Dittman 1

Jaren Dittman

Dean Leonard

English 1201.540

23 April 2020

Social Media’s Effects on Interaction

Direct interaction is a key point in maintaining healthy relationships. Meeting face-to-

face helps develop personal connections to allow for affection, intimacy, and sometimes

romance. It is innate for humans to interact with each other since communication is a main basis

for establishing relationships. Regardless of age, direct communication is extremely important to

maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, with the rise of social media platforms, direct interaction

between people has begun to change. With the creation of the internet, many businesses and

novice entrepreneurs developed the first examples of social media. These early websites and

applications later evolved into a powerful resource of communication and advertisement. Today

social networks are used to share content, advertise products, express one’s self, and connect

with people on a global level. The virtual community disregards boundaries as a single ad,

photo, text, or meme can be sent across the globe in milliseconds. Nevertheless, multimedia has

allowed for some controversy to arise within the public. Its effects on mental and physical health

make people question whether it is too harmful or harmless. While interactive services allow for

public appraisal, fame, build personal connections, and expands the freedom of expression, it has

the potential to be very harmful. Corruption, manipulation, predatory behavior, smiteful

judgement, and hate and aggression are heavy side-effects to using the media. Interaction is

massively affected by social media as it gives way for users to spread love and hate without the

need to directly engage people.

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The history of online platforms began recently, from the 1980s-1990s. When the internet

was created it sparked an entire world of new possibilities. It opened up a different dimension

that was new and exciting to human influence. However, as the internet’s popularity rose it

dominated the markets. During the 1990’s, having a personal computer was not common, but by

the beginning of the 21st century most households had a computer. The emergence of online

networks was bound to occur as the internet’s usage increased and bulletin boards became more

popular in the 1990’s. What is social media? It is a form of online communication that allows

for people all over the world to create networks, communities, and collectives to share

information, ideas, messages, and other content (Jones). The internet gave an opportunity for

people to create websites and applications for the purpose of advertising products, sharing

knowledge, and connecting to others. However, the connections were strictly online. Mass

informative websites could not exist without the internet and this is where problems began to

develop. Not only did the internet allow for connections around the world, but it also introduced

the idea of indirect communication. People began to rely on their computers to substitute

meeting in-person which was unprecedented. The idea evolved into a much bigger social

problem as time moved on.

There are many examples as to what social media is and what it does. It enables people

to use the internet as a communication median to write about what they are doing, thinking and

feeling at any given moment. Posts could be read and responded to by anyone at any time and in

real-time. Six Degrees and Friendster were early examples of social networking websites. They

were also the first attempts at bringing media platforms into the market to make a profit. Six

Degrees was created in 1997 and it allowed for people to use their email address to make their

own profiles, which they then could use to make and add friends online (Jones). This website
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was shut down in 2001, but it allowed other creators to invent their own ideas of interactive

services. Six Degrees influenced the creation of Friendster, a new social setting that launched in

2002. Analogous to Six Degrees, Friendster enabled people to use their personal email addresses

to create individual profiles to connect to new friends online. However, Friendster opened up its

possibilities. It allowed for people to share videos, photos, and messages with other users

(Jones). After posting, friends were able to leave a comment on the post. The ability to

comment on posts resulted in the first signs of how interactive services could potentially be

harmful. With the addition of comments being introduced to virtual communities, it allowed for

people to be openly judged by others. Whether it was praiseful or hateful remarks, people who

posted personal comment for view by others were bound to receive offensive and hateful

comments. Without the need to make face-to-face interactions, online users were emboldened

and not scared to post degrading remarks on how a person looked, what they were doing, where

they lived, and so forth. Friendster was not the only social platform that allowed for this kind of

behavior due to lack of policing and user guidelines. In the early 2000’s MySpace, Facebook,

Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat were created. Each of these websites and other applications

have evoked mass debate over the effects of online networks on the human psyche.

