Social Media Usage, Over-Usage and Addictive Patterns Essay

Social Media Usage, Over-Usage and Addictive Patterns - Essay Example The study revealed that majority of the students use social networking websites in colleges and universities. Facebook was found to be the most commonly used social website among students. The study also revealed some main positive and negative aspects of using social media for long hours. In the end of the report, the researcher also gave some recommendations to overcome the negative consequences of using social networking websites. Table of Contents Contents Page No. 1. Introduction 1 2. Literature Review 2 3. Methodology 3 3.1 Research Method 3 3.2 Data Gathering Instruments 4 3.3 Tool for Data Analysis 4 4. Findings and Interpretation 4 5. Conclusion 9 5. Recommendations 9 Social Media Usage, Over-Usage, and Addictive Patterns 1. Introduction Social media has influenced the life of almost every person in today’s world. There are many types of social media which help people communicate with each other and develop personal and business relationships. Some of the main types o f those media include emails, Skype chat, and social networking websites, such as, Facebook, Twitter, and Orkut. Among all of these types of media, social networking websites have played the most dynamic and influencing role in the lives of people no matter what field of life they belong to. The impact of using these websites and other forms of social media is both positive and negative on people depending on the usage of these media and the level of addiction. Facebook is none of such social networking platforms, which I being heavily used by the people of all age groups. According to Myers (2010, p. 1), â€Å"Facebook is a social networking website intended to connect friends, family, and business associates†. Although this website and other social networking media provide many benefits to people, such as, developing kinship and other relationships, information sharing, entertainment, social interaction with people from different societies, and facility to find old friends, but there are also some harms associated with the heavy use of these media. Some of those harms or negative effects include development of unhealthy relationships, wastage of time, and threat to private security. In this paper, I will discuss the positive and negative effects of making heavy use of social networking media. I will base my judgments on the findings from the sample on which I will conduct the research. I will also give some recommendations to escape from negative consequences of social media. 2. Literature Review Computer mediated communication enhances interpersonal communication (Walther 1996). Social networking media helps people in forming imagined communities and networks, as well as long-lasting relationships. Although all social media play some role in the lives of people, but social networking websites hold the maximum share. Facebook is one of the main examples of such media which has intruded itself in the home and office of almost every person. Alba and Sta y (2008, p. 24) state, â€Å"Facebook is a networking platform†. It is a fact that Facebook has made people less individualistic (Miller, 2011, p. 190). People can form communities with no boundaries and geographical limitations. Facebook enables interaction between people from different backgrounds, cultures, and countries. â€Å"The site makes chatter faster and more public -- two aspects that may have an impact on