The essay topic is about "social media Pros and Cons". It is a comparative research essay that must strictly follow the academic essay structure. Requirements: 1. 5-7 page, double spaced, MLA 2. Must

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S ourc e:

D ocu m en t T y p e:

S ubje ct T e rm s:

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Record: 1

T H E K ID S A R E A LL R IG HT.

D enw orth , L yd ia

S cie ntiﬁ c A m eric a n. N ov2 019, V ol. 3 21 Is su e 5 , p 44-4 9. 6 p. 2 C olo r

P hoto gra phs.

A rtic le

* S O CIA L m edia

* Y O UTH

*A N XIE TY

*M EN TA L h ealt h

IN STA G RAM ( W eb r e so urc e )

621330 O fﬁ ce s o f M enta l H ealt h P ra ctit io n ers ( e xce pt P hysic ia ns)

T he a rtic le d is cu sse s a bout th e im pact o f s o cia l m ed ia o n th e y o u ng

genera tio n. T o pic s o f d is cu ssio n in clu des a nxie ty a bout s o cia l m ed ia in

y o ung g enera tio n h as r is e n to th e a la rm in g le ve ls b ut th e r e alit y is le ss

a la rm in g. T he c lo se r lo ok a t s o cia l m edia s h o w s th at y o u ng te xte rs a nd

In sta gra m mers a re ﬁ n e b ut e arly r e se arc h e s h ave h yp e d d angers a nd

ig nore d c o nte xt. R ese arc h ers a re lo okin g fo r m ea su rin g m eth ods to

c h eck th e im pact o f s o cia l m edia o n m en ta l h ealt h .

3619

0036-8 733

139246768

A ca dem ic S earc h C om ple te

T E C HNO LO GY

TH E K ID S A RE A LL R IG HT

N ew ﬁ ndin gs s u ggest t h at t h e a n gst o ve r s o cia l m ed ia is m is p la ced a n d t h at m ore n uan ce is r e q uir e d

to u nders ta n d it s e ffe cts o n w ell- b ein g

IT W AS T H E H EAD LIN ES T H AT M OST U PSET A M Y O RBEN . IN 2 017, W HEN S H E W AS A G RAD UAT E

stu dent in e xp erim enta l p sych olo gy a t th e U niv e rs it y o f O xfo rd r e se a rc h in g h ow s o cia l m edia in ﬂu ence s

co m munic a tio n, a la rm in g a rtic le s b egan to a ppear. G iv in g a c h ild a s m artp hone w as lik e g iv in g a k id c o ca in e,

cla im ed o ne. S m artp hones m ig ht h ave d e str o ye d a g enera tio n, s a id a noth er. O rb en d id n't th in k s u ch e xtr e m e

sta te m ents w ere w arra nte d. A t o ne p oin t, s h e s ta ye d u p a ll n ig ht r e analy zin g d ata fr o m a p aper lin kin g

in cre ase s in d epre ssio n a nd s u ic id e to s cre en tim e. " I ﬁ g u re d o ut th at tw eaks to th e d ata a naly sis c a use d m ajo r

ch anges to th e s tu dy r e su lt s ," O rb en s a ys. " T he e ff e cts w ere a ctu ally tin y."

S he p ublis h ed s e ve ra l b lo g p osts , s o m e w it h h er O xfo rd c o lle ague A ndre w K . P rz yb yls ki, s a yin g s o . " G re at

cla im s r e quir e g re at e vid ence ," s h e w ro te in o ne. " Y et th is k in d o f e vid ence d oes n ot e xis t." T hen O rb en

decid ed to m ake h er p oin t s cie ntiﬁ ca lly a n d c h a nged th e fo cu s o f h er w ork . W it h P rz yb yls ki, s h e s e t o ut to

r ig oro usly a naly ze th e la rg e-s ca le d ata s e ts th at a re w id ely u se d in s tu die s o f s o cia l m edia .

T he tw o r e se arc h ers w ere n ot th e o nly o nes w ho w ere c o n ce rn ed. A fe w y e a rs a go J e ff H anco ck, a

p sych olo gis t w ho r u ns th e S ocia l M edia L ab a t S ta nfo rd U niv e rs it y , s e t a n a le rt to le t h im k n ow w hen h is 6/20/2020 EBSCOhost

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re se arc h w as c it e d b y o th er s cie ntis ts in th eir p apers . A s th e n otiﬁ ca tio ns p ile d u p in h is in -b ox, h e w as

perp le xe d. A r e port o n th e w ays th at F ace b ook m ad e p eople m ore a nxio us w ould b e fo llo w ed b y o ne a bout

how s o cia l m edia e nhance s s o cia l c a pit a l. " W ha t is g oin g o n w it h a ll th ese c o n ﬂic tin g id eas? " H anco ck

w ondere d. H ow c o uld th ey a ll b e c it in g h is w ork ? H e d ecid ed to s e e k c la rit y a nd e m bark e d o n th e la rg est m eta -

analy sis to d ate o f th e e ff e cts o f s o cia l m edia o n p sych o lo gic a l w ell- b ein g. U lt im ate ly h e in clu ded 2 26 p apers

a nd d ata o n m ore th an 2 75,0 00 p eople .