Social media’s influence on people has and will only continue to grow stronger. People

tend to disregard its effects on people/users due to its capability to also produce feelings of

happiness and enjoyment. These feelings override the user’s senses of good and bad moral

behavior. User’s selectively expose themselves to content that reinforce both good and bad

behaviors. For example, a post on Instagram could manipulate a young person into behaving a

certain way to gain social popularity, something akin to virtual peer pressure. Multimedia has

increased the desire to conform to social norms, which means people are pressured to meet
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unrealistic goals to be accepted by the public. Adolescents, teenagers, young adults, adults, and

the elderly are all expected to follow and undergo standards that media platforms unknowingly

set for them. Adolescents are especially susceptible to the harsh realities of social networking.

Problems that involve social media usually begin with the child feeling neglected (Klass). When

a neglected child uses interactive services, more often than not they are trying to obtain a sense

of worth and belonging but are either too shy or feel too awkward during direct interactions.

Longing for connection results in the child turning to online programs to obtain a semblance of

human connection. “Children may use interactive media in problematic or dangerous ways

because of underlying problems, or they may be particularly vulnerable to what they find on

social media” (Klass). Negative habits can be detrimental to the child’s mental and physical

health. If the child decides to post some or most of their experiences online, they can easily

become a target for predatory individuals, hateful remarks, cyberbullying, and corruption.

Based on concerns found online, child health issues are often related to the internet and

social media. Children beginning to learn about themselves are extremely vulnerable to

corruption through social networking. They become addicted to online forums and ignore

reality, thus creating isolationism and deference to the outside world. Interaction is a particularly

important for these children. Without basic communication and interaction skills, it would be

difficult for a child to adjust to the real-world. According to today’s standards, fewer children

are not experiencing play time with other kids, spend less time with their family, and as a result

are not making lasting friendships. The age a child receives their first phone is becoming

younger; 5-year-olds are now seen with their own smart phones. With their newly acquired

phones, children are refusing to go outside, only contact their friends through their phone, and

are not truly interacting with anyone. When a child becomes a teenager, their hormones are
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thrown into overdrive. Teenagers tend to be more emotional, sensitive, and are very vulnerable.

An increasing number of teenagers use social media platforms to express themselves. The

freedom of using a phone provides a platform for a teen’s voice to be heard, enabling them to

become an active citizen who can easily voice out their opinions (Herrera). When one is given

too much freedom, it can be catastrophic to their mental and physical well-being. When a teen

views the same luxurious lifestyles as seen online, it can lead to negative thoughts about their

own lifestyle. Critically comparing their post to a millionaire’s post can lead the teen to

developing a false sense of failure and success. Feelings of self-doubt and self-worth can lower

the teen’s self-esteem and confidence in what they believe. Not only can their confidence and

beliefs begin to dwindle, but online publications can possibly affect how they view their body as

well.

Standards that made teens feel normal are now causing them to feel suffocated. Teens

are not perfect and most do not live extravagant lifestyles, so what used to be the social norm for

them is now a target for bullying. One of the primary consequences of being bullied is that teens

are now avoiding direct interaction. “High school seniors heading to college in 2016 have spent

an ‘hour less a day engaging in in-person social interaction’— such as going to parties, movies,

or riding in cars together” (Allen). The teens portrayed online and in movies set such a high

standard that most average teenagers feel inadequate to be seen as a normal person. The number

of likes, their snap score, and the amount of views they can get determines their self-worth. The

accessibility of the internet and multimedia websites and applications majorly impacts the

declining percentage of teens that make face-to-face connections. “A 2018 Common Sense

Media report found that 81 percent of teens use social media, and more than a third report using

social media sites multiple times an hour. These statistics have risen dramatically over the past
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six years, likely driven by increased access to mobile devices” (Allen). Teens are more

susceptible to cyber abuse more then ever. An increase in teenage suicide has prompted many

questions about the impact of media and phone usage. A feeling of loneliness and depression

has had a substantial effect on teen’s overall health. Direct interaction has a paranoia around it

as the confidence to talk with someone about how they are feeling and what they feel about

themselves is diminishing. Teens lock themselves away from the outside world in order to keep

what little self-esteem they have safe from the scrutiny of others.

