Impact of social media on indian youth
Social media is a virtual
computer based platform that enables user to share information and interact
with other users. This is user friendly
and interactive platform. It requires internet connection to function. With the
popularization of smart phones with high speed data , social media has became
inseparable part of life. Social media has emerged as a broad platform that
connects people round the globe. It has made world a smaller place to live. Social
media has connected peoples of all groups , cast , religion , age and
nationality. The concept of social media has immersed in last two decades and
is it touched even the remotest corner of the world. Social media
brought a new trend of life where there is a rat’s race to portray whose life
is most perfect. So mentality of the people dominated the whole story. People
wanted to look perfect on social media in spite of the fact that life in itself
is imperfect and one who is perfect complete and no human in this world could be complete.
Youths are the largest
user of the social media and they are the one who's life is most affected .
There is impact of social media on each and every age group and on each segment
of the society but youths are most
affected. Social media has deeply
touched almost each and every aspect of youths life . Social media has deep
impact on the personality, life and
thinking process of Indian youths. With
the popularization of social media Communication and socialization pattern of
Indian youths has drastically changed.
Social media has spread its root in India very easily and
rapidly as compared to other countries because India is one of the most
populous countries in the world and Indian market has a large number of
potential users. In India people are not time bound as compared to other
countries and they have a lot of leisure time.
Reason for popularization
of social media among Indian youths
Social media company made
Indian youths as a target to survive and flourish in Indian market because
India is a country of youths and a large majority of people are young. The
social media company elect Indian youths as the target audience because the
direction of our rustic and culture is set by the direction taken by the youths
of that country. Few of the main reasons for the popularization of social media
among youths are discussed below.:
1.Hierarcy and authority:
youngest has the least authority
In Indian society young
people are considered as children even when they are quite grown up and independent.
In many cases and families it was seen and that they were not allowed to put
their opinions and views in front of the adults of the family and head of the
family. Many of times they are not
invited for a family discussion and in decision-making because they were considered
to be too young and immature in front of all adults in spite of the high
maturity level and understanding on their part. Because of this the ideas,
views and the opinions of the Indian youths got suppressed and they never got
an informal platform to express their ideas without fear and influence. With
the advent of social media their thoughts and ideas got wings. They got their
limitless Sky of social media platform where they could fly high with their
wings of ideas. This feeling of freedom without any fear made social media one
of the favorite concepts among the youths. As a result of my opinion this could
be one of the most important reason for the popularisation of social media
among youth.
2. Lack of freedom
While going deep down
into the story I found that Indian children were not given enough freedom to do
friendship with unknown people ,get in touch with them or socialise with them. Because of this socializing with
unknown people remained a mystery for them. After getting a platform where they
could freely interact with unknown people from a different corner of the world ,socialize
with them, make new friends with completely different background and interest, meet new people virtually became an exciting adventurous
journey for them. All these things together contributed in making social media
as one of the popular destination among youths.
3. Desire for Identity
formation
Adolescence is a pre
mature age where a person is neither a
kid nor an adult. At this age adolescents wants recognition as an unique
individual with their own identity distinct from their parents but they could not get this in the realistic
society because they are still too young for this. But they can easily form
their unique identity on social media through their personalized profile where
they present themselves in the way they wants to. They develop their identity
through text, videos, music etc. They are recognized on the social media with
their own name an identity.
4. Peer Influence
Youths are highly influenced by their friends, peer groups, mates and seniors. This influence is persuasive in nature and they try
to be like them. In this race of becoming like their friends, they try to
assimilate them in all fields .since they see their age group people on social
media, they joins it and never wants to lag behind. Also many a times one friend
invites and persuades another friend to join social media.
5. Curiosity among youths
Adolescence is the phase of
life when people are most curious being .Adolescents have deep curiosity in finding out new
realities, exploring completely new things ,getting first hand experience, creating new solutions and many more. Adolescents
have deep curiosity in every field. High
level of curiosity on their part makes them to innovate and explore new field. It is said rightly that only
curious ventures out. This sentence completely held true in case of youths. Their high level of
curiosity compels them to try every new things that’s possible and acquire their first hand experience.
