Social media is a platform for the people and has become an important part in the life for communication, shopping, education and supporting a good cause. As commented by Fardouly et al. (2015), one of the most significant use of social media is communication due to the added benefits it provides to the daily lives of the individuals. For the young users, the social media can be used for communication, watching videos, sharing pictures and playing games online. Social media has become a part of the daily life for the young users and has increased to 90% and an estimated 10.6 billion minutes are spent apart from mobile usage (Perloff 2014).
Though the contribution of social media for the young users is impeccable, it has severe negative impacts on the young users. As mentioned by Best, Manktelow and Taylor (2014), extensive use of social media affects the physical health of the young users. Health issues might arise due to lack of physical activities as well as makes the young users less social with their surrounding environment. Improper use of social media leads to mental illness among the young users, as the young users have the opportunity of expressing their feelings and thoughts without any limit. In addition to, cyber bulling is another negative impact of the use of social media among the young adults that result in severe a fatal outcomes such as suicide and death. Also, less security and privacy on social media also results in cybercrimes, as the psychology of the young users attracts them more towards the negatives than the positives (Strasburger et al. 2013).
The aim of the research is to investigate how social media negatively impacts young users (around age 10-16).
The objectives of the research are:
This research is significant, as this will provide an opportunity for the researcher to analyze the different kinds of negative impact social media has on the young users. In addition to, the research will also help in analyzing the psychology and physiology of the young adults 10-16 years old and determine what drives them towards the conducting the negative actions on the social media platform. Following the identification, the research will help in suggesting ways of mitigating the negative impact of the social media for the young users 10-16 years old.
This dissertation is divided namely into seven chapters namely introduction, background of the topic, literature review, case studies, discussion, limitations and future research and conclusion.
Introduction: This chapter builds the framework of the entire research by formulating the research aim and objectives based on which the entire work is commenced.
Background of the topic: This chapter highlights the research questions thereby, shedding light in the types of interaction between the social media and the young users followed by analyzing the negative impacts in detail and methods of overcoming it.
Literature review: This chapter highlights the identification of the independent and the dependent variable thereby, referring it to relevant theories hat help in developing of better knowledge and understanding.
Case studies: This chapter talks about the tow case studies, MOMO challenge of WhatsApp and Blue Whale of Facebook in relevance to the negative impact of the use of social media for young users 10-16 years.
Discussion: This chapter discusses about the key takeaways from the literature review in terms of the factors that influence the young users to use social media negatively thereby, deducing conclusion.
Limitations and future research: This chapter highlights the limitations that are encountered while commencing with the work followed by proposing the future use of the research.
Conclusion: This is the last chapter that draws an overall conclusion by summarizing the facts and information that are presented in the above chapters thereby, providing suitable recommendations.
Thus, in this chapter, it can be summarized that apart from the positive sides of using social media, the young users aged 10-16 years are more prone to the negative impacts of the use of social media. This is due to the extensive exposure of technology for the young users without having deeper understanding about the good and the bad. Thus, conducting this research will provide an opportunity to mitigate the negative impacts of social media among the young users 10-16 years old thereby, minimizing detrimental circumstances and accidents. The research will help in educating the positive use of social media for the young users thereby, facilitating the use of the online platform for benefits and betterment.
The background of the study is based on the following research questions:
The different types of social media platforms include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, Snapchat, YouTube and LinkedIn. As commented by Duggan and Brenner (2013), Facebook is one of the most widely used social media platform among the young users.
(Source: Perrin 2015)
The above figure highlights that YouTube and Facebook are the most widely used social media platforms around the world among the young users and the young adults. However, as argued by Jelenchick, Eickhoff and Moreno (2013), recent data suggests that young users prefer Instagram and Snapchat over Facebook and loosing the craze.
(Source: Tess 2013)
The above figure justifies the statement mentioned by Tess (2013) in the previous section, as it can be seen that the use of Facebook has dropped and is predicted that the use of Facebook will slide to 76% by 2021. This is due to the increased features that Snapchat and Instagram provides to the young users compared to Facebook. However, until now, if the global platform is considered, Facebook is still leading its way. The young users spend an estimated 950 billion minutes only in Facebook with each users having a minimum of 130 friends, 80 followers community pages, groups and causes. In addition to, an estimated 30 billion piece of contents in terms of texts, notes, web site links, videos, blogs and photos are shared on Facebook. Also, more than 20 million plug-ins and applications are shared on Facebook whereas over 6 million have Facebook as their social boost service.
(Source: Seidman 2013)
The increased use of social media is seen, as in this fast paced life, the social media platform enables the users to connect, meet and share. According to Kwok and Yu (2013), the advent of internet, geographical limits have vanished thereby, enabling the young users to connect and communicate with each other regardless of the location. The young users 10-16 years are highly fascinated by the extensive functions provided by the social media platform. As commented by Chaffey (2016), the use of social media allow the young users communicate, support causes, play games and voice their opinions along with making friends around the world. However, as argued by Saw et al. (2013), lack of understanding and the ability to distinguish and determine between the good and the bad results in negative impact on the young users that is fatal sometimes.
