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Social Media Effects on Attitude & Behavior
Social Media Effects on Attitude & Behavior:
Does Social Media have an Effect on Self-Esteem and Behavior?
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Abstract
Social media is a double-edged sword that has made itself a fundamental and uniquely important item in our everyday life without which we are lost with no way of properly creating a favorable system to navigate in the world. Social media in the current day and age is known as an interactive form of technology that allows for the creation of ideas and various interests as well as the sharing of valuable information via various networks (Mayfield, 2008). An easier approach to use in looking at the aspect of social media is to think about common interactive web-based platforms such as Facebook and Instagram which offer a larger percentage base when it comes to people to talk to with the added advantage of sharing information with. Taking into consideration that these particular interactive platforms offer a large sum of information it’s no surprise that we can have key individuals who are regarded to be experts within a particular field and thus due to this create a larger number of individuals who try to reach out for their expertise via methods such as following them on these platforms. These individuals are known as influencers. They are thus considered valuable individuals since they have a greater influence on a given target audience. Their insight into various if not specific subjects ensures that they have created a following of individuals. In some rare instances, we can see that individuals who create educational and entertaining materials that are expressed in various forms of a medium can also have a large following but not the same as those of influencers (Freberg et al.,2011). These individuals are known as content creators whose main task and focus pertains to publishing works to communicate information based on experience from writing to communicate a key message to the end-user.
Although social media is an invaluable tool that has made communication amongst loved ones easier it has also created a hostile environment with an unchecked reach and lack of oversite of corporate power. Taking an example of the 2016 American presidential election, in which we see from previously stated investigations that a foreign power might have influenced such a crucial aspect of our democratic system, we learn that without proper kept in place rules to ensure how these platforms are governed important institutions that hold up a large part of the country may be threatened thus making us vulnerable to foreign powers (Tan et al.,2021). Other more dangerous aspects of social media are its particular influence on individuals and how they see themselves. This paper’s key agenda and focus is the effect of social media on our self-esteem and behavior with a keen insight on just how best to tackle this issue to spare future generations from the same effects.
Social media platforms
Various social media platforms have different algorithms created with the intent of making them user-friendly. These algorithms also serve another purpose which is to display specific content to specific individuals in an attempt to brand or make a profit by advertising what is expected of them to people who may buy such products. Influencers play a big part in such content advertising in an attempt to get their followers or an audience to buy a specific item with the key aim of making a profit once they do (Liu et al.,2016). This tactic is not so different as when various companies pay these platforms to help push their specific ads to a target audience that can easily buy such goods. In this instance, the social media platforms monetize from having such a large user base and hence find a way to make money by using their given audience as the end product that is sold to these large companies.
Although social media platforms greatly benefit from monetizing their users there are various ways their users can also benefit financially. Individuals can opt instead of only being users of such platforms they can be influencers and content creators with the key focus on making a financial profit (Auxier et al., 2021). Other social media platforms allow their users to benefit from data being collected from them by allowing them the ability to accept whether such data should be collected or not.
Difference between an influencer and challenge participant
Content creators are individuals who create entertaining and educational materials that are usually expressed in a given form of medium. Influencers are considered experts in a given field and thus are seen as individuals who can advise on a given thing. Users are individuals who make use of a particular network via the use of various accounts created on the given platforms (Gran et al.,2021). These three individuals are different in that only the content creator and the influencer monetize the specific platforms they use while the user is regarded as the item for sale since they are the intended clientele.
Although most social media platforms uphold an ethical means to respect their clients’ right to privacy and thus promise in no way to share their details we see that in various instances that such promises are never upheld (Matar et al.,2017). To maximize profits these platforms have to give targeted suggestive ads to their clients based on their recent search history. This allows them to get paid by the companies whose ads they run to their clients.
Influencers who populace specific products and items have to create a large enough group of audience over time which often implies that they have to spend days on end and enormous amounts of hours just to get followers. Influencers such as models struggle to keep their appearance to remain relevant in an ever-changing world with new and better products up for display every day (Gilbert et al.,2021). Content creators also struggle in similar conditions. Due to the emergence of new information daily, these individuals have to keep up to date with the latest information to easily maintain their audience and fan base for as long as possible. A lack thereof to keep up with new content may mean that they no longer become relevant anymore.