The effects of virtual communities not only affect adolescents and teens, but many adults

and elderly people as well. A need to catch-up with the younger generation in order to establish

relationships and connections is more prominent. To remain relevant, many adults and elders

have turned to social media platforms to keep up with the times. Staying relevant and connected

has become important for the elderly population. Many elderlies live in nursing homes or at

home alone, so they turn to the internet and media to keep connected to their families and

friends. “…older users have been especially enthusiastic over the past year about embracing

new networking tools (Madden). Although email continues to be the primary platform for older

users to maintain contact with friends, families and colleagues, many now rely on social network

applications to help manage their daily communications…” (Madden). Elderly people are

becoming increasingly dependent on the internet to not only communicate with others, but to

stay connected to the outside world. It has slowly impacted their way of interacting with the

world as they may not be physically, emotionally, or mentally capable. The harsh effects of

online criticism are not as heavy to elderly people because their identity has been set in stone.

Older adults typically are well aware of who they are, what they are, and how they want to live
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life. While bullying is not as prevalent amongst or against the elderly, interactive services can

bring malicious comments towards them because it is easier to do so without fear of reprisal.

Adults are similar in the sense that they have a steady grasp on their identity. People 25-

40 have established identities and confidence in who they are. Social media’s effects are not as

effective, so adults freely use the media with little to no fear of being corrupted or manipulated.

Nevertheless, there are still many ways that media can persuade adults into doing or believing in

things. Adults have access to many things like their own money, home, car, and jobs. With

these items, they can purchase anything they see on online platforms or incorporate a media

influencer’s lifestyle into their own. Adopting online norms can be quite dangerous and toxic

because certain traits and behaviors from online influencers can be difficult to ignore. One may

alter their entire lifestyle based off someone else’s reality in order to increase their own

popularity and social status. Adulthood can be challenging because it grants people with

independence, freedom, and control of their own lives. However, too much freedom can lead to

more stress and health issues since humans do make bad choices. In a study conducted at Texas

Tech University they concluded that, “Emerging adults are classified as 18- to 29-year-olds.

This is the age range where people are facing more changes and stressors in their life than they

have before.” Most adults tend to keep all their feelings and emotions to themselves, but this

habit can lead to negative effects on their health. It can be an extremely lonely time for them. A

life without proper interaction is extremely damaging emotionally and psychologically.

As stated in previous paragraphs, the effect hypermedia has on a person’s mental and

physical health can be severe. There are numerous studies and debates on how social media is

toxic to human development and can result in dangerous consequences. When a child or teen

begins to compare their lives to a media influencer, it can lead to negative habits that can damage
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their mental and physical health. In a report from JAMA Network they found an increase in

suicide rates from, “…those aged 10 to 19 over the period from 1975 to 2016; boys have

traditionally had higher suicide rates, but the gap has narrowed as rates rose among adolescent

girls, with the largest percentage increases among girls aged 10 to 14” (Klass). With the

introduction of social network websites and applications and the accessibility to smart phones,

the spread of the media’s influence has taken over many communities. People can access media

platforms with the click of a button, and this is why the effects of media is so extreme. A child

or teen viewing people’s luxurious and care-free lifestyles, and then comparing it to their own,

can cause them to question their self-worth. Low confidence and a negative perspective on life

can lead to thoughts of self-harm and suicide. The percentage of children and teens overtaken by

suicidal tendencies and self-harm is increasing as the effect of media rises. Addiction to social

networks can cause more harm to the mental state of a person, which can lead to physical

damage as well. When a person’s mental health falters their physical being can begin to show

negative reactions. These symptoms can include fatigue, insomnia, tremors, headaches, nausea,

muscle atrophy, eye pain, and blurred vision, which are all characteristics of addictive behaviors.

Behaviors such as this affects how one interacts with others. People often become lazy, distant,

and scared of the outside world due to the fear of being judged by others. Rather then admitting

that they need help, people hide behind their phones which can lead to more health issues.