In spite of the huge advantages the social media provides to the young users, the negative impacts have detrimental and fatal results on them. This is due to the lack of understanding and the ability to distinguish between the good and bad among the young users, 10-16 years old. As commented by Casler, Bickel and Hackett (2013), the extensive use of social media results in abnormal symptoms among the young users such as developing depression, anxiety and aggression. Depression among the young users leads to fatal accidents such as suicide. The young users become highly conscious about their self-image, body and looks when they are on social media, as they are exposed to numerous individuals. This often develops narcissistic nature among the young users due to which they develop inordinate fascination about them, excessive self-love and vanity.
However, as argued by Rauniar et al. (2014), young users that are using social media extensively tend to become anti-social and being isolated. The young users become addicted to the social media, as the facilities and features seems appealing to them that they feel missing in the real world. Thus, young users that become addicted with the use of social media develops physical difficulties such as stomach aches, sleeping issues, weight gain, becomes indolent and issues in terms of their eyes. Considering the age group of the young users, 10-16 years, it is known that they lack sufficient understanding and experience regarding the way the need to interact over the social media platform. As mentioned by Leung, Bai and Stahura (2015), an identity theft is one of the negative impacts of social media where the users make fake profile on the social media platform and initiates communication. Keeping into account the virtual nature of the social media platform, knowing the real identity is almost difficult. As a result, the young users communicate with strangers generally that impose potential risks. The young users are easily susceptible and vulnerable to outside influences. Thus, communicating with the strangers’ results in harassing of the young users on the social media platform that might be insulting thereby, resulting in detrimental actions.
However, argued by Ventola (2014), suicide is one of the most harmful and negative impacts of all times that the young users encounter due to the use of social media. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among the young users that results almost 4400 deaths each year. It has been seen for each suicide that take place, there are at least 100 suicide attempts by the young users. Approximately 1.53 million people are predicted to die from suicide, as increasing use of social media results in changed behavior among the young users. By being on social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, young users are make them open to harassment to online predators that results in suicide.
Considering the different negative impacts of the social media on the young users, it is essential for mitigating them. The parents needs to extremely cautious and careful before handing over electrical appliances such as mobile phones, laptops and iPads to the young users. In addition to, the parents need to educate the young users regarding the negative impacts of social media if it is not used correctly. Also following up and monitoring continuously is advisable to the parents in order to ensure that the young users are using the social media platform wisely and positively (Wyche, Schoenebeck and Forte 2013).
This chapter forms the basis of the overall study, as it comprises of the added information and data that supports and argues the topic of the study. This chapter states as well as discusses the different types of psychological theories in order to determine and explain the reason the young users are vulnerable to negative impacts of the social media. In the the context of the psychological theories, this chapter also discusses the potential reasons of the young users being easily influenced by the negative impacts around them. In addition to, the researcher has shed light on the social media and the positive and negative impact of social media on the young users.
The world population has been highly influenced by the use of social media over the past decades due to the various opportunities it provide to the users. According to Van Dijck (2013), social media is defined as the collection of online platforms that are used by the individuals for different functions depending on their needs. For instance, social media platform is used for business, relationship, friendship, sharing of information, supporting causes and providing individual opinions. However, as argued by Gikas and Grant (2013), social media are interactive computer mediated technologies that allow the users for creating and sharing of ideas.
Recently, the use of social media platform has gained huge popularity among the young users aged 10-16 years. As mentioned by Whiting and Williams (2013), the young users are developing increased liking for social media due to the interesting features and functions it offers for the young users in terms of playing online games, sharing images, updating their whereabouts and communicating with other individuals. However, as criticized by Laroche, Habibi and Richard (2013), the increased liking about social media is developed among the young users, as they are being exposed to the technology much earlier than their desired age. This is often giving rise to complications in terms of security and privacy among the young users.
(Source: Fuchs 2017)
The different types of social media platforms that are highly used include Facebook, WhatsApp, Snapchat, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter. In spite of having an age restriction for having an account on these social media platforms, it is hardly followed and maintained (Treem and Leonardi 2013).
It is the psychology of the young users that makes them highly vulnerable to the negatives around them rather than the positives. The young users tend to be more attracted and convinced to things that are not good for them all the time. Yet they are more interested towards them due to their in-built psychology. This section highlights the different psychological theories in order to analyze the mindset of the young users that make them vulnerable to the surrounding negatives.
The concept of the attachment theory highlights the enduring and deep emotional bond that helps in establishing a connection between two persons. According to Fonagy (2018), the attachment theory was defined as the lasting psychological relationship and connection between the human beings. John Bowlby coined the attachment theory that signifies the attachment or connection between the young users and the virtual platform. John Bowlby has explained the theory by using the relationship of the mother and her child. Similarly, the social media platform provides an opportunity for the young users to connect to individuals virtually that they lack in the real and the surrounding world.