Self-esteem – Difference between men and women
Due to the ever-increasing influence of content creators and influencers on various social media platforms individuals from all walks of life thus tend to be self-conscious about how they live their life based on what they see on these platforms. Social consciousness is the primary factor that is triggered by influencers and content creators who have a large enough follower base to sway public opinion (Pialkowski et al.,2021). Social consciousness is easily created on such social media platforms since at times it connects a large number of people who share a similar viewpoint on a given matter. A good example of this is the black lives matter movement which was a social consciousness decision created by individuals who adopted a ‘we’ mentality due to the similar problem of racism they all faced.
Another effect of social media is the Bandwagon effect. This is the term used to describe people when they develop a particular adaptation to behaviors like trends in food and fashion simply because others are doing it (Tan et al.,2021). This effect develops and takes root because of public behavior that grows due to particular actions and beliefs growing amongst a given community. Influencers and content creators play a given role in creating this effect due to their large enough coverage on a large group of people who may solely rely on them for information and advice on given matters.
Method of data collection
By use of several surveys and questionnaires data thus became easy to gather and eventually compile.
Participants
Questionnaires and surveys were mostly targeted at young people who generally used social media on a day-to-day basis. Such people mostly included college students, friends, family, and coworkers.
Measures/materials
By diagnosing different studies that deal with the same study a conclusive argument was reached and thus a cross-sectional study of social media in this day and age could be seen.
Procedure
The study would first require the accurate gathering of data and then a cross-examination if all the data shows or give similar results.
Design
The design employs a descriptive approach that heavily relies on observational and survey formats for data collection and interpretation.
Results
My research results inevitably gave me a glimpse and horrifying reality of just how harmful social media can be to future generations if it’s not properly managed. I concluded from my results that although the greatest effects of social media can lead to policy change and eventual bad societal decisions in general the worst effects of all was in how it affected individual reasoning and self-esteem. Depression and sadness have become all too common a case for individuals who use social media on a day-to-day basis. Further research and reports show that feelings of depression mostly take place when individuals encounter or see photos of other people they consider are happier or have an amazing life than them.
Discussion
Based on my research I concluded that women are more likely to be influencers on social media platforms compared to men. I also predict men are more susceptible to participate in challenges compared to women. Lastly, I predict women may experience greater effects on their self-esteem compared to men.
References
Auxier, B., & Anderson, M. (2021). Social media use in 2021. Pew Research Center.
Freberg, K., Graham, K., McGaughey, K., & Freberg, L. A. (2011). Who are the social media influencers? A study of public perceptions of personality. Public relations review, 37(1), 90-92.Gilbert, G., Williamson, C., Richards, J., Collyer, T. A., & Kelly, P. (2021). Do Frame Mental Health Messages on Social Media Influence University Students’ Motivation for Physical Activity?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(16), 8671.
Gran, A. B., Booth, P., & Bucher, T. (2021). To be or not to be algorithm aware: a question of a new digital divide?. Information, Communication & Society, 24(12), 1779-1796.
Karppi, T., & Crawford, K. (2016). Social media, financial algorithms, and the hack crash. Theory, culture & society, 33(1), 73-92.
Liu, D., Ainsworth, S. E., & Baumeister, R. F. (2016). A meta-analysis of social networking online and social capital. Review of General Psychology, 20(4), 369-391.
Matar Boumosleh, J., & Jaalouk, D. (2017). Depression, anxiety, and smartphone addiction in university students-A cross-sectional study. PloS one, 12(8), e0182239.
Mayfield, A. (2008). What is social media?
Piatkowski, T. M., White, K. M., Hides, L. M., & Obst, P. L. (2021). The impact of social media on self‐evaluations of men striving for a muscular ideal. Journal of Community Psychology, 49(2), 725-736.
Tan, Y. T., Rehm, I. C., Stevenson, J. L., & De Foe, A. (2021). Social media peer support groups for obsessive-compulsive and related disorders: understanding the predictors of negative experiences. Journal of Affective Disorders, 281, 661-672.