T he r e su lt s o f O rb en's , P rz yb yls ki's a nd H anco ck's e ff o rts a re n ow in . S tu die s fr o m th ese r e se arc h ers a nd

oth ers , p ublis h ed o r p re se nte d in 2 019, h ave b ro ught s o m e c o n te xt to th e q uestio n o f w hat e xa ctly d ig it a l

te ch nolo gy is d oin g to o ur m enta l h ealt h . T heir e vid ence m ake s s e ve ra l th in gs c le ar. T he r e su lt s to d ate h ave

b een m ix e d b eca use th e e ff e cts m easu re d a re th em se lv e s m ix e d . " U sin g s o cia l m edia is e sse ntia lly a tr a de-

off ," H anco ck s a ys. " Y ou g et v e ry s m all b ut s ig niﬁ ca nt a dva n ta ges fo r y o u r w ell- b ein g th at c o m e w it h v e ry s m all

b ut s ta tis tic a lly s ig niﬁ ca nt c o sts ." T he e m phasis is o n " s m all" — at le ast in te rm s o f e ff e ct s iz e , w hic h g auges th e

str e ngth o f th e r e la tio n b etw een tw o v a ria ble s. H anco ck's m eta -a naly sis r e ve a le d a n o ve ra ll e ff e ct s iz e o f 0 .0 1

on a s ca le in w hic h 0 .2 is s m all. P rz yb yls ki a nd O rb en m ea su re d th e p erc e n t o f v a ria nce in w ell- b ein g th at w as

exp la in ed b y s o cia l m edia u se a nd fo und th at te ch n olo gy w as n o m ore a sso cia te d w it h d ecre ase d w ell- b ein g

fo r te enagers th an e atin g p ota to es. W earin g g la sse s w as w ors e . " T he m on ste r-o f- th e-w eek th in g is d ead in th e

w ate r," P rz yb yls ki s a ys.

F urth erm ore , th is n ew r e se arc h r e ve als s e rio us lim it a tio ns a nd s h o rtc o m in gs in th e s cie nce o f s o cia l m edia to

d ate . E ig hty p erc e nt o f s tu die s h ave b een c ro ss-s e ctio nal ( lo okin g a t in div id uals a t a g iv e n p oin t in tim e) a nd

co rre la tio nal ( lin kin g tw o m easu re s s u ch a s fr e quency o f F ace b ook u se a nd le ve l o f a nxie ty b ut n ot s h ow in g

th at o ne c a use s th e o th er). M ost h ave r e lie d o n s e lf - re porte d u se , a n oto rio usly u nre lia ble m easu re . N early a ll

a sse ss o nly fr e quency a nd d ura tio n o f u se r a th er th an c o n te nt o r c o n te xt. " W e'r e a skin g th e w ro ng q uestio ns,"

H anco ck s a ys. A nd r e su lt s a re r e gula rly o ve rs ta te d— so m etim es b y th e s cie ntis ts , o fte n b y th e m edia . " S ocia l

m edia r e se arc h is th e p erfe ct s to rm s h ow in g u s w here a ll th e p ro ble m s a re w it h o ur s cie ntiﬁ c m eth odolo gy,"

O rb en s a ys. " T his c h alle nges u s a s s cie ntis ts to th in k a bout h ow w e m ea su re th in gs a nd w hat s o rt o f e ff e ct s iz e

w e th in k is im porta nt."

T o b e c le ar, it is n ot th at s o cia l m edia is n eve r a p ro ble m . H eavy u se is a sso cia te d w it h p ote ntia lly h arm fu l

eff e cts o n w ell- b ein g. B ut e ff e cts fr o m s o cia l m ed ia a ppear to d epend o n th e u se r— age a nd m enta l h ealt h

s ta tu s a re tw o im porta nt fa cto rs th at m ake a d if f e re nce . A ls o , c a u se a nd e ff e ct a ppear to g o in b oth d ir e ctio ns.

"It's a tw o-w ay s tr e et," H anco ck s a ys.

T he h ope is th at th e ﬁ e ld w ill u se th ese n e w ﬁ n d in gs to e m ba rk o n a n ew s cie nce o f s o cia l m edia th at w ill s e t

hig her s ta ndard s fo r s ta tis tic a l a naly sis , a vo id p re poste ro us c la im s, a nd in clu de m ore e xp erim enta l a nd

lo ngit u din al s tu die s, w hic h tr a ck p eople a t m ult ip le tim e p oin ts . " W e d on't w ant to b e a ﬁ e ld in w hic h w e s a y th at

pota to e atin g h as d estr o ye d a g enera tio n," s a ys c lin ic a l n euro psych o lo gis t T ra cy D ennis -T iw ary o f H unte r

C olle ge. " D esp it e o ur c o nce rn s, w e n eed to p ull o urs e lv e s to geth er a nd a ct lik e s cie ntis ts . W e h ave to h ave

a dequate e vid ence ."

