Victoria Ride out, Melissa Saphir investigated that using social media like Facebook and Twitter has become part of life. How important social media are today, many parents, educators, and other adults are deeply interested in the role of these media in teens’ lives. Some are optimistic about the potential benefits of social media for learning, development, and creativity; others are concerned about the negative impact these media may have, especially when it comes to teens’ social and emotional well-being. Almost all teenagers in America today have used social media. Nine out of 10 (90%) 13- to 17-year-olds have used some form of social media. Three out of four (75%) teenagers currently have a profile on a social networking site, and one in five (22%) has a current Twitter account (27% have ever used Twitter). Facebook utterly dominates social networking use among teens: 68% of all teens say Facebook is their main social networking site, compared to 6% for Twitter, 1% for Google Plus, and 1% for MySpace.Many more teens report a positive impact of social media use on their emotional well-being than a negative one. Very few teens think that using their social network site makes them more depressed.Among all teen social network users, only 5% say using their social networking site makes them feel more depressed, compared to 10% who say it makes them feel less depressed. More than one in four teens say that using their social networking site makes them feel less shy and more outgoing; one in five says it makes them feel more confident and more sympathetic to others and some say it makes them feel better about themselves. By comparison say social networking makes them feel less outgoing; 4% feel worse about them¬selves, less confident, and less popular after using their social networking site; and 3% feel shyer.
Dr. M. Neelamalar & Ms. P. Chitrahad undertaken a research that has been to shed light on the evolution of the dominance of social networking sites among the Internet users and its eventual outcome in the social behavior patterns of youth (17-22 years). Previous research in spheres of social networking sites and its impact on youth in different global and demographic context provided an extensive secondary source base for the study. As with many technologies, adoption of the Internet especially for its social uses has seen its highest levels of usage among younger users. The majority of current college students have had access to the Internet and computers for a large percentage of their lives. These digital natives see these technologies as a logical extension of traditional communication methods, and perceive social networking sites as often a much quicker and more convenient way to interact. That they are aware of the danger and risk involved in these sites is a positive indicator that Indian youth are not only techno-savvy and socially active through social networking sites but they also possess social consciousness.
Teenagers are among the most creative users of social network sites (SNS). June Ahn, (2011)find that youth spend a considerable portion of their daily life interacting through social media. Given its popularity, parents and educators have considerable concerns about the effects of SNS on their children and students. These concerns range from youth privacy, safety, psychological well-being, social development, and academic performance. The technical definition of SNS still provides a shared conceptual foundation. Comparing across common features, three features profile, friend traversing, friend lists, represent the core defining characteristics of SNS. Social networking features are increasingly integrate into other types of media tools and online communities. SNS are an exciting new environment to study because the technology is such an integral part of teenage life. It was also find out that teens use social technologies to explore deeper into interest driven communities and activities. SNS provide a platform for youth to participate in communities that help them learn, and practice skills, within particular knowledge areas. Technical features and infrastructure of a particular SNS community impact user behavior. Social factors such as Teens bring already existing social, psychological, and emotional characteristics into the online community. Information sharing and instances of academic support may be related to higher school achievement. It was also investigated about social media sites that adolescents do in fact practice these skills.
