B.A., LL. B (Hons.

)/ Third Semester

Research paper

TOPIC-A Study of Impact of Social Media on Youth

Submitted To:

Prof. Khushboo Dua

School of Law, NMIMS (Deemed-to-be University)

Submitted By:

Kavya Jain

A008

Sap ID: 81012100014

B.A., LL. B (Second Year)

School of Law, NMIMS (Deemed-to-be University)

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

S. NO PARTICULARS PAGE NO.

1. INTRODUCTION 2

2. LITERATURE REVIEW 3

3. OBJECTIVES & METHODOLOGY 4

4. ANALYSIS OF OBJECTIVES 4-5

5. SUGGESTIONS & CONCLUSION 6

6. BIBLIOGRAPHY 7

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INTRODUCTION
In the modern world, social networking is becoming an absolute requirement. It is essential to
our everyday lives. No one is able to escape its impact. It has always been intriguing to learn
its effect on India's younger generation. The proliferation of social media is rising as rapidly
as it never has in the past. The growing scope of social media raises a question in our minds.

Social Media refers to a variety of programmes and websites, such as WhatsApp, Facebook,
Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, through which individuals exchange information and
comment on significant events. It has greatly evolved since the early 21st century. Social
media platforms provide increased opportunity and engagement for learning diverse subjects
in the twenty-first century. The introduction of social media has transformed the country into
a global village. On social media sites, individuals may instantly interact with others and
share their views and provide input on many areas of interest and concerns. People of many
cultures can also discuss any topic and research facts about other places.

The National Youth Policy (NYP)-2014 defines "youth" as anyone between the ages of 15
and 29. Students and youths utilise social media for a variety of purposes, including
education, entertainment, and creativity which can have both beneficial and harmful effects
on the lives of kids.

Social media is the most popular kind of media and has several qualities and characteristics.
It has numerous facilities on the same channel, such as messaging, audio and video sharing,
quick publishing, and direct world-wide connection. It is also the cheapest and fastest access
to the globe; therefore, it is vital for people of all ages. Its usage is rising at a rapid pace
worldwide. Youth are rapidly transitioning from traditional electronic media such as
television and radio to social media across all age groups. It motivates youth to strive and
pulls them down, but youth must be vigilant. Youth connect with a large number of persons
and support themselves professionally.

The lifeblood of social media is user-produced material, such as written posts or comments,
digital images or videos, and data created via all online interactions. The social media
organisation creates and maintains service-specific user profiles for the website or
application. By integrating a user's profile with that of other people or organisations, social
media enables the creation of online social networks. Social media changes the way
individuals and large organizations communicate.

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LITERATURE REVIEW

Anthony J. Bradley (2009) in his study, he explains that social media is crucial for the great
majority of enterprises throughout the globe, but that it is not a guarantee of success.
According to his research, many firms fail in social media because they do not produce goods
with distinctive value. The definition of a social media network site is an online venue where
users may connect with others over information and entertainment of their own choosing and
design.

Andres Kaplan (2010) in his study, explains that social media is an internet-based
application that establishes the ideological and technical underpinning for content sharing.

Monica Andreson & Jing Jing Jiangin (2018) in her study she reported that 45 percent of
adolescents feel social media has no influence on persons their age, neither good nor bad.
31% of youth think social media has had a mostly good influence, while 24% say it has had a
predominantly negative impact. Given the chance to clarify their position. Teens who claim
social media had a mostly positive impact tend to emphasise connectedness and interpersonal
relationships. 40% of respondents said that social media has a good influence because it
facilitates interaction with others. Numerous replies highlight how social media has
facilitated communication with loved ones and connections with strangers: I believe social
media has a beneficial impact to a greater extent since it facilitates communication with
distant loved ones.

BBC news research (2013) their analysis discusses that 67% of Face book user quite
common and acknowledge physical media portal comprised of youth and students so this
compliment the actual fact the youth and students have additional media negative we of
social media occur acne student involves themselves in unethical activities on social media
portal sharing of useless info and posting like pictures that square measures injurious national
dignity and foreign relationship of country.

The Merriam Webster Encyclopaedia Britannica (2013) defines youth as the period of a
person's life while they are young. There is a moment when a young person has not attained
adulthood since youth is essential for the advancement and development of the next
generation and the nation. In the sphere of education for today's young, social media is
crucial since it facilitates the acquisition of new knowledge, the exchange of information and
the growth and development of society.

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RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1. To look into the impact of social media on the mental health of youth.
2. To examine the root causes of social media addiction and the ways to limit it.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

To carry out the existing research, secondary sources of data were taken into consideration.
Different information available through various sources was collected and analysed on a
comparative basis for arriving at logical answers to research objectives. These sources
included academic papers, journals, books and newspapers etc.

ANALYSIS OF OBJECTIVES

Impact of Social Media on Mental Health of Youth

Humans are social beings and they need the company of others to flourish in life, and the
quality of our relationships has a significant influence on our mental health and happiness.
Being socially linked to people may alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression, increase self-
esteem, bring comfort and happiness, reduce loneliness, and even add years to your life. On
the other hand, a lack of strong social relationships may be detrimental to your mental and
emotional health.