F E A R O F T E C HNO LO GY

Anxie ty a nd p anic o ve r th e e ff e cts o f n ew te ch n olo gy d ate b ack to S ocra te s, w ho b em oaned th e th en n ew

tr a dit io n o f w rit in g th in gs d ow n fo r fe ar it w ould d im in is h th e p ow er o f m em ory . T hom as H obbes a nd T hom as

Je ff e rs o n b oth w arn ed th at c o m munal r e la tio nsh ip s w ould s u ff e r a s in dustr ia l s o cie tie s m ove d fr o m r u ra l to

u rb an liv in g. " B efo re w e h ate d s m artp hon es, w e h ate d c it ie s," w rit e s o cio lo gis ts K eit h H am pto n o f M ic h ig an

S ta te U niv e rs it y a nd B arry W ellm an o f th e N etL ab N etw ork , b ase d in T o ro nto , b oth o f w hom s tu dy th e e ff e cts o f 6/20/2020 EBSCOhost

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te ch nolo gic a l in nova tio n. R adio , v id eo g am es a nd e ve n c o m ic b ooks h ave a ll c a u se d c o nste rn atio n. T e le vis io n

w as g oin g to b rin g a bout th e d um bin g d ow n o f A m eric a .

E ve n s o , th e c h ange th at c a m e a bout fr o m m ob ile p hones, th e In te rn et a nd s o cia l n etw ork in g s it e s fe els

s e is m ic . C ell p hones w ere ﬁ rs t w id ely a d opte d in th e 1 990s. B y 2 018, 9 5 p erc e n t o f A m eric a n a dult s w ere

u sin g th em . S m artp hones, w hic h a dded in sta nt a cce ss to th e In te rn et, e nte re d th e m ain str e am w it h th e

in tr o ductio n o f th e iP hone in 2 007, a nd n o w m ore th an th re e q uarte rs o f U .S . a dult s h ave th em . E ig hty -n in e

perc e nt o f th ose a dult s u se th e In te rn et. T here is n ear s a tu ra tio n fo r a ll th in gs d ig it a l a m ong a dole sce nts a nd

adult s y o unger th an 5 0 a nd a m ong h ig he r-in co m e h ouse h old s. N onuse rs te nd to b e o ld er th an 6 5, p oor, o r

re sid ents o f r u ra l a re as o r o th er p la ce s w it h lim it e d s e rv ic e . B etw een 2 005, w hen th e P ew R ese arc h C ente r

began tr a ckin g s o cia l m edia u se , a nd 2 0 19, th e p ro portio n o f A m eric a n s u sin g s o cia l m edia to c o nnect, k e ep

up w it h th e n ew s, s h are in fo rm atio n a nd b e e nte rta in ed w ent fr o m 5 to 7 2 p erc e n t— th at m eans it ju m ped fr o m

one in 2 0 a dult s to s e ve n in 1 0.

B eca use s o cia l m edia is s o n ew , th e s cie nce in ve stig atin g it s e ff e cts is a ls o n ew . T he e arlie st s tu dy H anco ck

c o uld ﬁ n d th at e xa m in ed s o cia l m edia u se a nd p sych o lo gic a l w ell- b ein g w as d one in 2 006. It c a m e a s n o

su rp ris e th at e arly a ppro ach es w ere lim it e d. P hysic ia n B ria n P rim ack, w ho h eaded th e C ente r fo r R ese arc h o n

M edia , T e ch nolo gy, a nd H ealt h a t th e U niv e rs it y o f P it ts b u rg h u ntil m ovin g to th e U niv e rs it y o f A rk a nsa s th is

y e ar, lik e ns th e ﬁ e ld to in it ia l r e se arc h o n n utr it io n: " It to ok a w hile to s a y, 'L et's s p lit o ut fa ts a nd p ro te in s a nd

ca rb ohyd ra te s, a nd n ot ju st th at, b ut le t's s p lit o ut tr a ns-fa ts a nd p oly u n sa tu ra te d fa ts ,'" h e s a ys. " It's im porta nt

fo r a nyo ne w ho is d oin g g ood r e se arc h to a dapt to w hat's g oin g o n." P rim ack p oin ts to h is o w n e arly w ork , s u ch

a s s tu die s th at lo oke d o nly a t o ve ra ll s o cia l m ed ia u se , a s e xa m ple s o f w hat w ill n ot c u t it a nym ore . " Y ou m ig ht

be s p endin g tw o h ours a d ay c lic kin g 'l ik e ' o n p ic tu re s o f c u te p uppie s, a nd I m ig ht b e s p endin g tw o h ours a

d ay h avin g v io le nt c la sh es a bout p olit ic s a nd r e lig io n a nd o th er h ot- b utto n is su es. S tu die s lik e m y e arly o ne

w ould c o unt [th ose a ctiv it ie s] th e s a m e."