For instance, an individual tends to show higher affection and love towards the other over the social media. Thus, it might be that the individual is alone or lack social relationships thereby, establishing an emotional relationship and connection with the other person. As a result, they give the opportunity of manipulating the weakness thereby, causing harm to the individuals (Whiting and Williams 2013). Similar case was reported on the “Blue Whale Challenge” where the creator communicated with the individuals those were weak enough and psychologically manipulated them and enforced them to commit suicide (Holmes 2014).
Erikson’s theory of psychological development is categorized into eight stages that comprises of opposite behavioral characteristics. The vulnerability of the psychology of the young users can be explained by reflecting to the characteristics of the theory. According to the different stages of the theory, it can be seen that the young users are highly motivated when are appraised for their work and achievements. However, considering the fast paced life, rise in the cost of living and highly career oriented parents, the young users often feel neglected (Syed and McLean 2017). The social media platform gives the opportunity to share their achievement and get appraised that they lack from their family and parents. Considering the young age, the young users fail to distinguish between the good and the bad. This, in the search of emotional support and appraisal they consider the strangers good, as they show higher level of empathy and concern compared to their parents. By the time the parents notice, the young users tend to develop enough emotional bonds with the stranger that is bad for them. Thus, psychological loneliness make the young users more vulnerable to the negative impacts of the social media, as the virtual platform provides them with the opportunity to connect, communicate and get rid of their surrounding isolation (Svetina 2014).
The social learning theory was coined by Albert Bandra highlighted that the young users develop behaviors by observing the ones near them. According to the theory, observation plays a key role on what the young users learn. In this fast paced life, the children observe their parents on the phones, laptops, internet and high end technologies in their daily life. As a result, they also insist the same to their parents and to keep the young users engaged the parents provide them with what they want without notifying and educating about the positives and negatives (Eysenck and Rachman 2013). The young users tend to imitate their parents unknowingly in terms of sharing posts, adding friends, communicating, connecting and sharing information. As a result, some of the young users are targeted, as the individuals on the other end find them easily manipulated and psychologically weak. As the young users use the social media based on the observations of the surrounding environment, they are highly attracted towards the negatives, as they lack sufficient understanding about the goods and the bad. As everything on the social media platform seems interesting, the young users get inclined towards it that sometimes cost their life. When asked and restricted by the parents to stop, the young users argue based on what they observe their parents to do (Akers 2017).
The cognitive theory of development deals with the development of the thought process of an individual. Considering the age group of the young users, 10-16 years, the concrete operational stage and the formal operational stage highlights the reason the young users being prone to the negative use of the social media. As mentioned by Neisser (2014), according to the concrete operational theory, during this age group the young individuals start to think logically about the events going on in their life by understanding the mental operations. However, as argued by Bandura (2014), young individuals within this age group fail to distinguish between the real and hypothetical events and concepts that occur surrounding them. As a result, it becomes difficult and hard for the young users aged 10-16 years distinguish the real and hypothetical events that occur in the social media platform thereby, making them vulnerable to the negative impacts of the social media. Thus, once the negative events start to grip them, it becomes difficult for them to overcome it. Lack of psychological assistance and understanding the good and the bad makes them prone to the negative impacts of the social media thereby, enforcing them to conduct cruel as well as suicidal activities on them (Barsalou 2014).
The socio-culture theory of psychology for young individuals was coined by Lev Vygotsky that highlighted the belief that the young individuals learn actively and through the hands-on experiences. It is the people surrounding the young individuals such as culture, society and parents are responsible for the cultures the young individuals develop. In today’s society, the culture of having a social life in reality is diminishing but developing one in the virtual platform is gaining popularity. Moreover, as the young users see the individuals around them always using technology for learning and leisure they also tend to adopt the culture without having sufficient information in terms of privacy and security (Glaveanu and Tanggaard 2014). As a result, the young users use technology the same way they see the people surrounding them are using it. With time, they tend to develop addiction over everything that is being showed and displayed in the social media that has detrimental impact on them in terms of suicide and self-harm. The psychology of adapting the surrounding culture without sufficient knowledge is the reason for the young users of being vulnerable to the negative impact social media (Aimin 2013).
Considering the impeccable features and functions the social media platform provides, it has both positive and negative impact on the young users. As commented by Strasburger et al. (2013), the use of social media provides an opportunity for the young users to keep them engaged continuously and learn something new every time and again. As a result, the young users are able to develop awareness regarding the latest development around the word thereby, keeping them updated. However, as argued by Perloff (2014), not only developing awareness, the use of social media among the young users allows them to develop social skills. Social awkwardness is found in some of the young users and the use of social media gives them a chance to groom their social skills. As a result, the young users are able to increase their social circle by developing new friendships, gathering confidence and increased literacy. However, it is important for the parents and the guardians to educate the young users to understand the line between the good and bad and also ensure that they do not cross that line. 10-16 years is the age for physical development in terms of height, weight and appearance. As commented by Buckingham and Willett (2013), increased use of social media results in distorted physical appearance such as weight gain and increased eye power. However, as argued by Radesky, Schumacher and Zuckerman (2015), apart from physical disabilities, the young users tend to develop mental disorders such as depression, anxiety and isolation. For instance, the young users are bullied based on the updates posted by them on the social media that make them left out thereby, leading to depression. It is in the hand of the parents to take control and guide the young users while they use social media in their daily life for leisure as well as for work (Eime et al. 2013).