1. Gives
voice to Introvert
Introverts are those people
Who are shy ,quiet and reserved in their nature. They are the one who avoids
social engagements. They are less expressive to others and likes to spend their
time with oneself rather than indulging in a social conversation. They feel
difficulties in talking to people. But it never meant that introverts are
emotionless and void. Rather it is found that introvert people are highly
emotional and have deep feelings within them. However expressing themselves in
front of others is a big deal for them. Social platform provides them with this
opportunity to engage with people and express themselves without indulging in a
face to face discussion where they feel uncomfortable. They are very much
comfortable, confident and expressive on social media as they don’t have the
pressure of face to face confrontation .
2.
Seeking emotional support
On social media
adolescents have so many unknown friends
with whom they have very deep bonding. They booth share similar mental status
and this could be one of the reason for their unknown friendship. There are
many dark secrets in the life of an individual which they could not share with
their near and dear ones and even with the people whom they know because they either feel uncomfortable, shameful or they
don’t want to break the image of happy life. It is seen that people are not at all comfortable is
sharing their dark secrets with the people whom they know. So social media provides them with
a platform to share their dark secrets with the unknown friends ,with whom they
are much more comfortable and seek emotional support in time of difficulties.
3.
Making youths more Aware
Social media has raised
the awareness level among youths making them more aware about the current
national and international events. In the age of adolescence people lacks patience and because of this they
are least interested in reading newspaper. Even watching news on television is
a burden for them because it is least interesting as compared to the other
programs which are available on
television. In such condition it is so easy and least boring for the youths to
catch up with the current news and burning issues on the social media.
4.
Borrowing of foreign
cultures and traditions
Social media has not only affected youth on their personal level but it has also
led to the changes in cultures among youth. As we all know India is known for
its cultures and traditions around the globe. India has a very strong cultural
background since past because it has always been very rigid in following up his
own cultures. If we take a tour to 90’s era we will find youths of those days were more like Indians. Their
fashion, taste, way of living and thinking are all like Indians because they
have no idea of the things happening
around the world. With the advent of the social media and smartphones with high speed data
connections world has become a virtual Village where one is always
looking at the things in trend in other corners of the world. Because of this
today’s youths has a completely unique taste in their fashion lifestyle food
and way of thinking. Youth started borrowing foreign cultures and traditions. A
Fusion of Indian and foreign culture is prevalent among youths. Mainly female
youths are borrowing more from foreign cultures in their lifestyle because they
feel more free and liberated with it.
5.
Changes in youth's socializing pattern
Social
media completely changed the way of youths communication , socialization and
interactions. Earlier they were physically more interactive , highly interested
in socializing with the people and more communicative. Now there is a trend to
socialize with people virtually on social media rather than physical socialization.
Youth are interested in physical socialization with only those who are very much close to them and are
part of their life.
6. Youths started celebrating even small occasions
Today
we see youths celebrating even small happiness of their life which was not common in middle class society before this
decade . With the popularisation of
mobile phones with high speed Intern9et data and a platform to share everything people
started celebrating even small occasions of their life for the shake of sharing it on social media.
7.
Change in marriage and
way of falling in love
Marriage
is one of the strongest tradition
prevalent in India. In last twenty thirty years there is a sharp rise in the
Inter caste and interreligious marriages.
We could also see quite rise in marriages with the other countries people. The
way of falling in love has also changed. The changes are the result of many things
and surely social media is one of them.
Since social media connects people of all religion, cast and nationality. people
meet virtually, get to know each other in more better way and spread their hours on chatting. All these things makes emotional attachments which gradually leads to falling in love and then marriage. Falling in
love on social media has become the talk of the town among the youths. Social
media is a main reason for youths to fall in love with their schoolmates ,
colleagues and office mates. Once they meet people for real they exchange their
IDs, numbers and start a conversation on social media. They gradually fall in
love. There are many cases of falling in love with altogether unknown people.