Multimedia applications and websites open the door to opportunities for cyberbullying,

manipulation, and corruption. The negative side-effects are what makes using social media so

damaging to both self-care and direct interaction. Without proper communication skills people

cannot function. Most adults and the elderly are able to identify the issue, and are able to dismiss

it, but as previously mentioned can still cause addictive characteristics to develop. It is a struggle
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that adolescents and teens do not understand. Children and teens who have already experienced

bullying are at more risk when they put themselves on an online platform. They become targets

of cyberbullying. Bullying others online can cause a vulnerable person to want to take their own

life.

E. Chuck (29 Apr.2020)

The above image shows statistics on child and teen suicide rates. It cannot be determined if it

was strictly social media that caused rates to increase, but studies show that media usage does

affect a person’s mental state (Chuck, 2020). A dramatic increase in suicide rates is what

sparked mass debate over the use of multimedia platforms. The effects are too negative and

harmful for adolescent and teen use. Online social settings not only damage a person’s mental

state and physical health, but also their ability to interact with others. People are more attracted

to the idea of hiding behind online personalities and disregard that they need face-to-face

communication to develop healthy identities. “…digital interactions may be a little more

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ephemeral, they're a little more fleeting, and you feel good, but that the feeling is quickly lost

versus face-to-face interaction” (Allen). Directly interacting with others is more satisfying than

communicating online. Forming personal connections with others helps develop lasting

relationships. Deep connections with a person can only be achieved in-person. Interactive

services only allow for pseudo-relationships to form, which is why social networks are unhealthy

when used addictively.

Nonetheless, social media can be perceived as a blessing to connect and stay connected

with others. Before virtual communities were formed, relationships could only be established by

meeting people face-to-face or by phone. This limited the number of connections a person could

make. However, with the invention of the internet and online networks, people from all over the

globe can communicate with each other in an online setting. While some of these connections

are not very personal or affectionate, it helps foster a sense of belonging. An interview allowing

teens to share their opinions on social media stated the following: “I think social media have a

positive effect because it lets you talk to family members far away.” (Girl, age 14). Another

stated, “I feel that social media can make people my age feel less lonely or alone. It creates a

space where you can interact with people.” (Girl, age 15) and that, “It enables people to connect

with friends easily and be able to make new friends as well.” (Boy, age 15)” (Anderson and

Jiang). Many people, not just teens, feel the same about the positive side of using the media. It

grants people the opportunity to express themselves, share content, form connections, and to

build and retain relationships. Regardless of physical boundaries, millions of people can

communicate with each other with the click of a button. The positive aspect that multimedia

introduces to interaction is that is broadens the ability for people to communicate. Using

interactive services is harmless if it is done within moderation. Too much media usage can lead
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to negative side-effects. From a business perspective, social networking allows entrepreneurs

and companies to make millions or even billions from creating media platforms.

In conclusion, direct interactions after the invention of social media has decreased, but

the need to communicate online has become more prevalent than ever before. Face-to-face

interactions have become less important causing a new wave of social awkwardness. Meeting in

person with peers, friends and family members should feel natural and fun, but the use of social

media has created an environment that is often guarded or full of false pretenses. Media rules

over the younger generation and has unwaveringly swayed the older generation into a new way

of life. Interactive services can affect adolescents and teens because of its negative impacts to

their overall development and mental health. According to current research and statistics,

adolescent and teen suicide rates are rising. The new social standard has made people feel

suffocated and trapped behind their phones or computers. Using media outlets can be

detrimental to forming meaningful relationships. However, using online platforms in moderation

can be a healthy way to learn and adapt communication skills. It is a medium that everyone will

inevitably be introduced to and used. With proper policing, social media can become a fun and

useful tool to connect people which is its original purpose. As in most cases, too much of

anything can be damaging to one’s overall health and using social media is no exception.

Stressing the use of strict monitoring should be incorporated as part of online community

guidelines. Understanding the pros and cons of using social media can help to mitigate the

harmful effects to people in general especially when it comes to spreading negativity or hate.
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