After analyzing both the positive and the negative impact of the social media on the young users, this section sheds light of the various negative impacts in detail.
Social media has a major role in the surrounding environment of the young users thereby, affecting their bran development subsequently in terms of processing of information, reacting to situations and remembering events. As mentioned by Best, Manktelow and Taylor (2014), young users spending more time on the social media experience structural changes in the brain in terms of lower grey matter thereby, affecting their intelligence.
Cyber bullying is associated with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety and isolation. In this case, the individuals or the young users are bullied over the virtual platform. Considering the large audience of the social media platform, the young users those are bullied are affected severely. As they lack sufficient social relationship in the real world, cyber bullying results in self-injurious activities (Bonanno and Hymel 2013).
One of the most common activities over social media is viewing other’s profile in which they tend to appear perfect by the use of technology. As a result, the young users tend to think that other people’s lives are preferable to their own thereby, developing personality complexities. This results on lack of confidence and other related mental issues at young age (Low and Espelage 2013).
As the young users spend the most of the time in virtual platform, they have less or no strong and positive relationship in their surrounding thereby, making them isolated and alone. In addition to, they lack the confidence to go up to someone and share their issue. As a result, the young users feel left out and alone and thinks suicide and self-harm as the only option (Litwiller and Brausch 2013).
The use of increased social media is one of the leading causes of sleep deprivation among the young users. The young users tend to be active on the social media platforms for longer hours if they are not asked to stop during the sleep hours. As a result, sleep deprivation occurs that results to several mental and physical issues (Bauman and Newman 2013).
Internet addition is developed among the young users due to lack of adequate control on on the use of social media. Spending huge hours in the social media makes them exposed to new ideas and stories according to the liking. Longer hours on the social media develop addiction that affects the personal development, academic performance and mental development of the young users. In addition to, internet addiction also hampers the academic performance of the young users, as they are unable to concentrate on their course materials and attend classes (Bannink et al. 2014).
One of the significant negative impacts of the social media on the young users is that sexually explicit as well as suggestive contents are present throughout the various social networking sites. As a result of the exposed sexual contents, the young users display harmful sexual behaviors and thoughts that affect their psychology. This result in the development of their sexual identities and the young users tend to develop unrealistic sexual expectations. In the future, this prevents the young users in establishing healthy sexual relationship or developing sexual behaviors that are highly risky (Kokkinos, Antoniadou and Markos 2014).
Thus, it is important for the young users to have sufficient guidance and mentoring while using social media in their daily life. Considering the age group, 10-16 years old, they lack adequate knowledge that makes them vulnerable to the negative impact of the social media largely.
Thus, in this chapter, it can be summarized that social media has gained huge popularity among the young users due to huge facilities and features it provides to the users in terms of communication, connectivity, following and playing games on the social media platform. Keeping in mind the fast paced life, the parents give access to internet to the young users aged 10-16 years with the intention of engaging them and making them learn. However, the parents forget to educate them about the potential negatives of the social media as well as monitor and counsel them thereby, leading to sever negative impacts whose end results are fatal.
Both “Blue Whale Challenge” on Facebook and “MOMO Challenge” on WhatsApp took the social media by storm and raised questions on the use of social media for the young users. Both the challenges brought a dark cloud on the use of the social media, as it resulted in loss of lives of young users’ around the world.
The “Blue Whale Game” became an internet phenomenon as soon as sudden suicide among the young users was reported at the end 2016 in Russia and mid 2017 in Europe. The motto of the “Blue Whale Game” was to lead the young users to commit suicide willingly. The “Blue Whale Game” is a sinister online game that made rounds on the social media platform Facebook that encouraged young users to undergo a series of 50 challenges that convinced the players to ultimately kill themselves. The game gained popularity in the US, UK, Russia and India and claimed lives of several young users. Reports suggest that “Blue Whale Game” has claimed 130 lives in Russia only followed by other countries around the world (https://www.hindustantimes.com/ 2018).
The creator of the game was a young adult aged 22 years old from Russia who claimed that he psychologically manipulated the individuals with the intention of making the victims happy. According to Budeikin, he provided understanding and warmth to the players that they lacked in real life and took the help of social media platform. Budeikin claimed the players are biological wastes, as they failed to contribute any value to the society but cause or will cause harm to the society eventually thereby, cleaning the society. However, Budeiken denied that he was solely responsible for the death of 130 young users in Russia but mentioned he influenced the death of 17 individuals directly and other indirectly. During his interrogation he also revealed that 28 more young users were ready to commit suicide (News and Jaini 2018).
