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Session 2022-2026

Submitted by:

Airus Maqbool 22_CS_402

Submitted to:

Mr. Ahmad Ali

Department of Computer Science, RCET campus

University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, Pakistan

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The Impact of Social Media on Youth

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Contents
Topics: Pg no:

Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………………….4

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………..5

Impact of social media on youth...........................................................................................5

Statement of Problem………………………………………………………………………………7

Significance of the Study…………………………………………………………………………..7

Objective of the Study………………………………………………………………………………7

Methodology of the Study…………………………………………………………………………..7

Populations………………………………………………………………………………………….7

Formula for Calulations…………………………………………………………………………….8

Reviews……………………………………………………………………………………………...8

Negative effects of social media……………………………………………………………….....20

Why People spend most of their time on social media…………………………………………23

Conclusion...........................................................................................................................25

Recommendations…………………………………………………………………………………26

References………………………………………………………………………………………….27
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Abstract

Social media is such a network to interact with the society, its people and to know about its trends.

Nowadays, social media is involved in human‟s life to such an extent that the life seems impossible without

it. Even a lay man has an android mobile and knows how to use internet and how to interact on social

media.The main objective of this report to analyze how people thinks about social media ? How much they

find it helpful for them? What are the advantages and disadvantages of social media? Is this so much

diversity and liberty allowed by social media is helpful for youth or is just causing chaos?This report

basically describes how social media reflects one person‟s life? In this report some data is added that is

collected from the reviews of 300 students. How they answered different questions about social media is

mentioned in this report. Also which social app people preffer most, on what basis and how? From people‟s

reviews it can be stated that people apparently seems depedent on social media and internet. They feels

good to spend time on social media, they feel good when followers give them attention and praise them.

People also find social media the most quick platform for buisness and advertisement.To learn skills and

oppurtunities is very ease through social media. In their opinion social media helped them a lot. But its

contrary, people also feels that social media cause the wastage of time thorugh its reels system. Most

people get stucked for hours on social media. Nowadays, no ones life is personal. The excessive use of

social media is also affecting individual‟s mindset, his performance. To elaborate the view about this topic

chunks from different articles are also added.

Social media is the most powerful mean. Due to it world has just become a click away. This is the click that

can us lead to do right or wrong with social media. It can be fruitful and amazing bliss if is used for positive

purposes but can be as dangerous as one can think if is not used properly. So, it is necessary to use it

properly and totally its advantages and disadvantages depend upon users mentality and thoughts. To make
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it useful it is necessary to guide its user.

Keywords: Social media, Networking sites, Facebook, YouTube, Impact, Online Communication, Youth

Mindset.

INTRODUCTION:

Social media, the contemporary communication frontier, introduces a range of features enabling

messaging, image/video sharing, and global connectivity. Widely adopted across age groups, particularly

among the youth, it marks a transition from traditional media. This study investigates the diverse influence

of social media on youth aspects, including lifestyle, trends, education, political awareness, physical

activities, and social interactions.

Andres Kaplan's (2010) definition characterizes social media as internet-based platforms facilitating user-

generated content exchange. Recognizing its importance, Merriam Webster emphasizes the youth, those

not yet adults, as pivotal for societal advancement. Social media, deemed essential for youth development,

supports education, cultural/religious promotion, communication skills enhancement, and societal

contribution.

The Internet and American Life Project highlight social media's impact on various American life facets,

spanning demographics, government, education, family, health, news, and technology. Platforms like

Facebook, Skype, Twitter, YouTube, and MySpace are bridges fostering connections across diverse

backgrounds.

Shrestha Lucky (2013) describes social media as a virtual community hub for information and idea sharing.

According to American psychologist Alison Doyle, it simplifies online communication through text, audio,

video, and multimedia. Emphasizing global organizational success, Anthony J. Bradley (2009) underscores

six core principles, including collaboration.\

In essence, social media serves as an online space for personalized connections, information exchange,

and interactions. This study highlights its pivotal role in shaping youth communication dynamics and

societal interaction, emphasizing the need to understand and apply core principles for effective
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engagement.

IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON YOUTH

Social media having various impacts on youth‟s life in both ends some time impacts are in the favor of

youth‟s social life and sometimes theses impact are negative to its user. Social Media might be sometimes

seemed like just a new set of cool tools for involving young people. Sometimes you may use it this way and

that's ok there are some pretty cool new tools around but the emergence of social media potentially has a

bigger impact than that. It impacts upon young people who are growing up in an age where media is not

about broadcast content from the TV, but is about interactivity, multimedia and multi-tasking. And it impacts

upon organizations who need to remain relevant to a new generation, and who find their own work and

structures being changed by changing communication tools and patterns of communications (Anthony,

2009).

Social media impact on youth on both ends good and bad social media is one of most influences impacting

source throughout the world including Pakistan people do have these influences of social media which has

enhanced the exposure of the people and create more awareness among youth. Youth is highly involved

in social media.

BBC news research (2013) their research discuss that sixty seven percent Facebook users very common

and well known social media portal comprised of the youth and students so this compliment the fact the

youth and student have more focus and relation such asocial media the negative use of social media occur

when students involves themselves in unethical activities on social media portal, sharing of useless

information, and posting such as images that are injurious national dignity and foreign relationship of

country (Sekho, 2013).

Tanya Byron points out in the Byron review that in part, young people are turning to digital connection

because fears about traffic or 'stranger danger' have led to restrictions on how much young people are

allowed to go out and socialize. Social media tools are woven into many young people's day-to-day lives.

Young people are in conversation and communication with their peer groups using a wide variety of
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different media and media devices every day. 10 years ago, young people may have only been in touch

with friends and peer-groups when hanging out at school, or meeting up in town. Now young people can be

touch through instant messaging, social networks, online games and many other tools. Young people are

growing up in a constantly connected society.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

The study was design to analyzed the impact of social media on youth, how social media is influencing on

youth in different aspects of social life, political awareness, religious practices, educational learning, trends

adopting, sports activities earning and so on.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is expedient to apply social media in right direction for youth and create cognizance among

youth that proper use of social media become a solid tool to educate, inform and groomed the mentality

level of youth social media refine their living style of public especially for youth it is also create an

responsiveness that how it is effecting the social life the deteriorate social norm, society standards and

ethics of society and create awareness among youth the aspect of social media.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To analyze the influence of social media on youth social life

2. To evaluate direction of youth to utilizing social media.

3. To assess the beneficial and preferred form of social media for youth.

4. To evaluate the attitude of youth towards social media and measure the spending time on social media.

5. To analyze the dependency of youth on social media and it‟s exhausting in life routine.

6. To recommend some measure for proper use of social media in right direction to inform and educate the

people.

METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY

The descriptive method was used to carry this study. Questionare‟s data is also involved and also some

articles and case studies.

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Populations

The population of the study contains on youth of a University (300 people).

Formulas Used to Find Average and Percentage

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

The collected data was put into special software designed for social sciences. The software then analyzed

the data and presented it in the form of tables and graphs. The analysis included calculating percentages,

frequencies, and mean scores using statistical formulas.

Reviews

So, following are the reviews collected through the questioners to know what are the youth‟s opinions
about different aspects of social media:

Table 1 displays the preferred social media platforms. Nearly half (49.3%) chose Facebook as their

favourite, 38.6% favored Skype, 8.6% preferred Twitter, 1.4% liked YouTube, and 0.3% selected MySpace.

Additionally, 1.7% of respondents did not provide a preference.

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Table 2 shows that students were asked social media is beneficial for youth in the field of education, where

43.45% of the respondents agree, and 36.65% of the respondent responded strongly agree. While 12.8%

of respondents was uncertain about the statement.

In Table 3, an examination of students' perspectives on various social media activities, including chatting,
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calling, sharing links, and liking links, reveals insightful patterns. The data indicates that a significant portion

of respondents, comprising 41.0%, agreed, and an additional 23.8% strongly agreed with the notion that

engaging in these social media activities is perceived as a waste of time for youth. Moreover, 19.0% of

respondents expressed uncertainty about the statement.

