RUNNING HEAD: Social Media in Society 0

Social Media in Society

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Introduction

There is an ever-increasing continuing argument on the impact of social media in our

lives. We are left to reexamine its role, that is, whether it has made society stronger in relations

or worse. For the sake of brevity and specificity, we focus on Facebook. Why? Facebook is

arguably the biggest social media framework that interconnects friends and family. The social

function of Facebook various from one social group to another. That is to say, its utility to an

elderly couple would vary from a business entity and say, college student. Based on this

difference in utility, its impact would inevitably vary across social groups. Ergo, this research

focuses its impact on persons in the year group eighteen and twenty-six. This year group presents

persons who are legally defined as adults going through a critical point in their life be it through

getting through college or getting a job. Moreover, the paper opposes Konnikova’s assertions. As

such, this paper hypothesizes that “Facebook has been more detrimental to the social construct of

persons between the ages of eighteen and twenty-six.” Before embarking on the treatise, we

commence the research with a review of the key literature offered on the subject matter.

Konnikova (2013) presents a doubled edged sword on the merits and demerits of using

Facebook. Essentially, she presents arguments supporting the fact the social media utility has

made its users sadder than what they had hoped to be. Research studies from Ethan Kross,

Robert Kraut, and Beth Anderson indicate the detrimental nature of using Facebook from

depression to alienation. On the other hand, the likes of Sebastián Valenzuela, Matthew

Lieberman, Wendi Gardner and Cindy Pickett suggest otherwise. However, in the ensuing

arguments, Konnikova asserts that Facebook is used in either an active mode or a passive and

hence depending on how it is used, it can generate to be a symptom of what our society has come

to be. It is based on her research that this research seeks to interrogate her assertions.
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In principle, the use of technology is meant to aid means of decreasing the boundaries to

communication. The key would is aid and not in any way substitute it. Considering the target

group, they represent those who would typically move away from their community and go to

college or some football club where they start out their career. Ideally, Facebook should come in

handy when posting photos to ensure that the family and friends back home know what their

townsperson is doing away. However, what tends to happen is that the individual gets to be

consumed in posting his updates and photos and forgets to go back home to interact with their

community. That being said, the result is that the individual assumes that Facebook suffices in

keeping in touch. However, they forget that an emotional connection is best served with physical

presence (O'Keeffe & Clarke-Pearson, 2011). Failing to go to family functions in the four years

of college or numerous years in a career in football cannot be justified with the connection

created through Facebook. In other words, what Facebook essentially does is replace the real-

world connection with a new world, a virtual world, where the individual is master and creators

of their own destiny.

Problem Statement

There is an ever-increasing continuing argument on the impact of social media in our

lives. We are left to reexamine its role, that is, whether it has made society stronger in relations

or worse. For the sake of brevity and specificity, we focus on Facebook. Why? Facebook is

arguably the biggest social media framework that interconnects friends and family. The social

function of Facebook various from one social group to another. That is to say, its utility to an

elderly couple would vary from a business entity and say, college student. Based on this

difference in utility, its impact would inevitably vary across social groups.
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Purpose of the Study

Based on the indicators from the above problem statement, this research focuses its

impact on persons in the year group 18-26. This year group presents persons who are legally

defined as adults going through a critical point in their life be it through getting through college

or getting a job. Moreover, the paper opposes the Konnikova’s assertions. As such, this paper

hypothesizes that Facebook has been more detrimental to the social construct of persons

between the ages of 18-26.

Methodology

The research methodology adopted for this research would be the use of secondary

resources. In particular, the paper will review journals with similar studies. Newspaper articles

with insights into the social life of the target grouped are an important source of data. Lastly,

quasi-scholarly websites provide added data that would improve shaping arguments to support

the thesis.

There are several reasons as to why research develops a cohesive argument. The research

offers an opportunity to unearth theoretical frameworks for understanding the claims in the

thesis. Moreover, the research offers the opportunity to accumulate textual evidence to back up

the claim especially where the paper intends to oppose several doctoral theses.
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References

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May 3, 2016, from BBC News Technology: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-

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USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/02/02/facebook-turns-10-cultural-

impact/5063979/

Curtin, S. (2012, May 18). Facebook Effect: How The Social Network Changed the World.

Retrieved May 3, 2016, from Yahoo Finance: http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-

ticker/facebook-effect-social-network-changed-world-122656206.html

Kaplan & Haenlein. (2010). Users of the world, unite! The challenges and opportunities of Social

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Konnikova, M. (2013, September 10). How Facebook Makes Us Unhappy. Retrieved May 3,

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makes-us-unhappy

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McHale, R. (2012). Navigating Social Media Legal Risks: Safeguarding Your Business.

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O'Keeffe & Clarke-Pearson. (2011, April 1). The Impact of Social Media on Children,

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Savitz, E. (2012, November 12). 5 Ways Social Media Will Change The Way You Work in 2013.

Retrieved May 3, 2016, from Forbes:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2012/12/11/5-ways-social-media-will-change-the-

way-you-work-in-2013/

Shea, A. (2013, February 20). Facebook Envy: How The Social Network Affects Our Self-Esteem.

Retrieved May 3, 2016, from 90.9wbur: http://www.wbur.org/2013/02/20/facebook-

perfection

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International Small Business Journal, 28(4), 338-361.