“Blue Whale Game” initiated in 2013 where the creator Budeikin started communicating with impressionable young users. Budeikin asked the young users to talk to him over Facebook and Skype and advice them individuals to watch depressing and gory contents. From them, Budeikin selected the ones who were weak and could be manipulated easily for playing the 50 days “Blue Whale Game” that finished with the death of the main player (mid-day 2018). In the 50 days period of the “Blue Whale Game”, the young users using social media were given tasks by the administrator that was mandatory to follow. The tasks started with comparatively less harmful tasks but eventually led to self-injurious acts thereby, resulting in the death of the player at the end. The young users were threatened that their family would be harmed if they intend to leave the game halfway. The tasks given in the “Blue Whale Game” were unusual such as waking up at unusual hours at night, watching horror movies, killing animals and harming own self. The players were asked to video tape performing the task in order to ensure that the task was performed by the main player actually (Mullin 2018).
The interest of playing online games allowed the creator of “Blue Whale Game” to attract the young users. Report suggests that a simple search on Facebook highlighted the link “#iamwhale” that resulted in the initiation of the dreadful game, as the young users showed interest and curiosity (https://www.hindustantimes.com/ 2018). Several deaths across Russia, UK, US and India were reported that claimed lives of young users 10-16 years old. It was believed that two school girls of 15 and 16 years Yulia Konstantinova and Veronika Volkova respectively died while playing the game. Also, in Central Russia, a girl named Angelina Davydova, 12 years fell from 14th floor of a block on 25th December 2015. This incident took place after 50 days the victim logged onto a user group that mentioned “Wake Me Up at 4:20.” In Mariupool, Ukraine, a girl named Vilena Piven, aged 15 years, jumped off the 13th Floor and died on the spot. The classmates of the girl revealed that they have seen cuts in her arm (Metro.co.uk 2018).
Apart from Russia, “Blue Whale Game” also claimed lives in the US. Isaiah Gonzalez, 15 years, was a resident of San Antonio, Texas, committed suicide through Facebook live stream. The mother of the young user stated that her son was assigned a task daily and was threatened to harm his follow if he would live. His mother also mentioned that Isaiah hung himself in the bedroom and recorded a video to ensure his death. Even his friends said that he sent them videos of completed tasks but they thought it to be a joke. Also a 16 year old girl from Georgia succumbed to the “Blue Whale Game” and died. Evidence such as skeleton of a blue whale and stepping on a roof indicated that she was playing the sinister game in Facebook (Dwilson 2018). “Blue Whale Game” claimed life in Germany where a 13 year old girl scratched blue whale in her arm and the game was found in the girl’s mobile. Italy reported around 40-70 cases of suicide that were in connection with the “Blue Whale Game” (Metro.co.uk 2018).
The very first suicide due to the “Blue Whale Game” in India was reported by the suicide of a 14 year old boy in Mumbai. The 14 year old jumped off the terrace and was assumed to play the game that ended by his death by jumping from the terrace. In July, Kerala reported a similar incident where a young adult committed suicide. However, on the contrary, as the rate of suicide among the young people is fairly high in India, the challenge fell on fertile ground (Businesstoday.in 2018). However, the government advised by sending letter to Internet content providers Facebook, Snapchat, WhatsApp and Microsoft stating the removal of links of “Blue Whale Game” without any delay (www.hindustantimes.com 2018).
It is the wide exposure of social media among the young users; lack of monitoring among within the parents and lack of understanding among the young users that helped “Blue Whale Game” claim numerous lives. In the fast paced life, parents expose their children to social media to keep them engaged and busy without educating them the proper use of social media platforms way too early. The parents need to talk to their children in order to make them capable of handling the peer pressure of the society, reassure the kids and stopping to hurt themselves (Fardouly et al. 2015).
After the “Blue Whale Game” on Facebook, “MOMO Challenge” on WhatsApp takes the social media by storm. The “MOMO Challenge” is a form of cyber bullying that is majorly spread via WhatsApp and mainly target young users that are easy to manipulate psychologically. Reports suggest that MOMO is the name of the social media account on WhatsApp that uses the image of an artwork. The image used for “MOMO Challenge” itself invokes horror along with arising curiosity among the young users. In addition to, the “MOMO Challenge” throws a challenge to the young users of contacting an unknown number thereby, instigating them on playing the game out of curiosity and ego (India Today 2018).
Though “MOMO Challenge” is a disturbing suicidal game on WhatsApp, reports claim that the game initiated in Facebook where the members were challenged to communicate with an unknown number. The computer crime Investigation Unit in the Mexican State of Tabasco highlighted that the avatar used in the “MOMO Challenge” is the image of a woman that displays grotesque features and protruding eyes. It has been said the image of the woman in the “MOMO Challenge” is inspired from the Japanese Midori Hayashi but reports claim no involvement of the Japanese artist in the challenge (Ghosh 2018). The horrifying image of the woman is designated as MOMO that influences young users to communicate to unknown people. Once the young users contact the unknown number, the terrifying character tends to bother the individuals with various dares and violent images. Also, the “MOMO Challenge” involves engaging the young users in a series of violent activities that ends with committing suicide. In addition to, once started to play the game, the individuals are threatened if they want to discontinue the game. For instance, the young users that have fallen prey of the suicidal game are thretended with supernatural harm such as magical curses. As a prevention measure, WhatsApp is advising the users to block the phone numbers for the “MOMO Challenge” thereby, reporting it to the company (The Times of India 2018).
