IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON TEENS PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

vidhyasanthanam3@gmail.com

S. Vidhya, Dr. G. Subramonian,

Ph.D. Research Scholar, Associate Professor,
Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya College of Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya College of
Education (Autonomous), Education (Autonomous),
SRKV post, SRKV post,
Periyanaickanpalayam, Periyanaickanpalayam,
Coimbatore - 641 020. Coimbatore - 641 020.

Abstract

The aim of the study is to explore the impact of social media on personality development
of teen agers. A qualitative approach has been adopted in order to explore the subject
matter clear and in precise form. Data was collected from 50 ninth and tenth standard
students of Nairs Vidhya Mandhir School (CBSE), Coimbatore. The grounded theory
method was used to reach the conclusion. The four social media factors that influence
personality development include: i. Communication skills, ii. Learning skills, iii.
Physical fitness and iv. Behavior. The findings show that social media has a positive effect
on the personality development of adolescents through educational and interventional
plans. The findings of the study can be used to maximize the positive effects of social
media on the personality development of adolescents. The study specifically identifies the
four personality factors that are altered by the use of social media.

Key words: Social media, Personality development, Communication skills, Learning

skills, Physical fitness and Behavior.

INTRODUCTION

Teens are undergoing dramatic changes. In addition to the biological changes of puberty,
they experience cognitive changes and that allow them to think more abstractly. The
ability to adapt well in the face of hard times is a valuable skill for young adults. Now we
are in the world of technology. The variety of stand-alone and built-in social media
services are currently available to the teen agers. Social media facilitate the development
of personality among teen agers. Personality development is the act of celebrating our
uniqueness without hesitations and boundaries, but only with more interest and
liveliness. Social media provide more interest and liveliness among teens to develop their
personality. Social media helps for personality development in the act of moving from an
inert and disinterested state of existence to a enthusiastic, motivated and joyous living for
teen agers.

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Sultan Alzahrani and Christian Bach (2014) investigated the impact of social media on
personality development. The study aims at examine the impact of social media on
personality development of adolescents and to identify the social media factors that
influence personality development. Data was collected using peer reviewed Journal
Articles. Grounded theory method was used to reach the conclusion. The findings of
the qualitative study shows that social media has an adverse effect on the personality
development of adolescents.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF THE VARIABLES

a. SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media are computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the creation and sharing
of information, ideas, career interests and other forms of expression via virtual
communities and social networking services.

b. TEENS

Teens means the years of a person's life between the ages of thirteen and nineteen
inclusive.

c. PERSONALITY

Personality is an integrated organization of physical, emotional, intellectual, social,

psychological and spiritual characteristics of an individual.

d. DEVELOPMENT
Development is an ongoing process.

PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

Personality development includes:

 Public Speaking
 Body Language
 Behavior
 Anger Management
 Physical Fitness
 Food Habit
 Friends making skills
 Learning skills
 Relationship skills
 Communication skills
 Dealing with problems

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

Internet and other forms of social media are now very much integrated with our daily lives
and teens are very deeply connected with the social media as they were born in a modern
era and in technically advanced period. The teens are highly influenced of social media.
So, the present study is carried out to find the positive impacts of social media on their
personality development.

METHODOLOGY

The investigator has adopted qualitative method for the present study. The method is
used to measure the human variables i.e. communications skills, learning skills, physical
fitness and behavior.

DATA ANALYSIS

Data was collected using group discussions and observation on focus groups. For the
present study the focus groups are 50 ninth and tenth standard students of Nairs Vidhya
Mandhir School (CBSE), Coimbatore.
FINDINGS OF THE STUDY

The aim of the research was to examine the impact of social media on teens personality
development.

Impact of Social Media on Teens Personality Development

Factor 1: COMMUNICATION SKILLS

The concept of social media is to communicate with mass of people. Social media is
described as the collection of online communication channels dedicated to community
based input, interaction, content sharing and collaboration. It is found that some of the
commonly known communication websites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and
Pinterest helps to share memories, connect with friends, plan for events and
communicate within the short duration. The social media has positive impact on
communication skills.

Factor 2: LEARNING SKILLS

It is revealed that social media promotes self-directed learning, which prepares teens to
search for answers and make decisions independently. The teens participate directly in
their own learning and acquire the desired learning style.

Factor 3: PHYSICAL FITNESS

It has been found that a quite different benefit of social media for teens is the availability
of information about health. It helps to keep fit their physical body.

Factor 4: BEHAVIOR

Social media provides positive effects on behavioral change on teens by improving their
self-esteem and self-concept.

RESEARCH LIMITATIONS

The study is limited only to ninth and tenth standard CBSE students of Coimbatore. The
qualitative method adopted in the study is subjective in nature and it requires the
investigator to use personal interpretation of data to reach conclusion.

EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS
The four factors identified in the research that influence personality development in
adolescents have many educational implications. Each factor can be studied elaborately
in future. The study has given influence to parents and school management about the
positive impact of social media in developing their children personality development.

CONCLUSION

Social media help teens to develop personality by way of improving self-confidence and
self-esteem. It also gives a route for positive thinking and develop a skills of decision-
making, questioning and communication. With the use of social media teen agers are able
to manage their time and anger. It provides a way for their future goal-setting.

REFERENCES

1. https://www.artofliving.org

2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org

3. www.apa.org

4. https://www.collinsdictionary.com

5. https://theknowledgereview.com

6. www.hdnews.net

7. https://www.ashford.edu

8. www.ijisr.issr-journals.org [Sultan Alzharani & Christian Bach, Impact of Social Media

on Personality Development, International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research,
Volume3, Issue 2, June 2014, Pages 111-116].