First they become friends ,start meeting
and gradually feel for each other. In this way social media has even influenced
the way of falling in love and marriage.
8.
Change in lifestyle and
family bonding
Most
of the youths like to spend their free time on social media rather than
interacting with their family members. Before the advent of social media in India
,the lifestyle of Indian youths were completely different. They were seen
spending most of their times with their family members especially with their
grandparents and siblings. They used to
play indoor games with their siblings and had a storytelling session with their
grandparents and a conversation with
their parents but the advent of the social media brought a drastic change in the everyday lifestyle of Indian youths.
The trap of social media trapped them so hard that now they spend all their times
on social media chatting ,scrolling news feed and looking at their friends post. They hardly have any
time left to spend with their family members. Social media has created a wide
gap between the parents and their childrens.
9.
Development of social comparison attitude
With
the advent of social media a comparison attitude developed among the youths.
They started comparing their life and their lifestyle with their friends and
whom they think to be superior of them. They started a comparison in terms of
looks, Holidays destination ,there shopping style , walking style , attitude
and many more. They developed a keen observation attitude towards others life
and this slowly pushed them to compare themselves with others in many respects .
The development of the comparison attitude among youths has both negative and
positive impact on their life. Sometimes
comparison attitude among youths inspired them to work harder, brush up
their skills and improve in a particular area while sometimes it could even
create inferiority complex , promotes discouraging attitudes and anxiety . The effect of comparison depends on the type of
the social comparison they do. There are three types of the social comparison and they
are
a.Upward social comparison
b.Downward social comparison
c.Lateral social comparison
a. Upward social comparison
Upward social comparison is a type of
comparison where people compares themselves with the one whom they think to be
better or superior than them in some respect. upward comparison generally makes
teen to feel uncomfortable and low if
they are making an upward comparison with someone whom they know or with their
peers and friends. But this low feeling
stays only for a few minutes. After that ,this low feeling slowly gives
a challenge to them to be like their peers and friends and they can feel the
seed of inspiration and determination shown within them. It motivates them to
remove this low feeling with being superior so that others can look at them in
some passion as they have looked someone whom they think to be superior.
b. Downward social comparison
Downward social
comparison is a type of social comparison where people compares themselves with
whom they think to be inferior than them. This comparison makes individual to
feel superior and better about themselves . Generally this type of comparison
among youths makes them arrogant and intoxicated. Since they see themselves already
in better position they never try to learn new skills or either get motivated
to work hard.
c. Lateral
social comparison
Lateral social comparison
is a type of social comparison where people
compares themselves with one whom they think to be equal to them . This
type of comparison is most common in peer groups and among same age group
people. Lateral comparison is most prevalent among youths. With the advent of
social media lateral comparison among youths has grown up considerably because social
media provides them with all the details,
habits and followers of their friends with whom they want to compare themselves
with .Lateral comparison could have positive or negative effect on teens
depending on their individual mind set and understanding skills.
10.
New concept of body image
comparison Emerged
Body
image comparison is completely a new story that has emerged with the
popularization of the social media. Social media has increased the body comparison attitude among
teens. They spend most of their time on social media looking at their friends
and peers picture. The more time they spent
on social media looking at others picture ,more they start comparing their
bodies with those of their peers and friends. Teens are becoming more conscious
about their body image and they have started giving importance to so-called ‘
ideal body’. They enjoy looking at celebrities style and their so called ‘
ideal body’ adorned with the latest collection of designers . In a survey
conducted in 2018 in USA about how social media encourages the body image
comparison among the youth, it is found that Comparing their bodies with their
friends and with so-called ‘ideal bodies ‘of celebrity the teens have started
feeling more negative and low about their body
appearance.
11.
Selfie attitude developed
Since social media
provide teens with an opportunity to share their pictures and personal life ,the
selfie habit developed among teens. In today’s world youngsters are found
taking pictures and selfies almost Everywhere they visit. Whether it would be a
small family gathering or a levis grant
party, everything is captured an uploaded by adolescents on their social media account.