July 2018 gained the attention of the “MOMO Challenge” when a normal youtuber was found to have huge fan following. After a month of this data, it was reported that several young users has taken up the “MOMO Challenge” and has fallen victims to the suicidal game. It has been speculated that the “MOMO Challenge” originated from Japan but spread to Latin America very fast. It has also been seen that the specific contact numbers associated with the “MOMO Challenge” belonged to Mexico, Japan and Columbia. Also, mid August 2018, messages from the “MOMO Challenge” were reported in countries such as Germany, India, Mexico, Argentina, France and the United States (Bengal 2018).
However, on the contrary, the cyber experts say that there is no such game known as “MOMO Challenge” but only a horrifying picture that tends to steal the personal information of the people that install and start playing the game. Cyber experts experimented in order to determine the authenticity of the game by trying to communicate with the administrator from the three countries Mexico, Japan and Columbia. However, all the number was inactive. This led to the confirmation by the cyber experts stating it to be a hoax that should be given any kind of importance. Some individuals used the image of the mother bird and scared the individuals. Also, on 12th July the Mexican police warned the people that the game is played only to steal the personal information of the people. Thus, the cyber experts suggested that young users should not talk and reply to unknown numbers in order to eliminate the hoax (dna 2018).
In spite of all these controversy, the “MOMO Challenge” has been successfully in claiming life of a 12 year old girl from Argentina. The first reported case of “MOMO Challenge” came into light when a 12 year girl was found dead in the back side of her house in Beunos Aires, Argentina. Reports claim that the girl was found dead after communicating with MOMO on WhatsApp. Investigation highlighted upon communicated; the young girl was sent disturbing and terrifying images that lead to the death of the 12 year old. Investigations also claim that the 12 year old girl has filmed conducting the activities before committing suicide in the “MOMO Challenge” (https://www.hindustantimes.com/ 2018).
According to reports, the “MOMO Challenge” has also reached India and the two states, Kolkata and Siliguri has received the invitation of the so called cyber stalking game. The IT employee from Kolkata that received the invitation of playing “MOMO Challenge” over WhatsApp has asked for help from the police. It has been said that the IT employee received the invitation of playing “MOMO Challenge” while the phone was on charge. The IT employee was concerned stating that his kid could have been one of victims of the cyber bullying game if they would not have checked the mobile device at the correct time. This is because they often used to give their mobile to their 8 year old kid for playing and the kid was comfortable in accessing the entire phone that includes the use of different social media platforms. Also, the “MOMO Challenge” is claimed two lives in Darjeeling district, Kurseong. In addition to, a Jalpaiguri girl also got an invitation of playing the “MOMO Challenge” that eventually took her life (Reporter and Reporter 2018).
This chapter is conducted in accordance with the discussion and findings of the literature review. The literature review sheds light on the past and present scenario in terms of the use of social media around the world as well as among the young years. This section discusses the potential reasons of such increased use and preference of social media in the world as well as among the young users. In addition to, this chapter also discusses the how the young users are vulnerable to the negative impacts of the social media more by aligning the theoretical concepts and the two case studies that has been used.
The first key takeaway of literature review highlights the increased use of social media among young users. The discussion in the literature review justifies the increased use of social media is due to the easy and smooth access of technology and internet for the young users. The information presented in the literature review by Laroche, Habibi and Richard (2013) states that the young users develop liking for the different social media platforms as they are exposed to internet and technology earlier in their life. From the attachment theory discussed in the literature review, it can be said that the young users developed close attachment with social media easily as they are exposed to it from an early age, as the career centric parents expose them to internet and social media use for keeping them engaged in order to enjoy their life and concentrate on their career. It is a tendency among the young users to use the props and facilities they have been using since their children.
As the young users have less or no idea about healthy social relationships, going around in groups and socializing, they have the tendency of developing an attachment and liking with the features and function offered by the social media. The opportunity to talk, play and share their thoughts with anywhere around the world without being physically present triggers the attachment of the young users with social media. This concept of attachment theory is justified by the case studies presented in the data analysis, as it has been seen that the young users 10-16 years were attached to the social media platforms Facebook and WhatsApp, as both the platforms acted as the medium for the young users to get rid of social isolation. While interrogation, it has been mentioned by the creator of the “Blue Whale Challenge” that the players of the game were depressed and intended to kind emotional support and affection in the virtual platform (News and Jaini 2018). This has resulted in the increased use of social media over the years.
The second key takeaway of literature review is the different features that are provided by the social media platform in terms of interaction, communication and connection with other individuals from any part of the world. The information presented by Whiting and Williams (2013) that the ability to play games, update about their daily activities as well as achievements and the scope of sharing own thoughts and opinions have increased the use of social media over the years. This data is in fact true because by the use of social media the young users are able to make friends, share their images and videos, update about their daily whereabouts and achievements in the social media platform and in turn they are showed with comments and likes. As a result, the young users feel their their presence in the society along with the feeling that they are being followed thereby, making them feel valued and significant in the lives of others. In addition to, the young users think that they have many friends those care about them, always think about them, affectionate towards them without being aware of their real intention.
