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TITLE/TOPIC: Social Networking
PROBLEM STATEMENT: The impacts of social networking sites on the social life, of
students of St Stephens College, between the ages of 11- 18yrs?
INTRODUCTION:
Only recently in Trinidad and Tobago have social networking become a prominent issue. Great
deals of speculation have been made about the impacts of social networking sites (SNS) such as
Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter on users lives particularly on youths. Some fear that SNS
would diminish proper communication skills, human relationships and contacts, as well as cause
social seclusion. However others believe that with the advent of social networking sitesespecially the modern day marvel Facebook, this facility could be described as a social utilitythat helps people communicate faster and more efficiently with their friends, family and co-
workers all over the world.As could be expected, researchers have begun to put to empirical
test these claims, reaching a more balanced understanding of SNS.
The research which this study would pursue investigates both the positive and negative impacts
of social networking on youth, with emphasis on security, communication skills, and formal
education. The age group to be studied is between 11 to 18 years, while the physical space of the
research focus is St. Stephens College, Craignish Village, Princes Town, Trinidad.
The purpose of this study is to discover the extent of the influence of social networking sites on
the social lives of youths and to assess the involvement of parents in their childs use of social
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networking sites. This will serve to facilitate the evaluation of beliefs made by individuals about
the pros and cons of social networking.
The value of the research would be to help parents and guardians to be more aware of the
impacts of social networking on the lives of their children and as such monitor their childrens
use of these sites more stringently. It can also help youths to be more mindful of how these sites
should be used to their benefit without placing themselves and their future at risk.
Research questions:
1. What are the positive impacts of social networking on youths lives?
2. What are the negative impacts of social networking on youths lives?
3. How aware are parents are of their childs use of social networking sites?
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LITERATURE REVIEW
Social networking sites are virtual communities (Lenhart and Madden, 2007). Just like chat
services, SNS incorporate a list of other users with whom individuals can share a connection. But
unlike any other web service, SNS allow individuals to make visible their list of connections to
others and to traverse their social networks (Boyd & Ellison, 2007). Hence, more than other
virtual communities born online, SNS are usually online communities created and maintained to
reflect offline relationships.
Social networks are also being used by teachers and students as a communication tool. Because
many students are already using a wide-range of social networking sites, teachers have begun to
familiarize themselves with this trend and are now using it to their advantage. Teachers and
professors are doing everything from creating chat-room forums and groups to extend classroom
discussion to posting assignments, tests and quizzes, to assisting with homework outside of the
classroom setting. Social networks are also being used to foster teacher-parent communication.
These sites make it possible and more convenient for parents to ask questions and voice
concerns without having to meet face-to-face.
"Benniger (1987) describes how mass media has gradually replaced interpersonal communication
as a socializing force. Further, social networking sites have become popular sites for youth
culture to explore themselves, relationships, and share cultural artifacts".
Many teens and social
networking users may be harming their interpersonal communication by using sites such as
Facebook and MySpace. Stated by Baroness Greenfield, an Oxford University Neuroscientist, "My
fear is that these technologies are infantilizing the brain into the state of small children who are
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attracted by buzzing noises and bright lights, who have a small attention span and who live for
the moment." The convenience that social network sites give users to communicate with one
another can also damage their interpersonal communication. Sherry Turkle, the founder and
director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self, stated, Networked, we are together, but
so lessened are our expectations of each other that we feel utterly alone. And there is the risk
that we come to see others as objects to be accessed--and only for the parts we find useful,
comforting, or amusing. Furthermore, social network sites can create insincere friendships,
Turkle also noted, They nurture friendships on social-networking sites and then wonder if they
are among friends. They become confused about companionship.
Parents are unaware of the dangers their children face by posting details about themselves on
social networking sites, according to research commissioned by Ofcom.
The survey of 5,000 adults and 3,000 children found that nearly half of children aged between
eight and 17 have a profile on one or more of the popular social networking sites. Despite two-
thirds of parents saying they set rules for their children regarding the use of social networking
sites, one in five parents said they were unaware that their child may have made their profile
public. (http://www.computeractive.co.uk/ca/news/1911962/children-putting-danger-social-
networking-sites#ixzz1f25sgAHt)
Privacy concerns with social networking services have been raised growing concerns amongst
users on the dangers of giving out too much personal information and the threat ofsexual
predators. According to a study conducted by the information Commissioners Office (ICO)
http://www.computeractive.co.uk/ca/news/1911962/children-putting-danger-social-networking-sites#ixzz1f25sgAHthttp://www.computeractive.co.uk/ca/news/1911962/children-putting-danger-social-networking-sites#ixzz1f25sgAHthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_concerns_with_social_networking_serviceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_predatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_predatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_predatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_predatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexual_predatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_concerns_with_social_networking_serviceshttp://www.computeractive.co.uk/ca/news/1911962/children-putting-danger-social-networking-sites#ixzz1f25sgAHthttp://www.computeractive.co.uk/ca/news/1911962/children-putting-danger-social-networking-sites#ixzz1f25sgAHt7/30/2019 Carib Ia.4 Previous
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(2006), more than half of those social network users polled revealed that the majority of their
information was available for public consumption on a social networking page. Citizens and
governments have been concerned by a misuse by child and teenagers of social networking
services, in particular in relation to online sexual predators. A 2008 panel concluded that
technological fixes such as age verification and scans are relatively ineffective means of
apprehending online predators.