Contrastingly, a smaller proportion, 11.4%, disagreed, and a mere 2.1% strongly disagreed with the idea

that these social media activities are time-wasting for the youth. The mean score of 3.75 further supports

the prevalence of the perspective that these activities are, indeed, a significant time drain. This mean score

is indicative of the majority of respondents aligning with the notion that engaging in social media activities,

such as chatting, calling, sharing links, and liking links, is perceived as time-wasting for the youth.

Interestingly, a small percentage, 2.8%, did not provide a response to this particular statement, leaving

room for speculation about the reasons behind their non-response. Overall, the data paints a clear picture

that a substantial portion of respondents holds the view that certain social media activities are considered

time-wasting for the youth, underlining the need for further exploration of these perceptions and their

implications.
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In Table 4, students were asked if the use of social media is deteriorating our social norms. Of the

respondents, 39.31% agreed, and 29.31% strongly agreed with the statement. Approximately 16.6% of

respondents were uncertain about the statement. Meanwhile, 9.0% disagreed, and 1.4% strongly

disagreed, resulting in a mean score of 3.90 supporting the statement. This indicates that the majority of

respondents supported the idea. Additionally, 4.5% of the respondents did not provide a response to this

statement.

The mean score of 3.95 supported the idea, indicating that the majority of respondents endorsed the

statement.

Additionally, 3.8% of the respondents did not provide a response to this statement.

In Table 5, students were asked whether social media is necessary for youth nowadays. Of the

respondents, 43.80% agreed, and 27.24% strongly agreed with the statement. Around 13.4% of

respondents were uncertain about the statement, while 6.2% disagreed, and 6.2% strongly disagreed. The

mean score of 3.82 supported the statement, indicating that the majority of respondents supported the

idea. Additionally, 3.1% of the respondents did not provide a response to this statement.
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Table 7 asked students if social media encourages the sharing of unethical pictures, video clips, and

images among youth. In response, 37.93% agreed, and 33.79% strongly agreed with the statement. About

13.8% of respondents were uncertain, while 6.9% disagreed, and 3.8% strongly disagreed. The mean

score of 3.95 supported the idea, indicating that the majority of respondents endorsed the statement.

Additionally, 3.8% of the respondents did not provide a response to this statement.

Table 8. Irrelevant and anti-religious post and links create hatred among peoples of different
communities
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Students were questioned about whether irrelevant and anti-religious posts and links create hatred among

people of different communities. In response, 57.6% of the respondents agreed, and 20.00% strongly

agreed with the statement. Around 10.3% of respondents were uncertain, while 1.0% disagreed, and 6.9%

strongly disagreed. The mean score of 3.86 supported the idea, signifying that the majority of respondents

endorsed the statement. Moreover, 4.1% of the respondents did not provide a response to this statement.

Means more people „s opinion is that they got confused and frustrated with irrelevant posts and anti-

religious posts. It is a usuall thing that when people listens about others religions they get frustrated.

Moreover, media is also a source to create ambiguity in one person‟s mind related to his or her religion or

prespective.

Table 9. Social media is becoming a hobby of youth to kill the time

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Students were asked whether social media has become a pastime for youth to pass the time. Results

showed that 43.10% of the respondents agreed, with an additional 32.07% strongly agreeing.

Table 10. Social media have positive impact on youth

Table 12 shows that statement students were asked social media have positive impact on youth, where

37.93% of the respondents agree, and 21.72% of the respondent responded strongly agree and 25.5% of

respondents were uncertain about the statement while 8.6% disagreed, 3.4 % were strongly disagreed with
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the statement. The mean score 3.68 supported the statement. So the majority of respondents supported

the statement. While 2.8% of the respondents did not responded for this statement.