M any p eople in th e ﬁ e ld h ave b een p artic u la rly c rit ic a l o f w ork b y p sych o lo gis t J e an M . T w enge o f S an D ie go

S ta te U niv e rs it y . In a ddit io n to h er r e se arc h p apers , T w enge's p opula r 2 017 a rtic le in th e A tla ntic , b ase d o n h er

book iG en, w as th e o ne th at a ske d: " H as th e S m artp hone D estr o ye d a G enera tio n?" T w enge is h ard ly th e o nly

r e se arc h er to p ublis h n egativ e ﬁ n din gs a b out s o cia l m ed ia u se , b ut th e p ublic it y a ro und h er w ork h as m ade h er

one o f th e m ost h ig h p ro ﬁle . S he p oin ts t o a s te ep r is e in m en ta l h ealt h is su es a m ong th e g ro up b orn b etw een

1995 a nd 2 012 a nd w rit e s th at " m uch o f th is d ete rio ra tio n c a n b e tr a ce d to th eir p hones." H er w ork c o m pare s

ris in g r a te s o f d epre ssio n a nd a nxie ty a m on g y o u ng p eople to th e p ro lif e ra tio n o f s m artp hones in th e s a m e tim e

perio d. T w enge a ckn ow le dges th at th e lin k is c o rre la tio nal b ut a rg ues th at h er c o nclu sio ns r e pre se nt " a lo gic a l

se quence o f e ve nts " b ase d o n th e e vid e nce — and c a re is w arra nte d: " W he n w e'r e ta lk in g a bout th e h ealt h o f

ch ild re n a nd te ens, it s e em s to m e w e s h ould e rr o n th e s id e o f c a u tio n."

N o o ne d is a gre es a bout th e im porta nce o f y o u ng p eople 's h ealt h , b ut th ey d o th in k th at T w enge h as g otte n

ahead o f th e s cie nce . " W hy w ait fo r c a usa l e vid ence ? " s a ys D ennis -T iw ary . B eca use th e s to ry m ig ht n ot b e s o

s tr a ig htfo rw ard . S he p oin ts to a lo ngit u din al s tu dy d one b y r e se a rc h e rs in C anada in r e sp onse to o ne o f

Tw enge's a rtic le s. T hey s tu die d n early 6 00 a dole sce nts a nd m ore th an 1 ,0 00 y o u ng a dult s o ve r tw o a nd s ix

y e ars , r e sp ectiv e ly , a nd fo und th at s o cia l m ed ia u se d id n ot p re dic t d epre ssiv e s ym pto m s b ut th at d epre ssiv e

s ym pto m s p re dic te d m ore fr e quent s o cia l m ed ia u se a m on g a dole sce nt g ir ls . " T his is a m uch m ore n uance d

sto ry ," D ennis -T iw ary s a ys. " W e k n ow th a t p ro ble m atic s m artp hone u se m ay a s lik e ly b e a r e su lt o f m enta l

healt h p ro ble m s a s a c a use , a nd th at c a lls fo r a d if f e re nt s e t o f s o lu tio ns." 6/20/2020 EBSCOhost

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Corre la tio nal s tu die s h ave th eir u se s, ju st a s e pid em io lo gic a l r e se a rc h c a n s u g gest a lin k b etw een p ollu tio n a nd

in cre ase d c a nce r r a te s w hen a r a ndom iz e d c lin ic a l tr ia l is n ot p ossib le . W hile h e th in ks it is im porta nt n ot to

o ve rs ta te ﬁ n din gs, e co nom is t M atth ew G entz ko w o f S ta nfo rd , w ho s tu die s s o cia l m edia , s a ys o f T w enge's w ork

th at " th ere a re s o m e p re tty s tr ik in g fa cts th ere . T hey d on't te ll u s w heth er s m artp hones a re c a usin g m enta l

healt h p ro ble m s, b ut th ey r e ally s h in e s o m e lig ht o n th at p ossib ilit y . W hat w e n eed n ow is to d ig in a nd tr y to d o

m ore c a re fu l s tu die s to is o la te w hat's r e ally g oin g o n."

A T W O-W AY S TR EET?

That is w hat th e n ew est s tu die s s e t o ut to d o. H anco ck's m eta -a naly sis h ig hlig hte d th e fa ct th at m any s tu die s

on s o cia l m edia a nd p sych olo gic a l w ell- b ein g d id n ot m ea su re th e s a m e o utc o m es. E ff e cts g enera lly fe ll in to

o ne o f s ix c a te gorie s. T hre e c o nce rn p o sit iv e in dic a to rs o f w ell- b ein g: e udaem on ic h appin ess ( h avin g a s e nse

o f m eanin g), h edonic h appin ess ( jo y in t h e m om en t) a nd r e la tio nsh ip s. A nd th re e a re n egativ e : d epre ssio n,

anxie ty a nd lo nelin ess. H anco ck a nd h is te am fo und th at m ore s o cia l m ed ia u se w as a sso cia te d s lig htly w it h

h ig her d epre ssio n a nd a nxie ty ( th ough n o t lo nelin ess) a nd m ore s tr o ngly a sso cia te d w it h r e la tio nsh ip b eneﬁts

( th ough n ot e udaem onic o r h edonic w ell- b ein g). ( T he la rg est e ff e ct, a t 0 .2 0, w as th e b eneﬁt o f s tr o nger

re la tio nsh ip s.) H e a nd h is c o lle agues a ls o fo und th at a ctiv e r a th er th an p assiv e u se w as p osit iv e ly a sso cia te d

w it h w ell- b ein g. ( T hey fo und n o e ff e ct fo r p assiv e u se , a lt h ough o th ers h ave fo und it to b e n egativ e .)

