Hello my name is Dylan and welcome to my second blog post this course! My question that I am working with is “what effects does social media have on today’s generation?”
For this post, I will be showing my steps for research and how they will reflect on my overall question. As there are three parts of research, blog post #3, #4, and #5. I will address a different part for each post.
Part 1:
For Blog Post #3, I will research the mental impacts of social media on today’s generation. I will focus on how platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat influence self-esteem, body image, anxiety, depression, and attention span. This research will help me understand how digital engagement shapes the way people think, feel, and perceive themselves. By studying this aspect, I will begin to uncover how social media affects mental health and the cognitive side of daily life online.
Part 2:
For Blog Post #4, I will focus on the social and emotional side of social media use. This will include how online communication affects relationships, social skills, emotional expression, and loneliness. I will examine both the positive connections social media can create and the emotional challenges it can cause, such as comparison, isolation, or cyberbullying. This step will help me understand how online interactions impact real-world relationships and emotional well-being.
Part 3:
For Blog Post #5, I will research the behavioral and physical impacts of social media. I plan to look into screen time, sleep patterns, productivity, and physical health, as well as behaviors like multitasking and digital addiction. Understanding these factors will help me see how social media influences daily habits and overall lifestyle.
This topic is important to me because social media is a major part of my daily life and the lives of nearly everyone around me. I’ve seen how it can be both positive and negative, it connects people, spreads creativity, and offers support, but it can also lead to stress, comparison, and distraction. Understanding these effects will help me become more aware of how I use social media and how I can maintain a healthier digital balance.
For my community, this research can open conversations about digital responsibility, something many people overlook. By sharing what I learn, I hope to raise awareness about how social media influences mental health, relationships, and lifestyle choices. These discussions can encourage people, especially youth, to develop healthier online habits, think critically about their social media use, and create more supportive and understanding digital environments.
Five Strong Sources:
2. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/social-media-mental-health
3. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/social-media-social-life-2023
4. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/iGen/Jean-M-Twenge/9781501152016
5. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(22)00025-3/fulltext
Thank you for taking the time to review my post and I look forward to diving into my next posts!
This final step will complete my inquiry by connecting mental, emotional, and physical effects into a full picture of social media’s influence on today’s generation.
Hi Dylan, what a great post and interesting, crucial topic. I like how you added the topic of the effects of social media and its link to attention span. I think that is a topic that is often overlooked but still very relevant. One note for future blog posts is that you can add an attention grabbing fact to start off your post. Especially with this topic there are many interesting and shocking facts that can instantly grab your readers attention. Good luck!
Hi Dylan,
Great job on your research plan! I like how clearly you’ve organized your inquiry into three parts mental, social/emotional, and behavioral/physical impacts. It shows strong focus and a thoughtful approach to understanding social media’s overall influence. Your topic is very relevant and important, and I appreciate how you connected it to your own experiences and community. I’m looking forward to seeing what you discover in your next posts!
Hi Dylan, I really appreciate how you’ve bolded all of the keywords!! I really like how each day is focused on a different part of a human, and not solely on the mental part. How you’ve connected social media to community and self esteem shows a strong understanding of the subject, and how there are both positive and negative effects to different aspects of life. For future blog posts, focus more on a few key things instead of many things at once. There are many different ways social media can effect someone, and you are including many, which makes it a little busy. Instead, you could focus on the biggest issues/benefits. Looking forward to seeing your future blog posts!!