Many people depend on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube,
and Instagram to locate and communicate with one another in the modern world. While each
has its advantages, it is essential to realise that social media can never replace face-to-face
interaction. In order to release the hormones that relieve stress and make you feel happier,
healthier, and more optimistic, you must interact with people in person. Ironically for a tool
created to bring people together, excessive use of social media may increase feelings of
loneliness and isolation, and aggravate mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.

There is no set amount of time spent on social media, frequency with which updates are
checked, or quantity of postings that indicate harmful usage. Rather, it relates to the effect
that time spent on social media has on your mood and other elements of your life, as well as
your reasons for using it.

If you are spending too much time on social media and are experiencing emotions of
unhappiness, discontent, irritation, or loneliness, it may be time to revaluate your online
habits and achieve a healthy balance.

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Missing experiences can create anxiety and depression. FOMO—fear of missing out—also
plays a role. If everyone else is using social media sites, and if someone doesn’t join in, there’s
concern that they’ll miss jokes, connections, or invitations. When people look online and see
they’re excluded from an activity, it can affect thoughts and feelings, and can affect them
physically.

Social Media Addiction

Over the past years, checking and scrolling through social media has become an increasingly
common hobby. A small percentage of users get glued to social networking sites and engage
in an excessive or obsessive usage. Social media addiction is a behavioural addiction that is
defined by an excessive preoccupation with social media, an uncontrolled want to log on to or
use social media, and investing so much time and effort to social media that it interferes with
other vital aspects of life.

Social media sites such as Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram generate the same neural
pathways as gambling and recreational drugs in order to retain as many users as possible using
their goods.

Ways to Limit Social Media Usage

1. Disable all application-based Notifications - Notifications from applications are often

the most distracting factor in people's daily lives. Therefore, to reduce your Fear of
Missing Out (FOMO), disable all app-based alerts.
2. Remove Unnecessary Apps and Social Media Accounts - Our mobile devices often
become a junkyard of unused applications. If you haven't used an app in a considerable
amount of time, remove it from your smartphone. This will eliminate the notification
and the need to scroll.
3. Limit Yourself - Restricting time spent on social media and mobile devices may
significantly reduce our addiction levels. When beginning to use social media, it is
advisable to set a timer.
4. Get A New Interest - While attempting to reduce your social media addiction, it is
essential that you participate in a meaningful activity.
5. Do A Digital Detox - When an individual is addicted to social media, it is often better
to just take a break. If you restrict yourself to one hour of social media every day, you
will be preoccupied with your phone in the same way that dieters are preoccupied with
their desires. Take a few days off from technology to experience life without it.

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SUGGESTIONS

Social media users should understand the intent of using social media and remain informed
about the use of informational sites, as well as the data protection issues at stake with the use
of apps. Teenagers must use their time productively on social media to improve social
connectivity rather than squandering their valuable time on informal chats and posts in
WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. To ensure the future of children, teachers and
parents should look for what they are truly doing.

CONCLUSION

Social media is one of the fastest forms of communication, and it has a significant influence on
the lives of young people. There are always concerns over privacy, despite the fact that it is
widely accessible among young people. Complete reliance on social networks would reduce
face-to-face conversation and increase virtual communication. Those of a young age are
unaware of the authenticity of the information published on social networks. They constantly
seek public attention and reveal intimate material that affects their personal lives. The pupils
are constantly engaged in social networks and lack focus in their schoolwork, physical
activities, etc. Additionally, excessive use of social media may result in addiction and social
isolation. It is preferable to utilise social media as a means of doing good for society by
establishing a new platform for showcasing young skills and chances.

Social media has both beneficial and detrimental effects, despite being largely regarded as the
technical progress of information exchange. Youths must have a clear understanding of why
they use social media, how long they spend online, and how it will benefit their personal and
social networking goals.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. BBC (2009), Online networking harms health.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7898510.stm
2. Karadkar, Abishek (2015), The Impact of social media on student life
http://www.technicianonline.com/opinion/article_d1142b70-5a92-11e5-86b4-
cb7c98a6e45f.html
3. Vidyashri C. Halakerimath, S. B. (May, 2017, Vol. 9, Issue, 05, ISSN: 0975-833X).
A Study on Impact of Social Media on Youth. International Journal of Current
Research, pp.50868-50870.
https://www.ijedr.org/papers/IJEDR1902007.pdf
4. Loking, T. M., Castillo E. S. D. (2012, March 18). Effects of Social Networking to
Teenagers.
http://effectsofsocialnetworkingtoteenagers.blogspot.my/2012/03/effects-of-social-
networkingto.html
5. Siddiqui, S., & Singh, T. (Volume 5– Issue 2, 71 - 75, 2016, ISSN: - 2319–8656).
Social Media its Impact with Positive and Negative Aspects. International Journal of
Computer Applications Technology and Research.
https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/badec10a-88d0-33b5-9ec4-4a2419f4c1e0/
6. Annapoorna Shetty, R. R. (October 2015). The Impact of Social Media on Youth.
International Journal of Innovative Research in Computer and Communication
Engineering, Vol. 3, Special Issue 7, ISSN(Online): 2320-9801.
https://www.ijedr.org/papers/IJEDR1902007.pdf