A nd h ow r e se arc h ers a ske d q uestio ns m atte re d. F ra m in g q uestio ns a ro und " a d dic tio n" r a th er th an m ore

n eutr a lly m ake s a n egativ e ﬁ n din g m ore lik e ly . In a ll th e lit e ra tu re , th ere w ere o nly 2 4 lo ngit u din al s tu die s, th e

"g old s ta ndard " th at a llo w s r e se arc h ers to c o m pa re th e r e la tio n b etw een w ell- b ein g a nd s o cia l m edia u se a t

tw o p oin ts in tim e a nd s ta tis tic a lly a sse ss w hic h v a ria ble is d riv in g c h a nge in th e o th er. In th ese , H anco ck's

t e am fo und a fu rth er s m all b ut in te re stin g r e su lt . " W he n y o u h ave h ig her w ell- b ein g, y o u u se s o cia l m edia le ss,

w hic h s u ggests th at w ell- b ein g is d riv in g [h ow m uch u se is m ad e o f] s o cia l m ed ia to s o m e d egre e," H anco ck

s a ys.

In a tr ilo gy o f p apers a bout a dole sce nt t e ch n olo gy u se , O rb en a nd P rz yb yls ki ta ckle d th re e m ajo r p it fa lls th ey

had id entiﬁ e d in p re vio us a naly se s o f la rg e-s ca le d ata s e ts . T he ﬁ rs t p aper, p ublis h ed in J a nuary in N atu re

H um an B ehavio ur, p ro vid ed b oth c o nte xt a nd a m eth od fo r im pro vin g tr a nsp a re ncy. It in clu ded th re e d ata s e ts

f r o m th e U .S . a nd E uro pe m ade u p o f m ore th an 3 50,0 00 a dole sce nts . S uch d ata s e ts a re v a lu able b ut m ake it

e asy to tu rn u p s ta tis tic a lly s ig niﬁ ca nt r e su lt s th at m ay n ot b e o f p ra ctic a l s ig niﬁ ca nce . P rz yb yls ki a nd O rb en

ca lc u la te d th at if th ey h ad fo llo w ed s ta nd ard s ta tis tic a l o pera tin g p ro ce d ure , th ey c o uld h ave p ro duce d r o ughly

1 0,0 00 p apers s h ow in g n egativ e s cre en e ff e cts , 5 ,0 00 in dic a tin g n o e ff e ct a nd a noth er 4 ,0 00 d em onstr a tin g

posit iv e te ch nolo gy e ff e cts o n y o ung p e ople — all fr o m th e s a m e d ata s e ts .

F or th eir n ew a naly sis , th ey u se d a te ch n iq ue c a lle d s p e ciﬁ ca tio n c u rv e a naly sis , a to ol th at e xa m in es th e fu ll

r a nge o f p ossib le c o rre la tio ns a t o nce . It is th e s ta tis tic a l e quiv a le nt o f s e e in g th e fo re st fo r th e tr e es. A naly ze d

in th is w ay, d ig it a l te ch nolo gy u se w as a sso cia te d w it h o nly 0 .4 p erc e n t o f th e v a ria tio n in a dole sce nt w ell-

b ein g. T he w ealt h o f in fo rm atio n in th e d a ta a llo w ed fo r th e te llin g c o m pa ris o n s w it h p ota to es a nd g la sse s. It

a ls o r e ve ale d th at s m okin g m ariju ana a n d b ully in g h ad m uch la rg er n egativ e a sso cia tio ns fo r w ell- b ein g ( a t 2 .7

a nd 4 .3 tim es w ors e , r e sp ectiv e ly , th an t h e a ve ra ge in o ne o f th e d ata s e ts ), w here as p osit iv e b ehavio rs s u ch

a s g ettin g e nough s le ep a nd r e gula rly e atin g b re akfa st w ere m uch m ore s tr o ngly lin ke d to w ell- b ein g th an

te ch nolo gy u se . " W e'r e tr y in g to m ove fr o m th is m in dse t o f c h e rry -p ic kin g o ne r e su lt to a m ore h olis tic p ic tu re ,"