Table 11. Social media is creating awareness among youth for new trends

Table 11 indicates that students were asked whether social media is creating awareness among youth for

new trends. The results show that 51.03% of the respondents agreed, and an additional 30.00% strongly

agreed. Approximately 10.0% of respondents were uncertain about the statement, while 2.1% disagreed,

and 4.1% strongly disagreed. The mean score of 4.04 supported the idea, indicating that the majority of

respondents endorsed the statement. Moreover, 2.8% of the respondents did not provide a response to this

statement.

Table 12. Social media is the source to get knowledge and information
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In the Table 12 students were asked if social media is the source to get knowledge and information, where

48.62% of the respondents agree, 30.69% of the respondent responded strongly agree. While 11.0% of

respondents were uncertain about the statement and 3.1% were disagreed, 3.4% were strongly disagreed

with it. The mean score 4.03 supported the statement. So the majority of respondents supported the

statement. While 3.1% of the respondents did not responded for this statement.

Table 13. Social media is useful to connect the people all over the world

Table 13 shows that students were asked social media are useful to connect the people all over the world.
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Where 46.21% of the respondents agree, 30.34% of the respondent responded strongly agree. While

14.8% of respondents were uncertain about the statement and 4.1%respondents were disagreed, 2.1%

were strongly disagreed with the statement. The mean score 4.01 supported the statement. So the majority

of respondents supported the statement. While 2.4% of the respondents did not responded for this

statement.

Table 14. Social media is essential for youth to get learning and skills

In Table 18, 5.31 students were asked that social media is essential for youth to get learning and skills.

Where 51.03% of the respondents agree, 25.86% of the respondent responded strongly agree. While

13.1% of respondents were uncertain about the statement and 4.8%were disagreed, 1.4% was strongly

disagreed with the statement. The mean score 3.99 supported the statement. So the majority51.03% of

respondents supported the statement. While 3.8% of the respondents did not responded for this statement.

Table 15. Social media is a facilitator to advertise and search business for youth
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Table 15 shows that students were asked that social media is a facilitator to advertise and search business

for youth. Where 40.00% of the respondents agree, 29.7% of the respondent responded strongly agree.

While 17.6% of respondents were uncertain about the statement 7.6% were disagreed, 1.0% were strongly

disagreed with the statement. The mean score 3.94 supported the statement. So the majority of

respondents supported the statement. While 4.1% of the respondents did not responded for this statement.

Table 16. Which social media app is more popular and in use

As of the first quarter of 2022, the provided statistics highlight the active monthly user counts for some of

the major social media platforms. Facebook remains the leading social media platform with the highest

number of active monthly users. It is a general-purpose social networking platform that allows users to

connect with friends, share updates, and engage with content posted by others.YouTube holds the second
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position with a substantial number of active monthly users. It is a video-sharing platform where users can

upload, share, and discover a wide range of videos, including educational content, entertainment, and user-

generated content. WhatsApp is ranked third and is widely used as a messaging app. It allows users to

send text messages, make voice and video calls, and share multimedia content. It is known for its end-to-

end encryption and is commonly used for personal and business communication. Instagram is the fourth-

ranked platform, focusing on photo and video sharing. It is known for its visual-centric content and features

such as Stories, IGTV, and Reels. Instagram is owned by Facebook and has become a popular platform for

influencers and businesses. Twitter holds the fifth position with a significant user base. It is a microblogging

platform where users share short messages called tweets. Twitter is often used for real-time updates, news

sharing, and engaging in conversations through hashtags.

These statistics showcase the dominance of Facebook in the social media landscape, with its ecosystem

including WhatsApp and Instagram. YouTube, as a video-centric platform, also boasts a substantial user

base. The numbers reflect the popularity of these platforms and their widespread use for communication,

content sharing, and social interaction on a global scale.

Figure 1: chart for most popular social media platform 2022

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Above are the reviews of the people but it is also important to mention the other side that might be blurr to
youth so, Here are some important thing to add in this report which will help to give a conclusion and to
overview the topic “social media and its impact on youth” in detail.

The Negative Impact of Social Media on Youths

Social media platforms, designed to be engaging and interactive, often lead individuals, particularly the

youth, to develop addictive behaviors. The continuous scroll feature and the instant gratification of likes and

comments contribute to the compulsion to spend excessive time on these platforms. Users may find

themselves mindlessly scrolling, leading to a significant time sink that could be spent more productively.

