance
Self Concept / Self - Worth

Figure 1.0 Independent variable affecting the dependent variables

The figure above shows how Facebook, a social networking site, affects the different
aspects of human development. Facebook is a big issue that influences the socio emotional
development through the individuals peer influences and community relations. Facebook
enhances their abilities of reaching out to the people around them through posts, sharing opinions
and ideas and liking, which nearly suggests camaraderie with friends, relatives and colleagues.
For the cognitive development part, Facebook reacts through the adolescents academic
performance. It affects the cognitive development through the activities being done on Facebook,
exchange of pedagogical learnings in the social networking site wherein teachers use Facebook
as a tool for giving information. Self esteem on the other hand, shows how much a person
develops his self- worth by being able to freely post anything that they would want which in turn

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12

helps learning and information transmission to become more broad and clear.
Through this figure it will show how much Facebook has been a big impact on the world
of education and the progress of society. It also tests how Facebook is a big reaction to the next
generation as they will fulfill the duties of protecting the effective usage of Facebooks existence.
Research Questions
The research study would only answer questions that would gear results on using Facebook. The
main focus will be on development and self esteem of the participants having their own
Facebook account. The questions that are considered are the following:
Will social networking sites help boost the development and progress of an adolescent?
a) Cognitively?
b) Socio emotionally?
Will the participants self esteem boost because of the use of Facebook? Does it differ from
online? How about off the network?
It is believed that these questions will strengthen the paper as it will support the claim of study.
Hypothesis
With these research questions, there are a lot of hypotheses at hand. These hypotheses are the
following:
The social networking sites will be able to boost the adolescents development especially on the
factors provided below.
a) Cognitively it will have a boost but not as much since it will limit them with the time
frame and activities to be done online

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b) Socio emotionally it will increase the tendency of the user to reign a lot of friends at the
same time be able to notice that he is part of a community. Not only that he will be more
engaging with activities happening offline.
Furthermore, the self esteem of the students will increase since they have been part of a
community wherein they can establish their identity as one of the members of an online site.
Also, it will give them the confidence to share their knowledge and feel worthy of their works on
Facebook and off Facebook.
With these hypotheses, it is a good way to establish methods that will challenge the study
in which Facebook will be given notice as a pedagogical tool for education. Not only that, with
these hypotheses, it may increase the worth of Facebook as reference for students and teachers in
the future.
Significance of the Study
Human development and self-esteem are big aspects of a progress of an individual. It is a
big factor in which each one has their unique experiences to boost these different aspects in life.
It is an important role for educators and parents to provide the necessary help to boost their
progress. This study aims to give awareness to all the adolescents community to provide help
and give them more skills and capabilities through the use of Facebook. It does not only give
them the privilege to experience in becoming part of an online community but will also give
them the chance to share their knowledge. This will help this generation to become more
competent and advantageous as they progress.
This study will also focus on what ways can this become an encouragement for students
to learn and engage with new activities in school. It will give them the chance to speak out with

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freedom and become more involved with the curriculum as well. Thus, giving students the right
way of how they would like to learn in the future.
Methodology
Facebook and the different factors and aspects of development are interrelated with this
study. To observe this, it is a need for different measures to gain full knowledge of the results.
Acquiring data will require the use of surveys and qualitative measures. Also, the snippets of
their interaction will be given as evidences to provide for further research. This will be
expounded in each section below.
Sampling Design and Participants
The study will comprise of 30 50 participants. Each adolescent will be aged 15 16
years old. It will be done on an exclusive school to comprehend with equal characteristics, and
also to cancel the gender as a confounding variable. All participants will undergo in the same
process, and all participants will be given surveys.
Instruments
To establish the survey, some questions will come from the articles by Steinfield, C.,
Ellison, N., & Limpe, C.(2008) and Ljepava, N., Orr, R.R., Locke, S. & Ross, C. (2013). Not
only that, the study will be using statistica as a way to analyze results and data gathered. It will
comprise of the Facebook hours of usage, Self determination theory of scale, Facebook
cognitive competence scale, and self esteem scale provided from the articles mentioned above.
Furthermore, the different tools that will be used will establish the results that will
stabilize the analysis and discussions. Further research can be applied if there are possible gaps
on the research paper provided.

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Procedure
Researcher will provide letter of permission to the school and to the parents of the
participants. It will also include the students to be assessed. This would not be a requirement for
the students in each section.
Each student will be assessed with their intellectual competency to equalize all
characteristics. Individuals are asked to have a Facebook account wherein they could post any
comments, suggestions and pictures that will involve the discussion for their class. Once they are
done doing this, they will comment, like or share opinions with the activities done in school and
just share anything related to it. Afterwhich, they will answer the survey provided by the
researcher.
Participants will be given tokens for this research. Also, the results that will be garnered
will be confidential to researcher participant and parents only.
Data Analysis
Results
Discussion

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