P rz yb yls ki s a ys. " A k e y p art o f th at is b ein g a ble to p ut th ese e xtr e m ely m in uscu le e ff e cts o f s cre ens o n y o ung

people in a r e al- w orld c o nte xt." ( T w enge a nd o th ers q uestio n th e u se fu ln ess o f e xp la in in g p erc e nta ges o f

va ria tio n a nd s a y it w ill a lw ays tu rn u p s m all n um be rs th at m ig ht m ask p ra ctic a l e ff e cts .) 6/20/2020 EBSCOhost

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Their s e co nd p aper, p ublis h ed in A pril in P sych o lo gic a l S cie nce , in clu ded s tr o nger m eth ods fo r m easu rin g

scre en tim e. T hey u se d th re e d ata s e ts f r o m th e U .S ., th e U .K . a nd Ir e la nd th at in clu ded tim e-u se d ia rie s in

a ddit io n to s e lf - re porte d m edia u sa ge a n d m ea su re s o f w ell- b ein g. O ve r a p erio d o f ﬁ ve y e ars th e m ore th an

17,0 00 te enagers in th e s tu die s w ere g iv e n a d ia ry o ne d ay e ach y e a r. T hey ﬁ lle d in 1 0- to 1 5-m in ute w in dow s

all d ay lo ng a bout e xa ctly w hat th ey w ere d oin g, in clu din g u se o f d ig it a l te ch n olo gie s. W hen O rb en a nd

P rz yb yls ki a pplie d th eir s ta tis tic a l te ch niq u e to th e d ata , th ere w as lit tle e vid ence fo r s u bsta ntia l n egativ e

a sso cia tio ns b etw een d ig it a l e ngagem ent a nd w ellb ein g. T he d ia rie s a ls o a llo w ed th em to lo ok a t w hen d urin g

th e d ay a dole sce nts w ere u sin g d ig it a l m edia , in clu din g b efo re b ed. E ve n th at d id n ot m ake a d if f e re nce in w ell-

b ein g, a lt h ough th ey d id n ot lo ok a t h ours o f s le ep a s a n o utc o m e, o nly m ore g enera l p sych olo gic a l m easu re s.

A nd ﬁ n ally , in M ay, w it h p sych olo gis t T o bia s D ie nlin o f th e U niv e rs it y o f H ohenheim in G erm any, O rb en a nd

P rz yb yls ki p ublis h ed a p aper in th e P ro ce edin gs o f th e N atio nal A ca d em y o f S cie nce s U SA, in co rp ora tin g

lo ngit u din al d ata to a naly ze th e e ff e ct o f s o cia l m ed ia o n a dole sce nts ' lif e s a tis fa ctio n o ve r tim e. T his a ppro ach

a llo w ed th em to a sk w heth er a dole sce nts w ho a re o n s o cia l m ed ia m ore in a g iv e n y e ar th an a ve ra ge fe el

bette r o r w ors e a t y e ar's e nd a nd w heth e r fe elin g b ette r o r w ors e th an n orm al c h anges s o cia l m edia u se in th e

co m in g y e ar. H ere , to o, th e r e su lt w as s m all a nd n uance d . " T he c h a nge in s o cia l m edia u se in o ne y e ar o nly

p re dic ts a bout 0 .2 5 p erc e nt o f th e v a ria n ce in th e c h a nge in lif e s a tis fa ctio n o ve r o ne y e ar," O rb en s a ys. " W e'r e

ta lk in g a bout fr a ctio ns o f 1 p erc e nt c h ang es." T he r e se a rc h e rs d id , h ow eve r, s e e s lig htly s tr o nger e ff e cts in

g ir ls th an in b oys, a ﬁ n din g O rb en in te nds to in ve stig ate fu rth er. T he q uestio n o f in div id ual r is k w ill a ls o b e

im porta nt. " W e r e ally w ant to s e e if th ere a re r e pro ducib le p ro ﬁle s o f y o u ng p eople w ho a re m ore o r le ss

v u ln era ble o r r e silie nt to d if f e re nt fo rm s o f te ch n olo gy," P rz yb yls ki s a ys.

W HAT A BO UT G EN ER ATIO N Z ?

Te enage m edia u se h as b een a p artic u la r c o n ce rn b eca u se o f th e u biq uit y o f s m artp hones to day a nd b eca use

a dole sce nce is s u ch a fo rm ativ e p erio d o f d eve lo pm en t. In c h o osin g w hat to w orry a bout, p are nts h ave

fo llo w ed s cie ntis ts ' le ad, s a ys p sych olo gis t C andic e O dgers o f th e U niv e rs it y o f C alif o rn ia , Ir v in e. T hey w orry

m ain ly a bout h ow m uch tim e th eir c h ild re n s p e nd o nlin e w it h out g iv in g e qual a tte ntio n to th e c rit ic a l q uestio n o f

w hat th ey a re d oin g th ere . O dgers 's o w n w ork s u g gests th at a m ou nt o f u se is n ot th e p ro ble m . In a s tu dy

publis h ed o nlin e th is s u m mer in C lin ic a l P sych o lo gic a l S cie nce , O dgers , M ic h a elin e J e nse n o f th e U niv e rs it y o f

N orth C aro lin a a t G re ensb oro a nd th eir c o lle agues fo llo w ed n early 4 00 a dole sce nts fo r tw o w eeks, s e ndin g

questio ns to th e te enagers ' c e ll p hones th re e tim es a d ay. T he s tu dy d esig n a llo w ed th em to c o m pare m enta l

healt h s ym pto m s a nd te ch nolo gy im mers io n d aily a s w ell a s o ve r th e w eeks o f th e s tu dy.

