IMPACT OF SOCIAL NETWORKS ON USERS LIVES

In the age of information and technology not only the technologies are influencing
our daily life but also they are becoming the part of our life. In other word, it has
brought the human being beyond the magic of ancient fairy tale stories and has
entered into new era of the online social network sites (OSNs) such as Facebook,
Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. It allow users to connect with multiple
communication channels, which facilitate private messages, public display
"walls", updates status, instant messaging, groups and applications (Lampe et al.
2011).

Online social networks has now spread round the globe and Facebook is world’s
largest social network become so popular for young people that they hardly use
email or other way of communication (Kirkpatrick 2010, 85).

The excessive use of Facebook among the students is generating main question
that is, Facebook use effecting on students’ academic performance and playing
positive or negative role in their social and academic lives?

IN THEIR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

The trend of traditional studies regarding students’ lives focus on academics and
between student and faculty relationships (Granovetter M, 1973).

But due to popularity of Social Networks in university campuses the link with
academic learning’s by the information technology may be affected.

Some recent research works are demonstrating the impact of Facebook on

students’ academic performances. It is necessary to define the academic
performance before we go any further. According to Aliyas, Hope and Justin
(2012) that ‘academic performance is a function of attention span, time
management skills, student characteristics, academic competence, time spent on
online social network and academic competence is defined as a student’s ability
to manage the required course load and course materials for his/her chosen field
of study’ (p.2118).

A recent article by Kirschner and Karpinski (2010) concluded that use of

Facebook negatively affects grade point average and study time spent per week.
In another related study, Zhong, Hardin, and Sun (2011) they both found that
users with less understanding of technology use Facebook less while those with
high information and technology innovativeness like to spend more time on
Facebook.

A recent study focus on undergraduates at a Michigan State University shows

students are spending almost four hours in a typical day for doing their studies
with or without using internet and 1.75h for Facebook usage. So we also find out
that most of the students are spending their more time on “studying or doing
schoolwork” as compare to “Facebook usage” purposes.

The most significant finding of this research is Facebook impact on student’s

grade point average. Based on the findings, students who are involved in
Facebook use has lower grade point average than those who have not Facebook
account or do not use Facebook.

IMPACTO POSITIVO
Despite the aforementioned negative consequences of social networks, different
studies have shown their positive impact at the academic level.
As information and communication spaces, the networks allow information about
what happens in different parts of the world, access to varied points of view,
contact professionals from all areas and get inspiration instantly. In addition, they
facilitate access to multiple media and therefore to form students with a more
critical position.
Similarly, social networks create an opportunity for learning, ongoing training and
professional development, as well as an increasingly frequent scenario of
exchange of experiences, news and personal contact, in a world undergoing an
accelerated process of change and transformation.
That is why, electronic learning or e-learning, has been growing rapidly and
according to various studies, it is estimated that by 2019, 50% of the classes will
be taught online and many of them will be free.
It should be noted, that the integration of social networks to education, has been
inevitable, and is that currently, those who have an Internet connection, can
educate themselves, thus making students have more power over their own
education.
IN THEIR SOCIAL LIVES
People use Facebook to stay connected with friends and family, to be informed
and entertained within their social circle, and to share and express what matters
to them (Facebook facts, 2013).

Ellison, Steinfeld and Lampe (2007) conducted the studies on Facebook use and
bridging, bonding, maintaining social capital and online offline relationships.

A recent study show social networks is impacting directly or indirectly on the

students extra curriculum activities. Overall Facebook users are more interested
in most of the extra curriculum activities than Non-Facebook users. The reason
behind is that Facebook providing easy, fast and cheap communication between
the students, so they are connected with each other and can announce and
arrange their events on Facebook with few minutes. This study found clearly that
Facebook is an effective tool for formation (bridging, bonding and maintaining)
the students existing social capital but it is not very effective for most of the
participants to increase social capital (make new friends or meet new people)
through Facebook.

IN THEIR MENTAL HEALTH

Beyond the kindness of these platforms that allow users to socialize, access and
share information, as well as conect virtually people with the same activities
affinities and interests.

on the other side are the risks of dependency and harm that can generate social
networks in the health and well-being of young people.

An investigation carried out in the United Kingdom revealed that Instagram, one
of the most popular social networks with more than 700 million users worldwide,
is the most perjudicial application for the mental health of young people.

The study, conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health, was based on a
survey of 1,500 young people aged 14 to 24 years. The result signaled a
YouTube as the most positive impact, while Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook and
Twiter showed negative effects among users.

Today, network is for teenagers and young people synonymous with social
networks: a space where they socialize, entertain and spend most of the time. At
the same time, a place where they have the opportunity to show themselves to
others.

In the last four years, have begun to point out as risk factors the time that
adolescents and young people dedicate to connect in social networks. Boys who
spend more than two hours on these platforms are more prone to problems such
as anxiety, anguish, lack of sleep and risk of depression, according to the
diagnoses.

In the case of Instagram, the social network where the image is everything, the
use of digital editing tools helps the user to project the false image of perfection
and beauty that can often negatively affect body image and soulish that users
have of themselves, by making that them compare themselves with other Internet
users.

CONCLUSION

In this scenario, the task of prevention is hard and must work from the schools. If
adolescence is already an extremely difficult stage to face, the work of
strengthening values and strengthening self-esteem should also consider the
online pressures that adolescents endure daily.

The impact of social platforms in this digital age in relation to the welfare of
children, adolescents and young people is a responsibility that also commits to
education.