Title: THE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON HIGHSCHOOL 

STUDENTS' MENTAL HEALTH
Abstract:

Primary sources:
News online
Title: Online Safety
Reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
Date reviewed: August 2022
The Internet can be wonderful for kids. They can use it to research school reports,
communicate with teachers and other kids, and play interactive games. But online access also
comes with risks, like inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and online predators. Using social
media apps and websites where kids interact, predators may pose as a child or teen looking to
make a new friend. They might prod the child to exchange personal information, such as
address and phone number, or encourage kids to call them, seeing their phone number via
caller ID. Parents should be aware of what their kids see and hear online, who they meet, and
what they share about themselves. Talk with your kids, use tools to protect them, and keep an
eye on their activities.

The Internet can be a great thing for students. They could use it for research into school
reports, communicating with teachers and other children or playing interactive games.
However, there are risks to online access, such as inappropriate content, cyber bullying and
online predators. Using social media apps and websites where kids interact, predators may
pose as a child or teen looking to make a new friend. They could demand that a child exchange
personally identifying information, like an address or telephone number.
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/net-safety.html

Title: Social media damages teenagers' mental health, report says

By Cristina Criddle (Technology reporter)
27 January 2021
Heavy social media use was linked to negative wellbeing and self-esteem, regardless of a young
person's mental state, with more girls experiencing feelings of depression and hopelessness.
“Those who feel worse may turn to social media for solace or community,” Dr Amy Orben,
research fellow at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, said of the research.
“It’s not a vacuum, it works both ways."
The research uses data from 5,000 young people in England from the Millennium Cohort Study.
Focus groups were also carried out in November to examine the effect of the coronavirus
pandemic on these ages.
Family income, exercise and poor maternal health also contributed to young people’s mental
state, the study found.
But regular exercise had a positive impact on both genders, the report said.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-55826238

Cain (2018) researches the importance to confront student health issues associated with
smartphones and social media. The researcher points out that our society has a heightened
focus on student health and wellness. This study demonstrates that a student’s well-being is an
important aspect for preparing for high stress careers (health care careers in particular). This
issue has urged universities and colleges to address the risks associated with stress, depression
and anxiety. The important step is to teach students about the importance of sleep, exercise
and nutrition.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6181159/

Secondary sources:

Behrang, Aida & Gharleghi (2014) research the negative effects of social media among 7
University Scholars in Malaysia. They sent 152 surveys to students to examine the negative
effects. This paper measures the frequency of use, participation in activities and time spent
preparing for class in order to know how social media impacts the performance of students.
This paper also examines why social media users are unaware of the risks involved and how
their privacy suffers.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
272490714_A_Study_on_the_Negative_Effects_of_Social_Networking_Sites_Such_as_Faceboo
k_among_Asia_Pacific_University_Scholars_in_Malaysia

Social Media has taken the world by surprise. And the many effects are still unknown and are
continuing to be researched. However, many researchers are starting to ask the questions on
how social media effects society. The effects that have been found have both positive and
negative. It is finding the perfect balance that is important to teach future generations the do’s
and don’ts of using social media, particularly those that are related to the health of the
students. This research along with other research aims to lay the guidelines for educating future
students on the most beneficial ways to use social media. Social media is neither bad nor good.
It has a balance or an equilibrium. This balance is how often one uses social media compared to
other healthy activities. The education that is needed should not only teach students how to
use social media but, also how to balance the needs in life that include exercise, nutrition and
studying. Researchers claim that social media effects our memory, anxiety, suicide rates,
depression rates, physical immobility’s, eye problems and also causes arthritis (Akram & Kumar
2017, Dibbs, 2019).

Akram & Kumar (2017) researching the effects of social media on society point out the
problems and benefits with social media. The downsides include cyberbullying and depression
and the advantages include the ability to become more socially capable. Factors in our lives;
such as our business, health and medical education are influenced by social media. This paper
reviews the characteristics of different social media platforms used and their impacts on
student’s health issues.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
323903323_A_Study_on_Positive_and_Negative_Effects_of_Social_Media_on_Society

Oye (2012) observed that most of the students do feel that social networking sites have more
positive impact on the students’ academic performance and he notes that most of the younger
students use social networking sites for socializing rather than for academic purposes

Research Questions:
1. How can social media sites influence students' social and academic performance?
2. What influence does cyberbullying have on high school students?
References:

Akram & Kumar (Oct 2017). A Study on Positive and Negative effects of Social Media on
Society, International Journal of Computer Sciences and Engineering.

Behrang, Aida & Gharleghi (Sep 2014). A study on the negative effects of social networking
sites such as Facebook among Asia pacific university scholars in Malaysia, International
Journal of Business and Social Science.

Cain (Sep 2018). It’s time to confronts student health mental issues associated with
smartphones
and social media, American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.