Social media influencers, especially on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, meticulously curate and

present a stylized version of their lives. The constant exposure to this idealized content can create

unrealistic expectations and standards for the audience. Users may feel pressured to live up to these

unattainable ideals, resulting in feelings of inadequacy and a distorted perception of reality.

The pursuit of social validation through likes, comments, and followers often fosters attention-seeking

behavior. Individuals may resort to extreme actions, such as posting provocative content or engaging in

attention-grabbing stunts, to gain online popularity. This culture of seeking constant approval contributes to

a competitive atmosphere, where self-worth is tied to online metrics.

Social media platforms, by their nature, facilitate the rapid dissemination of content, including violent and

graphic imagery. Exposure to such content can desensitize individuals to violence, leading to a

normalization of aggressive behavior. The widespread sharing of violent content contributes to a culture

where extreme actions are sensationalized and, in some cases, emulated.

The oversharing culture on social media has led to a gradual erosion of personal privacy. Users willingly

disclose intimate details of their lives, making personal information easily accessible to a broad audience.

This lack of distinction between public and private life can have unintended consequences, as individuals

may face repercussions or judgment based on their online presence.

The anonymity afforded by social media platforms often emboldens individuals to engage in cyberbullying.

Targets may be chosen based on their appearance, opinions, or other personal attributes. Cyberbullying
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can have severe psychological consequences, with victims experiencing heightened levels of stress,

anxiety, and, in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts.

The constant exposure to carefully curated content can lead to the development of either an inferiority

complex or a superiority complex. Users may feel inferior when comparing their lives to the seemingly

perfect lives of influencers, fostering self-doubt and negative self-perception. Conversely, those with a

significant online following may develop a sense of superiority, leading to a disconnect from the reality of

their impact on their audience.

Social media's rapid information-sharing capabilities make it susceptible to the spread of misinformation

and rumors. False narratives can gain traction quickly, contributing to societal panic, unrest, and the

erosion of trust in reliable sources. The amplification of misinformation on social media can have real-world

consequences, affecting public opinion and decision-making.

Some individuals gain popularity by creating content that includes double meaning jokes or inappropriate

material. Such content, often shared for shock value or humor, can influence a younger audience

negatively, contributing to a decline in moral standards and social norms.

In conclusion, while social media offers connectivity and various opportunities, it is crucial to acknowledge

and address the nuanced negative impacts it can have on mental health, societal behavior, and the overall

fabric of our daily lives.

Social media can inadvertently facilitate the promotion and dissemination of harmful activities, including
dangerous games like the Blue Whale Challenge, which has been linked to incidents of self-harm and
suicides. Here's an explanation of how social media contributes to the spread of such harmful content:

How social media promote criminal content:

1. Ease of Communication:

Social media platforms provide a convenient and anonymous means of communication, allowing

individuals to connect with others globally. This ease of communication enables the creators or promoters

of harmful activities to reach a large audience quickly.

2. Viral Spread of Content:

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Social media's viral nature can lead to the rapid dissemination of content, whether it's harmless trends or,

unfortunately, dangerous challenges like the Blue Whale Game. Once a harmful idea gains traction, it can

spread rapidly across networks, reaching vulnerable individuals who might be influenced to participate.

3. Anonymous Platforms:

Some social media platforms allow users to engage with content anonymously. This anonymity can

embolden individuals to create and share harmful content without fear of accountability. It also makes it

challenging for authorities to track down and intervene in cases of illegal or harmful activities.

4. Manipulation of Vulnerable Individuals:

The creators of harmful challenges often prey on vulnerable individuals, exploiting their psychological

vulnerabilities. Social media allows these manipulative tactics to be deployed on a large scale, reaching a

diverse audience of users who may be more susceptible to such manipulation.

5. Peer Pressure and Social Validation:

Social media fosters a culture of peer pressure and social validation, where individuals may feel

compelled to participate in challenges or activities to gain acceptance or recognition from their online peers.