Social Media Campaign Plan- Final
Social Media Campaign Plan- Final
Over the past few weeks, believe it or not, you have slowly created a social media/public relations campaign plan. For your final, you will put everything together into one document. Below are the components you will need to include in your document. All of the components should be from past assignments (except the evaluation section).
*Please use the following as subtitles for your Social Media Campaign Plan:
Goal-Summarize your goal in 1-2 sentences
Target Audience- describe them (their lifestyle, buying trends, education, income levels, etc.) Include the research you created in your “goal” assignment
Description of Campaign
What is the name of the social media handle(s) you will use?
Why this name? Did you create it or was it already created?
What will you promote?
Why will you promote it?
How will you promote it?
Where will you promote it?
What is your intended outcome?
Samples of your social media posts
Include a description and rationale for your images and messages
If you can, include the actual images
Evaluation
Instructions of the Evaluation Section
Perhaps the most important part of the social media plan is the evaluation section. This will tell people how you plan to measure the effectiveness of your social media plan. In this section, talk about how you plan on understanding the positive effects the plan will have on your audience. You can do this a number of ways:
Measure by retweets
You must quantify this. Set a specific amount.
Measure by social media impressions
You must quantify this. Set a specific amount.
Measure by counting the use of the hashtags you’ve created
You must quantify this. Set a specific amount.
Measure by amount of views
You must quantify this. Set a specific amount.
By all means, get creative.
Effects of advertising among children
Effects of advertising among children
Introduction
Today’s children are exceptional in various ways compared to the generations from the past. However, the one influencing factor among this type of generation is the aspect of advertising. Generally, this context will focus on some of the effects of advertising on children. Additionally, the synthesis will generally focus on various sources that focus on the positive and the negative effects of mass media and advertising as a whole. In doing this, the synthesis will elaborate on three different articles with each giving various opinions about the effects of advertising among children (Dumont, 25). The three sources in this article are how the media advertise to children, negative advertising, and how media violence affects children.
Theme
Over the years, there have been various theories, which have been campaigning against the aspect of, negative advertising on the television. In one of the studies, why do the media advertise to children, the author tries to investigate the aspect of negative advertisements in the society emphasizing on children in particular (Horovitz, 78). Additionally, this particular study examines whether the aspect of negative advertising can result in a better or good life among children. Over the years, various studies have been on a mission to find out if the general concept of advertising can positively or negatively affect a child’s life in future or years to come. The study claims that there are various factors which the general aspect of advertising can affect the success of a child. Some of the negative effects of advertising revealed in the study include, negatively corrupting the minds of the children, and derailment in the student’s studies. Some parts of the study claim that the aspect of advertising apparently can also positively affect the child’s success in three different aspects of life (Dumont, 45). The three aspects of life include social interactions, performance perceptions and educationally. In this study regarding the effects of advertisements to children, many researchers usually concentrate on the aspect of gender, and the age of the child. The article will first discuss the two different aspects, which will be important to discuss when dealing with the effects of advertising to the children. The article will further elaborate on the success and the downfall of the aspect of media advertisements with major categories of the child’s life.
Advertising
Media advertising entails the aspect of publicly informing the viewers and targeted audiences about a new product or service in the market (Horovitz, 102). There are various forms of advertising in which cooperate and businesses can use to pass the message across the public. Some of the most common advertising forms include billboards, television, print media, radio, and websites. The main purpose of advertising is to influence target groups minds hence resulting in the sale of the particular concept and product to the client. In most cases, this aspect creates various questions in a situation where children are involved. Additionally, there are obvious deals of interest in relation to the subject of advertising among children.
Why do the media advertise to children?
In the current world we are living, everywhere we go; there seem to be an aspect of advertising be it radio stations or billboards (Call it kid-fluence, 96). In most cases, these advertisements target young children in terms of the products they are using. Generally, marketers target children because the children are an easy target thus in terms of luring them. According to (Laws, 45), advertisements in the present world have doubled to reach an amazing $230 billion. Through advertisements, organizations can be able to influence the minds of individuals, which ultimately might lead to making a sale to a prospective client. Nevertheless, advertising might raise a number of questions if it targets children, even though the motive would be to attract attention. One of the prime motives of advertising is to attract the attention of the viewers, which means that for children, it would be necessary to convey the message in a different manner. The difference emanates from the fact that advertisements for children should be packaged in a manner that appeal to the younger generation, which should be specific to some of the needs and wants of the children.
