Running head: CRITICAL REVIEW

Critical Review: Online Social Networking and Mental Health

Student Name
Institution
CRITICAL REVIEW 2

Critical Review
Pantic, I. (2014). Online Social Networking and Mental Health. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and

Social Networking, 17(10), 652-657.

The use of social networking sites has attracted interests from different scholars. Notably,
psychologists have conducted several studies to assess the effects of social networking use on
human behaviors. Initially, executing such studies was a daunting task for researchers due to the
limited use of these sites. However, with the growth and spread of internet use, scientists have
found sufficient study populations to conduct their studies. In this article, Pantic (2014) offers a
summary of several studies that have been done to evaluate the relationship between online
social networking sites use and mental health. Although several studies have been conducted on
the implications of social networking sites use, there are discrepancies between psychologists on
their effects on the users’ mental health.
This article presents conflicting findings from various studies conducted on the effects of social
networking sites on the user's psychological well-being. Specifically, the article majors on three
psychological aspects which are depression, self-esteem, and addiction. As highlighted in the
article, it is difficult to articulate the specific influence of social networking sites on these three
variables. Apparently, the studies reviewed in the article indicate that these sites can either be
beneficial or detrimental to the psychological stability of their users. For instance, their author
points out that social networking sites like Facebook can either lower or raise the self -esteem of
the users. The level of damage or gain depends on the individual's attributes and actions in the
sites. According to the author, activities like constant self-evaluation, comparing one's
achievement with others, and competition can either positively or negatively influence self-
esteem.
On depression, the author notes that the issue is as complicated as that one of self-esteem. In fact,
he argues that it is challenging to establish whether the depressive signs observed in users
emanates from social networking sites use or elsewhere. However, he suggests that age may
influence how people react to social networking sites content and challenges. Additionally,
Pantic deliberates that time spent on online can be associated with depressive symptoms. The
reason behind this argument is that computer-based communication can negatively alter how
people perceive their achievement, happiness or self-image. However, the author is quick to
point out that these impressions can also serve as motivation to the users. Finally, the writer
notes that there have been insufficient studies on social networking sites addiction. Notably, he
questions the quality of studies which have been done to assess the issue of internet addiction.
Pantic argues that these studies lack a psychiatry dimension rendering them ineffective.
Additionally, he notes that the internet or social networking sites addiction is yet to be classified
as mental disorders in disease classification manuals. In this respect, he partially refutes the
claims that social networking sites addiction is a mental disorder.
The strong points of this article are that it utilizes a significant amount scientific studies to
advance its arrangements. The use of multiple studies to support the article's arguments
illustrates that its deliberations are reliable and valid. Furthermore, the author provides an in-
depth description of the inclusion criteria of the articles reviewed. The provision of an inclusion
criterion satisfies the requirements of conducting an evidence-based critical study. The author
CRITICAL REVIEW 3

also presents the shortcomings of the studies he used to support his arguments. For instance, he
notes that the studies on social networking sites addiction have a methodological inefficiency.
This act is an illustration of intellectual honesty and protects the audience from being misled by
the findings of a study. In his conclusion, the writer gives a detailed suggestion on how future
studies on this topic should be designed. These suggestions illustrate that the author has critically
examined all the relevant methodologies and identified their shortcomings. In fact, the essence
of carrying out scientific studies is to provide solutions to existing problems.
However, this article does not solve its research problem sufficiently. Instead, it only provides
the inefficiencies of the previous studies conducted in this areas. Although reviewing previous
studies is a good approach when handling health studies, it does not provide a solution to the
present situation. Apparently, the author should have presented a final verdict on the relationship
between social networking site usage and mental disorder. However, he evades answering the
study's research question. Secondly, the arguments of this articles are only restricted to one social
networking platform which is Facebook. This restriction implies that it’s finding and conclusions
may not be relevant to other social networking sites like Twitter or Instagram.
Additionally, the author does not specify which Facebook or social networking sites' element he
is assessing. For instance, online social platforms like Facebook have multiple components like
messaging, status update, and comments. In medical studies, these different elements impact
differently on the psychological conditions of the users. This lack of a niche makes the study to
lose its objectivity. Apart from methodological inconsistencies, the article also lacks a sufficient
theoretical framework to support its deliberations. In this study, psychological theories including
the looking-glass self and self- perception theory are vital in enabling the reader to understand
some of the arguments presented. For example, the author should have used the looking-glass
self-theory to explain how Facebook use lowers or raises a person's self-esteem. However, the
economical use of theories in this article makes it look like a compendium of research articles.
Conclusively, this article provides a solid foundation for conduction future studies on the
relationship between social networking sites and mental disorder. Despite its shortcomings, the
article outlines the key issues that researchers should avoid when conduction studies on the
psychological disorders associated with social networking sites usage. Additionally, it proves
that conducting psychological studies is not an easy task and scientists should incorporate
technology in addressing emerging issues.