Introduction to Usage of Media , Social Media and The Affects of Our Lifes

As we all have connection of the use of the social media network or own any sorts of electronic media, we may not have the knowledge of the risk factors that may be link to our everyday life. Some people may not see the affects in there life but others do. Social media is highly among us. The usage of media in our everyday life impacted our surroundings. We seem to wastes most of our time on media uses, which can impact on how we eat or pay attention to what is going on outside the media world. Where people suffers from media addiction, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and low self esteem. Others may be a victim of cyber bullying, cyber predators, deception and suicidal behavior.

Cyberbullying

Ryan, K. N., & Curwen, T. (2013). Cyber-victimized students: Incidence, impact, and intervention. SAGE Open, 3(4) doi:10.1177/2158244013516772

"Cyber-Victimized Students: Incidence, Impact, and Intervention," by Ryan and Curwen discussed the impact and prevention of cyber bullying for adolescents. Cyber bullying is characterize to be a harmful act by using electronic media like social networking, texting and emailing. Cyber bullying can be implied to both gender and age from six years and up. Male cyber bully is more physical and female is more emotional. Research shows that cyber bullying is impacted by emotional, social and academic. Emotional is a source of embarrassment, loneliness, depression, fear and low self esteem, where as social is caused by social status. Academic impact is both associated with emotional and social functions.  There is also ways to prevent cyber bullying. School have develop an education program for students about the safety of cyber bully, which also created awareness for the victim to have a support system. In conclusion, the authors of this article is to help raise awareness of cyber bullying.

Response to Simic Quote

In the essay by Charles Simic "A Reunion with Boredom" was about an outcome of the hurricane disaster that happen, on which brought up our dependency with technology. He points out "a sudden and unmistakable realization that we are only puppets jerked this way and that way by whatever device we think we are operating." In his statement of "realization" which meant that we have awaken our self to the dependency. He also stated that "we are only puppets jerked" which meant that our technology is controlling our lives and that we are the string attach to it.

Media Addiction

Baer, S., Saran, K., Green, D. A., & Hong, I. (2012). Electronic media use and addiction among youth in psychiatric clinic versus school populations. The Canadian Journal Of Psychiatry / La Revue Canadienne De Psychiatrie, 57(12), 728-735.

Article "Electronic Media Use and Addiction Among Youth in Psychiatric Clinic Versus School Population," by Bear, Saran, Green, and Hong addresses the use of media in the youth life that may develop behavioral addiction. Youth had a dramatic increase of use on media; they spend more time on using any sorts of media. Psychiatrist had surveyed 110 from a regular school students and 100 from a psychiatric clinic on the length of the usage with medias. It showed that the psychiatric clinic spend twice as much time using media than the regular students. In this case people with psychiatric disorder like ADHD, impulsivity and a low social competence may develop media addiction.

Cyber Predators

There are many high risks of cyber predators but there are ways to prevent or at least minimize the risk of being a victim of online predators.  Cyber predators attract people that are emotionally vulnerable. Ways of minimizing of being a victim: Parent should discuss about the safety of online use for adolescents; set up a safety features on computer; monitoring the use of internet usage; and to inform adolescents to avoid response to strangers messages. If any evidence that adolescents is a target of cyber predator, adolescent should save all sorts of documentation that can prove that he/she is being harassed. Adolescent should also discuss this with the adult, so they can report it to the authority.

Online Health Information

WebMD is online source for any sorts of health information. Having this access for people can be a negative and positive. Depending on the symptoms that people input to the site; the reaction of people may cause some severe concern, but this is also depending on the patient as well. The websites gives a more board information than the actual real symptoms is. Always consult with your physician before accessing online sites.

Depression and Anxiety Associated with Social Media

Becker, M. W., Alzahabi, R., & Hopwood, C. J. (2013). Media multitasking is associated with symptoms of depression and social anxiety. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, And Social Networking, 16(2), 132-135.

In the article "Media Multitasking Is Associated with Symptoms of Depression and Social Anxiety," by Becker, Alzahabi and Hopwood discuss how media may affect depression and social anxiety. Because of the dramatic increase of media uses; which created a high risk of social interaction between people. Surveyed over three hundred college student by using the test PHQ (Patient Health Questionnaire) which is use to survey depression and anxiety levels and MMI (The Multimedia Index Questionnaire) which is use to survey the total use of media and multitasking. Studied did not show on how using media affected the symptoms of depression and social anxiety, but it had created a environment for the people who are in the high risk of this symptoms.