A common misuse of social networking sites such as Facebook is that it is occasionally used to
emotionally abuse individuals. Online bullying, also called cyber-bullying, is a relatively common
occurrence and it can often result in emotional trauma for the victim. Depending on the
networking outlet, up to 39% of users admit to being cyber-bullied. Danah Boyd, a researcher
of social networks quotes a teenager in her article, Why Youth (Heart) Social Network Sites. The
teenager expresses frustration towards networking sites like MySpace because it causes drama
and too much emotional stress. There are not many limitations as to what individuals can post
when online. Individuals are given the power to post offensive remarks or pictures that could
potentially cause a great amount of emotional pain for another individual.
Social networking can also affect the extent to which a person feels lonely. In a Newsweek
article, Johannah Cornblatt explains Social-networking sites like Facebook and MySpace may
provide people with a false sense of connection that ultimately increases loneliness in people
who feel alone. John T. Cacioppo, a neuroscientist at the University of Chicago, claims that social
networking can foster feelings of sensitivity to disconnection, which can lead to loneliness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_fixhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebookhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber-bullyinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danah_Boydhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danah_Boydhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyber-bullyinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facebookhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_fix7/30/2019 Carib Ia.4 Previous
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However some scholars have expressed that concerns about social networking are often
exaggerated and poorly researched.
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RESEARCH DESIGN
In this research paper I will be using quantitative data. Quantitative data usually takes the
form of statistical or numerical information. My main reason for choosing to employ the use
of this type of data is the fact that quantitative research facilitates theory formation because
as a large amount of data is collected the data can display cause and correlation and therein
makes the formation of theory is possible. The use of this type of data is also advantageous in
that it provides objectivity; therefore respondents will not in any way be influenced by my
personal views.
The instrument used to collect data was questionnaires. A questionnaire is a number of
preset questions that can contain open-ended, fixed choice or a combination of both types of
questions. 54 students (27 girls and 27 boys- 6 from each age group ranging from 11-19 years
old) were chosen by stratified random sample from St Stephens College from forms 1 to 6.
They were approached individually and asked whether they would like to participate in the
study. All agreed. A 17 item questionnaire was administered to all students on the 29th
of
February during the lunch break and was collected after school. 15 items were of forced-
choice type and two were open-ended.
The advantages of the questionnaire are that the data can be easily tabulated, measured
and analyzed, and they are easy to administer. However some disadvantages are that fixed
choice questions can possibly force a respondent to choose an answer that does not capture
his/her feelings about an issue and that some respondents may provide erroneous
information or treat the issue too lightly. However these problems were overcome by
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incorporating open ended questions in my questions and secondly in order to prevent
respondents from treating the issue lightly I made an effort to impress upon the respondents
the importance of the research and the necessity for them to answer all questions honestly
and seriously.
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DATA ANALYSIS
Fig.1
93%
7%
PIE GRAPH SHOWING THE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ON A
SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE (SNS)
Students on a SNS
Students not on a SNS
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Figure 2. Table showing the percentage of youths on SNS with respect to the age
groups
AGE GROUPS
PERCENTAGE
On A Social Networking Site Not On A Social Networking
Site
11-13 100 0
14-16 94.4 5.6
17-19 83.3 16.7
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FIGURE 3
0.00%
10.00%
20.00%
30.00%
40.00%
50.00%
60.00%
70.00%
80.00%
11 to 13 14 to 16 17 to 19
55.60%
76%
67%
44.40%
24%
33%
GRAPH SHOWING THE AWARENESS OF PARENTS ABOUT THE
THEIR CHILD'S SNS USAGE
Aware Unaware
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FIGURE 4
.
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Public
Partially private
Private
72%
17%
11%
BAR GRAPH SHOWING HOW THE STUDENTS PROFILE ARE SET UP
ON SNS
17 to 19 14 to 16 11 to 13
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11 to 13
14 to 16
17 to 19
0%10%
20%30%
40%
11%
29%
40%
22%
18%
13%
28%
24%
20%
39%
29%
27%
PIE GRAPH SHOWING THE AMOUNT OF TIME STUDENTS
SPEND DAILY ON SNS
more thann 3 hours
2 to 3 hours
1 to 2 hours
less than 3o mins
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KIND UNKIND
60%
40%
COLUMN GRAPH SHOWING HOW YOUTHS RELATE TO EACH
OTHER ON SNS
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0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
0 1 2 3 4 5
COLUMN GRAPH SHOWING HOW OFTEN STUDENTS WITNESS
ONLINE INTIMIDATION
Frequently
Sometimes
only once in a while
never
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AGE GROUPS
IMITATED OR ABUSED
YES NO
11-13 83%
14-16
17-18
INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS
F
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0
20
40
60
80
100
1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr
East
West
North