Gretchen Millhouse

Professor Lisa Tyler

English 1201.505

25 February 2020

Literature Review: Effects of Social Media

When social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tik Tok, first

came out, they were intended to bring people together and be a tool for old friends and family to

connect and new friendships to form, but it is still that way? Now that social media has been out

for several years, what are the benefits and dangers of it in our country, and how can we

highlight the positive and omit the negative aspects of it? The answer to this question could be

one that could keep social media platforms accountable in how they make us think and feel, as

well as strengthen our relationships and country.

Most researchers agree that there still are many benefits to social media in today’s

culture. People can keep in touch with peers and far-away friends and family, and it serves as a

very important creativity outlet (Allen). In addition, social media allows one to demonstrate

competency and mastery to their circle of influence. Digital literacy, a skill needed for the

majority of jobs today, is strengthened through the use of social media, and people can learn

almost anything they want from online tutorials and discussion groups (Deveraux).

As time passes and more studies can be conducted, researchers are finding that social

media can be addictive. Sean Parker, Facebook’s founding president, said this: “When Facebook

was being developed the objective was: ‘How do we consume as much of your time and

conscious attention as possible?’” (The Social Dilemma). Wharton University writes that social
 Millhouse 2

media adjusts based on our preferences and behaviors, and that this aspect makes it engaging and

interesting, but also more addicting (“The Impact”).

Social media also affects finding and maintaining jobs. A study done for MIS Quarterly

suggests that job seekers should be mindful of how their social media content may draw

inspection from hiring managers and might create positive or negative biases. Organizations

should create policies that encourage raters to be mindful of how social media assessments may

create biases that impact the hireability ratings of job applicants (Wade, et al).

Perhaps the best way to make sure social media is being used in the right way is to be

deliberate about the time spent on it, and active when you are on it. Setting aside time to use

social media and not passively scrolling, but engaging with other people when you are on it, are

shown to help reduce the risk of becoming addicted (Allen). In addition, educating yourself on

the dangers of social media is a great way to make sure you set the right blocks up in order to

keep your use of it beneficial (The Social Dilemma).

 Millhouse 3

Works Cited

Allen, Summer. “Social Media’s Growing Impact on Our Lives.” American Psychological

Association, 20 Sept. 2019, www.apa.org/members/content/social-media-research.

Accessed 18 Oct. 2020.

Deveraux, McKay. “The Dangers of Social Media for Teens - Outback Therapeutic

Expeditions.” Outback Therapeutic Expeditions, 29 Feb. 2020,

www.outbacktreatment.com/the-dangers-of-social-media-for-teens/. Accessed 18 Oct.

2020.

“The Impact of Social Media: Is It Irreplaceable?” Knowledge@Wharton, Wharton University of

Pennsylvania, 26 July 2019, knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/impact-of-social-

media/. Accessed 18 Oct. 2020.

The Social Dilemma. Directed by Jeff Orlowski, Netflix, 26 Jan. 2020.

Wade, Julie T., et al. “Social Media and Selection: Political Issue Similarity, Liking, and the

Moderating Effect of Social Media Platform.” MIS Quarterly, vol. 44, no. 3, Sept. 2020,

pp. 1301–1357. EBSCOhost, doi:10.25300/MISQ/2020/14119.