W as m edia u se a sso cia te d w it h in div id u al a dole sce nts ' w ell- b ein g? T he a nsw er w as n ot r e ally . R outin es in

p la ce a t th e s ta rt d id n ot p re dic t la te r m enta l h ealt h s ym pto m s, a nd m en ta l h ealt h w as n ot w ors e o n d ays

te enagers r e porte d s p endin g m ore o r le ss tim e o n te ch n olo gy.

"It's ir o nic th at in th e e nd th e r e al d anger is n ot s m artp hones— it 's th e le ve l o f m is in fo rm atio n th at's b ein g

dir e cte d a t th e p ublic a nd a t p are nts ," O dgers s a ys. " It's c o n su m in g s o m uch o f th e a ir tim e th at it 's c a usin g u s

to m is s p ote ntia lly s o m e o f th e r e al th re ats a nd p ro ble m s a ro und d ig it a l s p a ce s." F or h er p art, O dgers is fa r

m ore w orrie d a bout p riv a cy a nd u nequal a cce ss to te ch n olo gy fo r k id s fr o m fa m ilie s w it h lo w er s o cio eco nom ic

s ta tu s. S he a ls o s u sp ects th at s o m e a dole sce nts ﬁ n d m uch n eeded s o cia l s u p port o nlin e a nd th at a dult s

s h ould p ay c lo se r a tte ntio n to w hat w ork s in th at r e gard .

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These s tu die s a re ju st th e b egin nin g. T he y h ave h elp ed c la rif y th e b ig p ic tu re o n s o cia l m edia u sa ge, b ut fa r

m ore w ork is n eeded. V arie ty in th e ty p es o f s tu die s c o n ducte d w ill h elp te ase o ut n uance . In a r e ce nt

exp erim enta l s tu dy, fo r in sta nce , S ta nfo rd 's G entz ko w a ske d m ore th an 1 ,6 00 p eople to d eactiv a te th eir

F ace book a cco unts , w hic h w as v e riﬁ e d e le ctr o nic a lly . H e a nd h is c o lle agues w ere s u rp ris e d th at s u bstit u tio n o f

oth er d ig it a l te ch nolo gie s w ent d ow n, n ot u p. " P eople p erc e iv e th ey'r e s p e ndin g le ss tim e o n a ll th ese th in gs,"

G entz ko w s a ys. T he e ff e ct s iz e w as s m all, h ow eve r, a nd m aske d a lo t o f in div id ual v a ria tio n. S om e p eople

l o ve d th e b re ak; o th ers r e ally m is se d th eir o nlin e s o cia l w orld . " F ace b ook is d eliv e rin g a lo t o f v a lu e to p eople ,

but n eve rth ele ss th ey m ay b e u sin g it m ore th an is r e ally o ptim al fo r th em ," G entz ko w s a ys. " T here a re m any

people fo r w hom s ca lin g b ack th eir u sa ge a lit tle c o u ld m ake th em h appie r a nd b ette r o ff ."

S eve ra l r e se arc h ers a re tr y in g to b ette r m ea su re s cre en tim e.

S ta nfo rd c o m munic a tio ns r e se arc h er B yro n R eeve s a nd h is c o lle agues h ave d eve lo ped a te ch niq ue c a lle d

S cre enom ic s, w hic h ta ke s a p ic tu re o f p eo ple 's p hones e ve ry ﬁ ve s e co n ds ( w it h p erm is sio n). T e ch nolo gy

co m panie s a ls o h ave a r o le to p la y. C orp ora tio ns a re b ette r a ble th an s cie ntis ts to c o unt h ow m uch tim e

in div id uals a re s p endin g o n d if f e re nt a ctiv it ie s, b ut th ey c o n sid er th at in fo rm atio n p ro prie ta ry , a nd th ere a re

p riv a cy c o nce rn s fo r u se rs to b e a ddre sse d. P rz yb yls ki is p ush in g fo r th at p olic y to c h ange. " C om panie s

sh ould n't g et a fr e e p ass," h e s a ys.

