Impact of social media usage and self-esteem among Grade 12 students
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Impact of Social Media Usage and Self-Esteem Among Grade 12 Students
Social Media Usage and Self-Esteem
Heavy Social Media Use and Lower Self-Esteem
Research indicates that heavy social media use is associated with lower self-esteem among adolescents. A study involving 6944 students found that those who used social media for five or more hours daily had higher odds of lower self-esteem. This effect was more pronounced in middle school students compared to high school students, suggesting that younger adolescents might be more vulnerable to the negative impacts of heavy social media use.
Posting Regret and Self-Esteem
The same study also highlighted that posting regret is linked to lower self-esteem, particularly among high school students. This suggests that the negative feelings associated with regretting a post can significantly impact an adolescent's self-esteem.
Appearance Self-Esteem and Social Media Engagement
Another study focused on the impact of social media on appearance self-esteem from childhood to adolescence. It found that other-oriented social media use, where users primarily view and respond to others' posts, predicted decreased appearance self-esteem, especially in girls. In contrast, self-oriented social media use, where users post updates and receive feedback, did not negatively impact appearance self-esteem. This indicates that the type of social media engagement plays a crucial role in determining its impact on self-esteem.
Social Media and Narcissism
Narcissism and Social Media Use
Meta-analytic evidence suggests a small to moderate association between social media use and narcissism. This relationship indicates that while social media can foster narcissistic behaviors, the effect size is not large enough to support dramatic claims about its impact. Additionally, specific behaviors on platforms like Facebook, such as posting profile pictures and receiving positive comments, can boost confidence and potentially contribute to narcissistic tendencies.
Academic Achievement and Social Media
Social Media Use and School Grades
Contrary to popular belief, there is no significant evidence linking social media use to poor academic performance. Meta-analyses have shown that social media use and school grades are unrelated for adolescents, suggesting that the time spent on social media does not necessarily detract from academic achievement.
Twitter and Student Engagement
While social media platforms like Twitter have been found to enhance student engagement, their impact on grades is less clear. A meta-analysis of studies on Twitter's use in education revealed that it has a stronger effect on student engagement than on academic performance, indicating that while students may be more involved, this does not always translate to better grades.
Conclusion
In summary, the impact of social media usage on self-esteem among Grade 12 students is multifaceted. Heavy use and posting regret are associated with lower self-esteem, particularly among younger adolescents. The type of social media engagement also plays a significant role, with other-oriented use negatively affecting appearance self-esteem. While social media can foster narcissistic behaviors, its impact on academic performance appears negligible. Understanding these dynamics can help educators and parents guide adolescents towards healthier social media habits.
Sources and full results
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