SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

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COURSE NAME: Critical Writing and Analysis

COURSE CODE: C67CP
Jane Bell
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COURSEWORK TITLE: Annotated Bibliography / Final essay

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I confirm that the work submitted is my own. The submission is expressed in my own words. Any uses
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and a list of references used is included. The University Ethical Code of Practice and the University
guidelines on plagiarism have been understood and followed.

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DATE:

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Annotated Bibliography
To what extent are online social networks beneficial for teenagers aged 13-17?

In recent years, the use of social networking sites has increased considerably. Nowadays,
around 90% of teenagers use the Internet daily and at least 70% have an account on one of
various platforms (Patton et al., 2014). Nonetheless, along with this increase, a large part of
the adult population stands against its use.

Khan et al. (2014) classify their arguments in four categories: time risks, since these networks
are addictive and can be time-consuming; psychological risks, because of the increase in
cyberbullying; privacy risks, due to the possibility of our information being stolen; and social
risks, related to low self-esteem when compared to others.

On the other hand, some of the benefits that will be addressed are: being able to talk to people
who live far away or the ease of meeting new people who share your same interests. This
allows teenagers to become part of an online community with which they can relate and helps
improve their social skills. Another benefit is the ease in finding and sharing new information.

This essay aims to show that social networking sites are beneficial by (1) analysing and
explaining their advantages and (2) providing solutions to rebut the arguments against them.

References:

BOYD, D. M., Ellison, N. B. (2007) ‘Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and
Scholarship’, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13(1), pp. 210–230. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x

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This article aims to analyse the increase in the use of social media. Although it does not
address the advantages and disadvantages of these platforms in particular, it contains a highly
detailed history of social media, which helps to put the reader in context. Moreover, it deals
with the concept of an ‘online community’; one of the main benefits of social networks for
adolescents. This article was cited in Seargueant and Tagg (2014), who also addressed the
history of social networks but in a more summarised way. Even though this source is from
2007, its content is reliable since it has an extensive bibliography and both authors work at
recognized universities. Moreover, it can show a perspective of how social networks were
welcomed at that time which also helps to have a different perspective.

KHAN, G. F., Swar, B. and Lee, S. K. (2014) ‘Social Media Risks and Benefits’, Social
science computer review, 32(5), pp. 606–627. doi: 10.1177/0894439314524701.

As one of the main sources of information, this study makes the public's opinion clear by
holding and analysing surveys. The results of these surveys are extremely useful to support
the arguments in favour because the results show a great acceptance of these platforms.
Moreover, it shows that the majority of the public is indeed in favour of social media, which
matches the essay’s defending viewpoint.

The classification of this site’s risks that will be used in the final essay to organize the
information is another really useful point in this article. However, it defines each of the risks
quite briefly, so other studies such as Patton et al. (2014) will be used to complete the
information. This source is also well-founded since Gohar Feroz Khan and Sang Kon Lee are
professors at renowned universities. The professionalism of the study can be seen in the
creation of tables that precisely analyse all the data.

O'KEEFFE, G. S., Clarke-Pearson, K. and Council on Communications and Media

(2011) ‘The Impact of Social Media on Children, Adolescents, and
Families’, Pediatrics, 127(4), pp. 800-804. doi: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-0054.
This study is an informative article addressed to families to help ensure healthy use of social

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networking sites. It includes a concise definition of social networks and analyses a series of
benefits that will be discussed in the final essay. Moreover, it explains two of the main
arguments used against social networks: cyberbullying and privacy risks. This article will be
mentioned a few times next to the work of Kahn et al. (2014) since they have a similar point
of view regarding the benefits of social media. This is especially relevant when explaining
the concept of "online community". This article was written by the American Pediatric
Association, which makes it highly attested. However, since it is an informative document, it
explains concepts in a rather simplified way, without fully explaining the most complex
points.

PATTON, D. U., Hong J. S., Ranney, M., Patel, S., Kelley, C., Eschmann, R. and
Washington, T. (2014) ‘Social media as a vector for youth violence: A review of the
literature’, Computers in human behavior, 35, pp. 548-553. doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.02.043.

This article aims to demonstrate that youth violence increases on online sites. One of its most
relevant aspects is that it points out the main forms of online violence and explains the causes
and consequences. It is useful since it gives a pretty clear perspective of those who are against
social networks. The greatest contribution of this study are the figures (90% of teenagers use
the Internet daily), and statements (cyberbullying is the most common violence in social
media). These pieces give more veracity to the arguments presented in the essay.
Furthermore, it is reliable since all authors work at well-known universities such as Brown
University or the University of Chicago and it was peer-reviewed. The text is also full of in-
text citations and a long list of references at the end.

SEARGEANT, P., Tagg, C. (2014) ‘The language of social media’. Basingstoke:

Palgrave Macmillan.

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In this study, the authors analyse the performance of identity in social media. The creation
and evolution of social networking sites is explained in a very detailed way, which focuses
and analyses the formation of an online community, which is one of the main benefits of
social media that will be mentioned in the final essay. Moreover, it introduces a comparison
between virtual community and sports teams that makes the concept easier to understand. It
also contains information about experiments that prove the importance of connectability for
adolescents. It is quite an extensive work (271 pages) but the most relevant information for
this essay is in the first 30 pages, which makes it easier to analyse in depth. Moreover, the
source is reliable since both authors are lecturers in applied linguistics at recognized
institutions.