N ew r e se arc h a ls o s e eks to d o a b ette r jo b o f p re dic tin g in div id ual v a ria tio n. In H anco ck's la b, S ta nfo rd

u nderg ra duate A ngela L ee d eve lo ped a c re ativ e a ppro ach . S he a pplie d th e id ea o f m in dse ts — th at b elie fs

s h ape p eople 's r e alit ie s— to s o cia l m edia . T hro ugh in te rv ie w s, L ee fo und th at v ie w s a bout s o cia l m edia fe ll in to

t w o g enera l b ucke ts : w heth er s o m eone th ought s o cia l m ed ia w as g ood o r b ad fo r th em ( v a le nce ) a nd w heth er

or n ot th ey th ought th ey w ere in c o ntr o l o f it ( a gency). O ve r th e c o u rs e o f th re e s tu die s, s h e a nd H anco ck

te ste d c lo se to 7 00 p eople a nd fo und th at s o cia l m ed ia m in dse ts p re dic te d u se rs ' w ell- b ein g. A s e nse o f

agency h ad th e s tr o ngest e ff e ct. " T he m ore y o u b elie ve y o u a re in c o n tr o l o ve r y o ur s o cia l m edia , th e m ore

s o cia l s u pport y o u h ave , th e le ss d epre ssio n y o u r e port, th e le ss s tr e ss, th e le ss s o cia l a nxie ty , r e gard le ss o f

how m uch y o u'r e a ctu ally s a yin g y o u u se s o cia l m ed ia ," s a ys L ee, w ho is n ow a g ra duate s tu dent in H anco ck's

l a b. S he p re se nte d th e w ork in M ay a t th e A sso cia tio n fo r P sych o lo gic a l S cie nce m eetin g.

T he p ow er o f m in dse t s e rv e s a s a r e m in d er o f th e p ow er o f p ers p e ctiv e . In th e 1 980s p eople w ere w rin gin g

th eir h ands a bout th e tim e k id s s p ent s ta rin g m in dle ssly a t te le vis io n s cre ens, s a ys G entz ko w , w ho h as s tu die d

th at e ra . H e im agin es a skin g th ose w orry w arts a bout n ew te ch n olo gie s th at w ould a llo w k id s to in ste ad in te ra ct

w it h o ne a noth er b y s h arin g m essa ges, p hoto gra phs a nd v id eos. " A nyb o dy th en w ould h ave s a id , 'W ow , th at

w ould b e a m azin g.' "

M ORE T O E XPLO RE

Has th e S m artp hone D estr o ye d a G enera tio n? J e a n M . T w enge in A tla ntic , V ol. 3 20, p ages 5 8–65; S epte m ber

2017.

T he A sso cia tio n b etw een A dole sce nt W ell- B ein g a nd D ig it a l T e ch nolo gy U se . A m y O rb en a nd A ndre w K .

P rz yb yls ki in N atu re H um an B ehavio ur, V ol. 3 , N o. 2 , p ages 1 73–182; F ebru ary 2 019.

S cre ens, T e ens, a nd P sych olo gic a l W ell- B ein g: E vid ence fr o m T hre e T im e-U se - D ia ry S tu die s. A m y O rb en a nd

A ndre w K . P rz yb yls ki in P sych olo gic a l S cie nce , V ol. 3 0, N o. 5 , p ages 6 82–696; M ay 2 019.

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Your B ra in in th e S m artp hone A ge. S cie ntiﬁ c A m eric a n e B ooks; M ay 6 , 2 019.

IN B RIE F

Anxie ty a bout th e e ff e cts o f s o cia l m edia o n y o u ng p eople h as r is e n to s u ch a n e xtr e m e th at g iv in g c h ild re n

sm artp hones is s o m etim es e quate d to h a ndin g th em a g ra m o f c o ca in e. T he r e alit y is m uch le ss a la rm in g.

A c lo se lo ok a t s o cia l m edia u se s h ow s th at m ost y o u ng te xte rs a nd In sta gra m mers a re ﬁ n e. H eavy u se c a n

le ad to p ro ble m s, b ut m any e arly s tu die s a nd n ew s h eadlin es h ave o ve rs ta te d d angers a nd o m it te d c o nte xt.

R ese arc h ers a re n ow e xa m in in g th ese d iv e rg in g v ie w poin ts , lo okin g fo r n uance a nd d eve lo pin g b ette r m eth ods

fo r m easu rin g w heth er s o cia l m edia a nd r e la te d te ch n olo gie s h ave a ny m ea nin gfu l im pact o n m enta l h ealt h .

P H O TO ( C O LO R)

PH O TO ( C O LO R)

~~~~~~~~

Lyd ia D enw orth is a c o ntr ib utin g e dit o r fo r S cie ntiﬁ c A m eric a n a nd is a uth or o f F rie ndsh ip : T he E vo lu tio n,

B io lo gy, a nd E xtr a ord in ary P ow er o f L if e 's F undam en ta l B ond ( W . W . N orto n, in p re ss).

S cie ntiﬁ c A m eric a n is a r e gis te re d tr a de m ark o f N atu re A m eric a , In c. a nd it s c o n te nt m ay n ot b e c o pie d o r

em aile d to m ult ip le s it e s o r p oste d to a lis ts e rv w it h out th e c o p yrig ht h old er's e xp re ss w rit te n p erm is sio n.

H ow eve r, u se rs m ay p rin t, d ow nlo ad, o r e m ail a rtic le s fo r in div id ual u se .