By Kayla Kinsey
During the first days of my senior year, I watched a documentary called “The Social Dilemma” in AP Computer Science. Part of my preconceived notion about this class was that it would be solely about embracing technology and all its advancements; the introduction was much different than I imagined, but in the best way possible. Through this documentary, we were taught about the negative effects of social media. I presume the intent was to keep us teenagers from being on our phones in class, and it worked. However, the documentary was more impactful to me in my life outside of the classroom.
I have always criticized social media, but I still find myself enveloped by its manipulative properties. So here, I intend to reflect on social media’s motives, benefits, manipulation and detriments with hopes of bringing awareness to what exactly lies behind the screen.
According to a study performed at Northwestern University, algorithms are aimed to amplify a user’s engagement, but by doing so, they are increasing the spread of both misinformation and polarization. I recently co-wrote an article which covered the detrimental effects of increased political polarization, and through the process of doing so, I’ve learned that when social media is meant to bring people together, it is actually adding to the polarization. According to William Brady, a social psychologist in the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, algorithms are not created with the intent to create corruption, but the interaction between human psychology and these algorithms can influence and confirm unhealthy behavior.
An anonymous report from a Facebook employee in “The Social Dilemma” revealed that 64% percent of people who joined extremist groups on Facebook did so because of skewed algorithms. Being manipulated by outside sources creates major divides in society, yet the lack of awareness of the consequences of using social media is evident.
Devices have become necessary tools to most teenagers’ lives, both socially and academically. With schooling and learning becoming dependent on technology, the digital world has become the source of obtaining knowledge. However, its involvement in everyday life stems beyond the benefits of using it for education, as people depend on their devices for social reasons as well. For example, many teenagers use platforms such as Snapchat and Instagram to communicate with their friends. According to the American Journal of Epidemiology, a 5,000-person study found that higher social media usage correlates with a decline in mental health and body image satisfaction. This leads me to my next question: do the creators of these platforms recognize the consequences of their work and moral implications on young generations?
According to stanfordreview.org, major social media networks such as Snapchat, LinkedIn, and Instagram have been created by Stanford alumni. I did a little more digging and found that there is a course at Stanford specifically aimed at teaching how psychological tricks and triggers related to technology, harnessing the susceptible mind to alter users’ behaviors and attitudes through social media. Even if classified as a marketing technique, I believe that the effect of these platforms spans beyond “marketing” and should be classified as immoral manipulation.
However, it is clear that social media has its benefits. It connects people all over the world, increases communication, grants easier access to information, and increases engagement to worldwide current events, according to the American Psychological Association. However, multiple studies from HelpGuide.org reveal that social media increases risks for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self harm, and suicidal thoughts.
Now over a month into the school year, I’ve noticed my classmates resume their digital temptations, using technology as a distraction. It’s time to get reflective about the detrimental effects of our devices and make some serious changes to our habits.
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