This pressure can be particularly intense among younger users who may be more susceptible to social

influence.

6. Lack of Content Regulation:

Some social media platforms may struggle to effectively regulate and monitor the vast amounts of content

being uploaded daily. This lack of stringent content regulation can result in harmful challenges slipping

through the cracks, reaching a wide audience before platforms can take action.

7. Challenges in Detection and Removal:

Identifying and removing harmful content can be challenging for social media platforms, especially when

it is shared in closed groups or private messages. By the time platforms become aware of dangerous

challenges, they may have already affected a significant number of users.

8. Copycat Behavior:
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The widespread coverage of harmful challenges on social media can lead to copycat behavior, with

individuals attempting to replicate or escalate the dangerous activities. The visibility of these challenges

may inadvertently encourage others to participate, leading to a chain reaction of harm.

9. Global Reach:

Social media's global reach allows harmful content to transcend geographical boundaries. A challenge

initiated in one part of the world can quickly gain international attention, making it challenging for authorities

to address the issue effectively.

In the case of the Blue Whale Challenge, the combination of these factors contributed to its spread and the

subsequent harm it caused. It's crucial for social media platforms, law enforcement, and communities to

work together to monitor and mitigate the impact of such harmful activities, prioritizing the safety and well-

being of users.

Why People spend most of their time on social media?

The dependency of youth on social media can indeed have significant implications for their daily lives,

potentially leading to exhaustion in their life routines. Here's a detailed exploration of this phenomenon:

1. Constant Connectivity:

Social media fosters a culture of constant connectivity. Youth, in particular, may feel the need to stay

online consistently to keep up with the latest updates, trends, and conversations. The fear of missing out

(FOMO) can drive individuals to check their social media accounts regularly, even at the expense of other

responsibilities.

2. Time Consuming:

Social media platforms are designed to be engaging, with endless scrolling features and notifications that

encourage prolonged usage. The youth may find themselves spending substantial amounts of time on

these platforms, unintentionally diverting time from essential activities such as studying, working, or

maintaining face-to-face relationships.

3. Distraction from Real-world Responsibilities:

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Excessive engagement with social media can be a distraction from real-world responsibilities. Tasks that

require focus and concentration may be compromised as individuals frequently interrupt their routines to

check notifications or respond to messages.

4. Impact on Productivity:

The constant influx of information and stimuli on social media can negatively impact productivity. Youth

may struggle to concentrate on tasks for extended periods, leading to reduced efficiency in academic or

professional pursuits.

5. Comparison and Self-esteem Issues:

Social media often portrays curated and idealized versions of others' lives. The youth, constantly exposed

to such content, may engage in social comparison, leading to feelings of inadequacy or low self-esteem.

This emotional toll can be exhausting, as individuals may strive to meet unrealistic standards set by their

online peers.

6. Sleep Disruption:

The use of social media, especially before bedtime, can disrupt sleep patterns. The constant exposure to

screens and engaging content may interfere with the quality and duration of sleep, impacting overall well-

being and energy levels during the day.

7. Pressure to Conform:

Social media can create a pressure to conform to societal expectations and trends. Youth may feel

compelled to adopt specific behaviors, lifestyles, or appearance standards prevalent on social platforms,

leading to a sense of exhaustion from the effort to fit in.

8. Online Validation:

Seeking validation through likes, comments, and shares on social media can become emotionally

draining. The dependence on online validation for self-worth may lead to stress and anxiety, as individuals

may feel pressured to curate content that garners positive reactions from their peers.

9. Impact on Mental Health:

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The constant exposure to curated content, comparison, and the pressure to maintain a certain online

image can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. The cumulative impact of

these factors can create emotional exhaustion, affecting the overall well-being of young individuals.

10. Loss of Real-world Connections:

Dependency on social media can lead to a reduction in face-to-face interactions. Real-world

relationships may suffer as individuals spend more time in the digital realm, contributing to feelings of

isolation and loneliness.