According to the concept of Erikson’s theory of psychological development, the young users feel motivated when they are being appraised. This justifies the fact that the use of social media provides an opportunity for the young users to develop and gather virtual relationships by offering facilities and features such as interaction, communication and connection with other individuals from any part of the world. The case studies in the data analysis also highlights that the creator of the “Blue Whale Challenge” attracted the players by providing them with the opportunity to play online games that are interesting, suspicious and challenging. As the 50 days challenge was interesting and included wide range of online suicidal games that appeared interesting for the young users and got vulnerable towards negative impacts. As a result, the use of social media was preferred among the young users so much.
The third key takeaway of the literature review is suicide and self harm as one of the most significant negative impact of the use of social media platform for the young users. Based on the information presented by Litwiller and Brausch (2013) it can be seen that due to extensive use of social media platform, the young users are deprived of healthy, positive and affectionate social relationships. As the young users are active on the social media platforms for the maximum time, their ability and confidence to interact in the real world diminishes. As a result, they become lonely and psychological issues such as depression and anxiety engulfs the young users slowly. Lack of sufficient social relationships prohibit the young users to interact with their surrounding people and in cases the individuals conducts self-harm and commit suicide, as they are unable to handle it.
According to the socio-cultural theory, it can be said that the surrounding environment plays a crucial role in the upbringing the young users. This is because the ability and opportunity to communicate and connect with the surrounding users, facilitates positive changes and capability to distinguish between the right and the wrong. It is the people surrounding the young individuals such as culture, society and parents are responsible for the cultures the young individuals develop. Lack of sufficient social relationships prohibit the young users to interact with their surrounding people and in cases the individuals conducts self-harm and commit suicide, as they are unable to handle it.
Both the case studies in the data analysis highlights that the players of the “Blue Whale Challenge” and the “MOMO Challenge” did not share any instances related to the suicidal online games. Ignorance among the young users, inability to distinguish between the good and the bad, lack of confidence to approach the surrounding people and lack of positive, healthy and friendly relationship in the surrounding environment restricted the young users fall as victims to the suicidal games in the social media platform. Upon asking, the parents and the relatives said that the victims have never stated them anything regarding the challenges they are playing. The information presented in The Times of India (2018) and Metro.co.uk (2018) in the data analysis section highlights that the players were threatened that their family members will be killed if they leave the game in half way. Lack of sufficient social relationships restricted the young users to share such threatening and psychological stress with their parents and surrounding people and ultimately committing suicide.
The fourth key takeaway for the literature review highlights the development of internet addiction among the young users. Internet has been suggested extremely addictive that it is difficult for the individuals to move over it and concentrate on important things. According to the data presented by Bannink et al. (2014) spending long hours in the internet results in addiction due to which academic performance, psychology and health of the young users are highly affected. The extensive access to internet gives sufficient opportunities for the young users to use social media. In accordance with the cognitive theory presented in the literature review, it can be seen that the young users lack the ability to differentiate between the real and hypothetical actions occurring in their surroundings. This is because the age group the young users fall into, that is, 10-16 years. Taking into account the age group the young users’ fall, it is unfair to assume higher level of understanding and intelligence. As a result, the young users lack the ability to distinguish between the bad and the good and the real and the virtual in the social media making them vulnerable to negative impacts of the social media.
According to the case studies in the data analysis, it can be seen that the players of the game were majorly aged 10-16 years those lacked the ability to distinguish between the bad and good and the real and virtual incidents that they are encountering. According to the information stated by News and Jaini (2018), the creator of the “Blue Whale Challenge” mentioned that he provided warmth and understanding to the players thereby, gaining their confidence. The players were unable to understand the bad intention of the unusual and sudden warmth and affection they received from a stranger thereby, having a high impact. Eventually, they fell in the trap and ended their lives in such young age.
The fifth takeaway of the literature review is the suitable steps that need to be undertaken by the parents in order to save their children from the severe impacts of the social media. As it is the parents that introduce the young individuals with internet and social media, it is their duty and responsibility to monitor, care and keep them away from the social media perils. According to the idea of learning theory stated in the literature review, it is assumed that the young individuals learn the best by looking up to their parents. So, it is the role and duty of the parents to make the young individuals aware of the positives and negatives so that they do not fall into the prey of the social media platforms. Also, the parents need to teach the young users how to use the social media platform by differentiating between the good and the evil in the social media platform. Both the case studies in the data analysis highlights that the young players of the suicidal social media game did not communicate regarding this to their parents due to which the parents were unable to educate them and make them aware thereby, giving rise of several and fatal consequences such as loss of lives for the young users.