In the contemporary society advertising assumes different forms. Advertisement manifests itself on bill boards that one can see when driving on the highway, newspapers and the daily. Advertisement can also be manifested on television. Some individuals insist that the advertisements they see o not influence them in any way but the truth is advertisements influence all. Children are the target audiences of many advertisements (The American Heritage College Dictionary, 79). Advertisers know that once a child sees and likes an advert, they would hound their parents enough to make them buy the products. Although advertisers try to portray positive items to children, children are most likely to be overawed with negative ways of advertising. Television is the most popular channel used by advertisers to the young kids. According to a study, an average American child views around 40,000 television adverts per year (Children and TV advertising, 23). Currently, schools are advertising to the children without realizing that they are advertising to the children. Advertisement son food, toys, clothing among other things are among a few things that advertisers advertise to children on a daily basis. Food advertisements are mostly targeted towards children. A large percentage of the food advertisements that target children, are of foods with minimal nutritional value (Andrews, 89).
Companies like McDonald spend around $570 million per year on advertising. McDonald not a place one could expect to find is not a place to find a healthy or nutritious meal. In schools, children are being rewarded by coupons for pizza hut and McDonalds for doing a good job in school. This is advertising this places as the schools can choose to reward the student with money to further the child’s education. Most of the educational posters that are in schools advertise candy to the children. Candy is not healthy for the children as it may give a child health concerns. Cigarette advertisements are also being advertised to children who pick up the advert and start smoking at an early age. When a child sees the cigarette advert, they think that smoking is something that they can do on their own and enjoy themselves (McNeal, 56).
The ages at which children start to try smoking are becoming younger and younger each day and the blame is pointed to advertisements. Smoking has a negative effect on children as it leads to health complication in the future (Children and TV advertising, 45). As far as television impacts a child, advertisements go. Children as young as three years old know brand named products and clothing due to the advertisements they watch. When children spend so much time watching television, how they get influenced cannot be helped and want what they see. A child becomes obsessed with getting what they see on TV that they would hound their parents to whatever extent until they get the product. This affects as they might even get into trouble keeping up with the amount of money they spend just to keep up with their children’s demands on the products. Children watching a lot of TV end up wanting more toys from the advertisements and more foods that are being advertised as compared with children that do not watch TV (Children and TV advertising, 72).
Conclusion
As much as there are adverts that affect children negatively, there are those that have a positive impact on the children. For instance, advertisements that are selling educational books for children and other forms of learning material impact a child positively. These products are beneficial to the growth and development of the child. A parent is recommended to be extremely cautious of what their child is watching and how much they are watching. This could be achieved through limiting the time spent watching TV and that most of the content being watched is a little more educational and beneficial.
Work Cited
Andrews, J C. S. T. A. Advertising Promotion and Other Aspects of Integrated Marketing Communications. Mason, OH: Cengage Learning, 2013. Print.
Call it kid-fluence. U.s. News & World Report, July 30, p.32.Strasburger, 2001, Victor C. (2001, June).
The American Heritage College Dictionary. Boston: American Heritage, 2002
Children and TV advertising: Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 22, 185. Education Digest (2000, January). Junk-food marketing goes elementary. p, 32.
Dumont, Pascaline. “Temptation-free Television for Children?” UNESCO Courier 54. 9 (2001) : 44
Horovitz, Bruce. (December 18, 1997). “Cashing in on kids Retailers in search of customers for life,” USA Today, PA 1A.
Kilbourne, Jean. (2003) “Own this Child” Available online: www4.cord.edu/english/stevier/ho–feb17_sample_essay3_draft_outline.htm
McNeal, James . Quoted in McDonald M, Lavelle M. (2001).
Washington Post: Under-6 set tunes in tv’s not books .Toledo Blade, 153(302), (October 29, 2003PA 1/5
Wesolowsky, Tuck (2003)“Advertisements target young children” Available online: www.rferl.com/nca/features/2000/03/F.RU.000316151205.html