Conclusion:

Social media has become an integral part of our lives, allowing us to connect with others, stay updated on

trends, and share our experiences. Almost everyone, regardless of their technological expertise, now

possesses a smartphone and knows how to navigate social media platforms. This report aims to

understand people's thoughts on social media, exploring its benefits and drawbacks through the

perspectives of 300 students.

According to the gathered data, it's evident that people find social media incredibly helpful. Many

appreciate its quick and efficient nature for business, advertisement, and learning opportunities. The ease

of connecting with others and gaining followers' attention brings a sense of fulfillment and positivity.

However, alongside these advantages, concerns have surfaced, particularly regarding the addictive nature

of features like reels.

One noteworthy finding is the impact of social media on personal boundaries. Nowadays, it seems

challenging to keep one's life truly private, raising questions about the fine line between public and personal

spheres. Additionally, the excessive use of social media is affecting individuals' mental well-being and

overall performance, as noted in various articles.

Social media is undoubtedly a powerful tool, bringing the world closer with just a click. Its potential for

positive outcomes is immense, from connecting people globally to providing learning opportunities.

However, this power comes with risks, especially when not used responsibly. The report emphasizes the
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need for users to approach social media with awareness, considering its advantages and disadvantages

based on their mindset and thoughtful engagement.

In simple terms, social media is like a double-edged sword – it can be a fantastic tool if used wisely, but it

can also be risky if misused. The responsibility lies not only with the platforms but also with the users. By

using social media responsibly, we can make the most of its positive aspects and navigate this digital world

in a way that benefits us and others.

Recommendations:

In light of the findings and observations regarding social media usage, several recommendations emerge

for fostering a more responsible and positive engagement with these platforms. To ensure that individuals

make the most of the benefits while mitigating potential drawbacks, the following suggestions are offered:

Firstly, users are encouraged to establish clear boundaries between their online and offline lives. Setting

specific time limits for social media usage can help prevent the negative impact of excessive screen time

on mental well-being and overall performance.

Secondly, platforms should actively promote digital literacy and responsible use. This includes educating

users about the potential consequences of addictive features like reels and the importance of discerning

between genuine content and misinformation.

Furthermore, users should prioritize quality over quantity in their online interactions. Focusing on

meaningful connections and valuable content can contribute to a more positive and fulfilling social media

experience.

It is also recommended that individuals regularly review and curate their social media feeds. Unfollowing

accounts that contribute to a negative mindset or feelings of inadequacy can help create a more uplifting

and supportive online environment.

Additionally, both users and platforms should be vigilant against cyberbullying and harmful content.

Implementing and enforcing robust policies against such behaviors can contribute to a safer and more

inclusive online community.

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Lastly, ongoing research and discussions should be encouraged to better understand the evolving

dynamics of social media and its impact on individuals. This will facilitate the development of informed

guidelines and policies to ensure a balanced and responsible use of these platforms.

In conclusion, by implementing these recommendations, users can navigate the digital landscape more

effectively, maximizing the positive aspects of social media while minimizing potential drawbacks. The

responsibility for fostering a healthier online environment rests not only with individuals but also with the

platforms themselves, urging a collaborative effort to shape a more mindful and positive digital space.

References:

Tables data collected from:

https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/55309862/Impact_of_Socia_media_on_youth-libre.pdf?

This is case study on bhawalpur city in which quostionere had been conducted to know the youth‟s opinion
about social media.

Table 16 :

https://azeecomputing.com/worlds-most-popular-social-media-platforms-active-users-statistics-2010-2022/

psychology of social media:

https://online.king.edu/news/psychology-of-social-media/

Figure 1:

https://www.google.com/search?q=charts+on+usage+of+socal+media&

Negative impact of social media on youth:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/373627841_The_Negative_Impact_of_Social_Media_on_Youth's
_Social_Lives#

why people spent most of their time on social media:

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/content/23-reasons-why-people-spend-more-time-social-media

Formulas:

https://azeecomputing.com/worlds-most-popular-social-media-platforms-active-users-statistics-2010-2022/