Thus, in this chapter, it can be summarized that the use of social media has increased drastically over the years among the world population as well as among the young users. This is due to rapid technological advancements that have made internet access smooth and easy. As a result, individuals are able to use internet service in their mobile phones thereby, maximizing the access of social media among the individuals. The theories presented in the literature review supports the findings of the mentioned case studies in terms of the vulnerability of young users towards the negative impact social media.
Certain limitations were encountered while conducting the study that compromised with the quality of the work to a certain extent. According to the information and data provided in the above-section, it can be said that the research has been unable to determine that the negative impact of the use of social media affects the young users more than the others factors. This is because the entire study emphasizes on the different kinds of social media platforms that are used by the young users. In accordance with this, the study has presented pictures and graphs regarding the use of different types of social media by the young users around the world. As a result, this research objective fails to highlight and investigate whether certain trends affect the young users more than others thereby, restricting the study to this specific point.
The study also investigates the negative impact of social media on the young users largely and throughout the study by referring to the different negative impacts on the young users physically, psychologically and physiologically. The study has been successful in highlighting the negative impact of the use of social media by referring to the “Blue Whale Challenge” and the “MOMO Challenge” that claimed the lives of several young users 10-16 years around the world and left the entire world in shock. This also failed to highlight and investigate whether certain trends affect the young users more than others thereby, limiting this study to a certain extent.
Also, this study sheds on the potential recommendations that can be used for the young users in order to combat with the increased influence of negative factors on the young users based on the identified issues throughout the study. Thus, this point also fails to highlight and investigate whether certain trends affect the young users more than others thereby, restricting the study to this specific point.
This study also fails to analyze whether the use of social media is a passing trend among the young users or the negative factors are getting imbibed into them from this young age. Additionally, the study also fails to determine whether these aforementioned negative impacts of the social media have an impact of the growth of the young users and their future generation thereby, restricting this study, as it investigates only the present scenario of the negative impact of the social media on the young users. Additionally, limited theories in terms of the psychology of the young users that propel them towards the negative aspects more easily made it difficult to determine psychology of the young users and relate it to the existing behavioral or psychological theories.
Thus, in future, study can be conducted in order to determine whether certain trends affects the young users 10-16 years more than others followed by whether these are a passing trend or will it be implanted into these young users from young age that might cause impact on their growth and their future generation by referring this study as a reliable and valid secondary resource.
Chapter 7: Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded in this study that the use of social media has severe negative impact on the young users, 10-16 years. As discussed in the first chapter and the background of the study, the the use of social media has gained huge popularity among the young users due to varied reasons. Facebook, Instrgram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, YouTube, LinkedIn and Twitter are the most largely used social media platforms that are used among the young users. It has been seen that Facebook has the number of active young users around the world due to the advanced features that online platform provides to the users.
The increased use of social media is seen among the young users 10-16 years, as they are able to connect, communicate, follow, share and support according causes without any obligation. In this fast paced life, the young users are getting more engaged and addicted to the use of social media platforms. The parents of the young users are giving access to internet and technology to their children in order to keep them engaged. This is because majority of the parents are working professionals and keeping the young users engaged all the times with physical activities are tedious. However, it is an issue that the parents give access to internet to the young users without giving them adequate knowledge about the positives and negatives of the social media.
Though, the young users are given the access of internet due to which they are able to use social media platform without any disruption, with the intention of learning and remain engaged with activities, the young users get affected by the negative activities in the platform. Lack of social relationship and interaction make the young users lonely due to which they tend to fund sympathy and affection in the virtual platform. As the use of social media allows the young users to communicate and connect with individuals around the world, the young users seek emotional support in the social media platform without knowing the intention of individual at the other end.
The lack of adequate knowledge thereby, leads to several negative activities that are conducted in the social media platform and the young users’ falls into it as prey with severe and fatal outcomes. Cyber bullying is one of the severe negative impact of the use of social media in which on young users get bullied for their looks, physical appearances and the activities they update on the social media platform. Due to inadequate social interaction, the young users are unable to cope up with the psychological dilemma they undergo while cyber bullying and harm own self that have fatal outcomes.
The two case studies mentioned in the data analysis displayed how fatal and sever the negative use of social media platform can be for the young users. The “Blue Whale Challenge” in Facebook and “MOMO Challenge” in WhatsApp claimed lives of many young users 10-16 years across the world. The creator of the “Blue Whale Challenge” attracted young users that lacked sufficient social interaction and was looking for emotional support support over Facebook thereby, making psychological manipulation easier for him. After manipulation, the creator enforced them conduct harmful activities by ending their lives finally. Similarly, the “MOMO Challenge” instigated the young users to communicate with unknown numbers and upon contact the young users were sent scary bird like image followed by challenges and ultimately killing the individuals. Additionally, other negative impact of social media use among young users include eye issues, depression, anxiety, physical and health issues such as weight gain, sleep deprivation and lack of appetite.
Keeping in mind the negative impacts of the social media, it is important for the parents to provide adequate knowledge to the young users on how to use social media, establish a friendly bond with the young users so that they have the opportunity of sharing any bully or psychological stress they receive over social media without any hesitation and fear followed by monitoring their actions and using internet and social media platforms.
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