Before the popularisation of social media youths were not at all crazy for
selfies because there were no platform to show their pictures to others.
Earlier pictures where only four capturing memories and not for show of
purpose. Youths are so interested in
taking and sharing pictures and selfies because a show off attitude developed within them.
They want to create an impression of superiority on their peers and friends.
Some Youths takes selfies only to share
their experience with their friends and followers. Reason for taking selfies
and uploading it on social media could be different but what remains common in
them is that they captures everything of their life for the shake of sharing it
on social media.
12.
Reduces physical
activities
Physical
activity is very necessary for youths to keep themselves fit and healthy.
Frequent use of social media causes mental stress, lack of sleep and depression.
Adolescents are the largest user of the
social media. According to a research conducted in India in 2013 , 73% of the adolescent uses social media on daily basis. This
excessive use of social media affects the mental ,physical and emotional
health of the youths. Using social media
for longer hours in night causes sleeping disorders which ultimately leads to
the depression. Insufficient sleep could lead to a number of health issues
among youth and it even affects the mental well being of the individual.
Since
youths spend maximum of their time using social media it hampers their sports
activities. Sports always remained a healthy affair for youths. Apart from
providing entertainment it also helps in maintaining good health. Sports and
health are two interwoven concepts. The force that is exerted while playing any
sport or doing any physical activities makes ligament ,muscles and tendons
strong and healthy. Doing physical activities gives new life by increasing its efficiency which in turn
reduces the risk of heart diseases in adulthood. It is proved that physical
activities and sports even reduces the risk of cancer in longer run. Neglecting
sports activities by youth results in obesity and mental depression.
Exercise
culture among youths has decreased considerably with the popularisation of
social media. They often neglect their
exercise activity and prefer using social platform because it gives them the required entertainment and pleasure. Neglecting regular exercise could have harsh
impact on physical health. Lack of exercise could cause obesity and high level
of sugar in blood.
13.
Psychological Issues
Several research around
the globe have proved that social media can lead to several psychological
disorders among the youths . They are getting addicted to social media and this
addiction has an adverse impact on their mental health. Addiction of social
media can lead them to acute depression
and anxiety.
Facebook depression:
Facebook depression is completely a new term that has been emerging. Facebook
depression is a depression that develops because of spending excessive amount of time on social
sites and especially on Facebook. For better clarity Facebook depression has
not developed only because of excessive use of Facebook but has developed
because of excessive use of all other social sites. It is known as Facebook
depression because currently Facebook is most popular and widely used social
site and maximum people spend most of their time on Facebook so depression is
named as Facebook depression . social media provides a platform to the people
to socialize with their friends and even with unknown people but it is a major
drawback of social media that it is addictive in nature. Social media ask for constant attention from
its users which slowly develops as an addiction
in them. This addiction slowly leads to
the depression and anxiety and stress.
social media could lead to light as well as acute depression.
Indian youths has a very deep relationship with social sites. They spend
a large portion of their time on social media. Social media is indeed an
advantage for all Indian youths but its demerit and negative impact could also
be traced. Social media has deeply impacted the life of Indian youths and its impact could be seen on each and every
aspect of youth’s life.
It has both positive and negative impact. It has made youth more
informative and aware, provided them with ample opportunities and freedom and gave them opportunity to mix with other corner of the world. It gave
them a unique identity and a new world
distinct from their parents. It also impacted their socializing pattern, family
bonding and way off their thinking. With the advent of the social media social
comparison attitude and concept of body image comparison developed among youths.
Apart from a lot of positive impacts social media has also impacted
youths in negative way. social media has led to many psychological issues like
depression ,anxiety and stress. It has also led to the cyber crimes and
harassment. It also leads to addiction.
So social media has both positive and negative impact and it entirely
depends on youth how they manage themselves on social media.
Written by : Swastika sona
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