Social Media Overdose:

Advantages and Disadvantages

 

by: Noor AlToukhi

edited by: Farah Al-Takrouri

 

 

Not only does social media have a huge impact worldwide, it also has an impact at AIS-R. Teenagers have been addicted to social media now more than ever, according to Dr. Karrie Lager a child psychologist practicing in LA. Students use social media a lot now a days because it gives them the opportunity to do many things like connect with their friends and family easily, share experiences, and get updated on the latest trends. Students at AIS-R have a lot to say about this. Even though eighth grade student, Leena Khan who is an academically successful student, claims to “Not be able to live without social media”, we students have some negative things to say about social media as well.

 

“Personally I am fine with social media because it gives me a chance to connect with new people that I dont normally connect to in person, but I think students especially should only use social media for a specific amount of time because in my experience it has distracted me from my academics.” says Leena.

 

A survey was conducted at AIS-R and the results show that most 6th 7th and 8th students who use their phones don’t get 8 hours of sleep or more, and sleep is very important for various reasons, especially since there is a correlation between the amount of sleep you get and how well you do academically.  

 

According to Dr. John Young, a physician at West Virginia University Sleep Center, it takes longer to fall into a deep sleep while having the TV on and sometimes it may not even happen.

 

“ I think whether or not social media is good or bad depends on the person using it. Some students use it to communicate and collaborate, share ideas and creations, or raise awareness about important issues. Other students use social media to cyberbully and torment people, copy the work and ideas of others, or criticize the creative work of someone else.” says Mr. Adam Cross, the middle school technology teacher.

 

Haya Aldabbagh, an 8th grade AIS-R student thinks social media is a good method to connect with friends in a creative way.   “I think that the negative effects of social media depends on the person using it and not social media itself, because social media helps me to connect with my friends and I think that’s a good thing.”Haya is an academically successful student and she says she thinks that because she stopped using social media as much.

 

Samina barely even uses social media. “I use it when I have nothing better to do, If I can go outside and walk my dog I would prefer to do that then go on my phone and stay inside all day, I always feel like a slob when I do.” Samina is different than most of the students because she actually prefers to go outside and enjoy nature than to keep her eyes glued to a screen which is unhealthy.

 

According to the survey conducted at AIS-R, about 2% of the sixth and seventh graders and 11% of the eighth graders spend their break time using social media instead of socializing with people around them.

 

“Usually when my friends and I hangout, we spend most of our times using social media” expressed Sima Al Hakim, a sixth grader. These 11 year olds are developing these bad habits from now, when they have the opportunities to enjoy each others presence, but instead they don’t.

 

“I like social media because it keeps me updated on what's new, gives me opportunities to share my photos with my friends and it also keeps me in touch with the world.” claimed Mohamed Abouzied, an eighth grader who uses his phone a lot.

 

“In ways social media can be positive. This is because one can have a wider range to view the world. They can in seconds look at another person from a different culture's life style. One can also frequently and easily communicate with family in different parts of the worlds in seconds.” expressed Mira Fostoc, an eighth grader.  

 

With social media one can connect to other people in a variety of different ways. A person can look at someone’s lifestyle through different social medias and learn more about their culture, and can also keep in touch with people when they're away and communicate with families and friends who aren't with them.

 

“I think social media is good for students because not many students may socialize normally, but with social media it makes people more social and makes them socialize more.” says Shaher Tabbaa, an eighth grader. Some people think it’s easier to connect with other people using social media instead of  interacting face-to-face.

 

Some students feel uncomfortable to ask teachers for help, so instead they use different social medias to contact friends they're comfortable with and ask them for help instead.”It can also lead to cheating because one can take pictures of their homework and share it with many others using social media.” claimed Khalil Elhajal, an eighth grader.

 

Social media affects students negatively and positively. A lot of it is considered to be bad and is concerning especially since most teenagers are addicted to social media, but it is also a great way to keep in touch with many different people.

 

 

http://www.cdkglobaldigitalmarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/dealership-social-media.png