By Sarah Newton
I was recently asked some really fascinating questions regarding social media and youth for an interview. I have posted them below – what do you think has social media changed today’s youth?
1. Do you believe that social media sites have placed a pressure on our youth to perform or behave in a certain manner?
I think what social media has done is given our children an ‘always on’ perspective; they all feel that they are one YouTube away from being famous. However, I don’t think this is a pressure as such; I think it allows them to be more creative and express themselves more. Unlike before, social media teenagers can now play with identities and ways of behaving on line that may be different to who they are, to see how it fits them. They no longer have to play these things out in real life. I think there is a pressure to be always connected to our friends, so that we don’t miss out, but I don’t think the feeling is any different, just the medium used.
2. Do you feel that Facebook has driven young consumers to increase their clothing and cosmetics consumption?
No, not at all. Youngsters will always be interested in these things and actually they stay in much more than going out, so they may have less clothing. What it has done is make them feel pressured to always look good, but you can position a photo or webcam to only pick up the bits you want.
3. Do you feel that social media sites are breeding a ‘look at me’ culture, or at least fuelling materialism/consumption? If so, how does this occur?
Not necessarily a ‘look at me’ culture, but one of, ‘I am influential and have something to say’. Social media has given our young people so many more influences from all over the globe and I think this is certainly impacting their belief of their self importance. I don’t feel it is fuelling materialism/consumption at all, in fact I think it is making youth more discerning. They don’t listen so much to advertising messages and trust their friend’s recommendations over anything else.
4. What advice would you give to parents whose children are addicted to Facebook, or are posting pictures of them on the internet?
I always advise every parent that they need to make a condition of their child joining Facebook that they are their friend. I think we need to be careful about saying people are addicted to Facebook; just because a young person communicates that way and that is the way they connect, that is not an addiction, it is about connection.
I always advise parents to:
1. be your child’s friend.
2. Check through their friends regularly and challenge them on people you don’t know.
3. Ensure their privacy settings are set so their profile is private.
4. Have a technology-free day in your home where everyone is free from the computer.
As for posting pictures, if you’re child has their privacy settings set up correctly I see no problem with it, it is just a form of self-expression.
5. Do you think that social media will have a positive or negative impact on Gen Y’s and Gen Z’s? If so, could you please expand on the matter?
Wow, big question! I think it has had both.
Positive
It has made them more creative.
It has given them a voice.
It has opened them up to information.
It allows them to find innovative ways to communicate.
It allows them to be more discerning about the networks they build.
It is making them quick decision makers who are good at prioritising.
Negatives
I am not going to state the obvious like paedophiles and bullying, as I think they are old problems with a modern twist
Overload – modern teens fit 8.5 hrs into 6
The ‘always on’ mentality – always having to look good
The lack of consequences or responsibility in on-line behaviour
Increased search ability is meaning that teens are not learning the skills of researching and discerning information so well.
Lack of meaning – while the internet can deliver a lot, it cannot deliver the meaning of emotions such as honesty, etc.
