The document discusses the reasons why social media use can negatively impact teenagers. It identifies 5 main reasons why teens are drawn to social media: 1) It's unavoidable as it's integrated into everyday life. 2) It's addictive once accustomed to constant online connection. 3) Social media is everywhere teens go. 4) It allows teens to curate idealized online identities. 5) Teens fear missing out on online activities. However, the document argues that overuse of social media can reinforce weaknesses in modern teenagers by making them more insecure, self-conscious, dependent, shy and lonely.

1. hiding
exploring
the use of
social media
as a shield
by Bryn Berry

2. friend:
a person
whom one
knows and
with whom
one has a
bond of
mutual
affection

3. we are making
and maintaining
friendships BEHIND A MASK

4. insecure
self-conscious
dependent
shy
lonely
a typical
teen
and therefore REINFORCING
the weaknesses of the
MODERN TEENAGER

5. the reasoning is quite simple.the reasoning is quite simple.

6. 1It’s unavoidable.
if teens aren’t
online, they’re
segregated
from their peers

7. [Facebook]’s integrated in to everyday event planning,
networking, and decision making... They’re on
Facebook, you sort of have to be.
Carys Mills, ‘Facebook fatigue’ and the aging social network

8. 2It’s addictive.
once you grow accustomed to existing
online, it’s hard to go back

9. When people are alone, even for a few moments, they
fidget and reach for a device. Here connection works
like a symptom, not a cure, and our constant, reflexive
impulse to connect shapes a new way of being.
Sherry Turkle, The Flight from Conversation

10. 3It’s everywhere.
where teens go, social media
follows

11. But now, thanks to our smartphones, it is never OK to be
unavailable. Ever. Not for a minute. This expectation of
constant connectivity is making some of us crazy with
insecurity.
Elizabeth Bernstein, He Texts, She Tweets - Are they E-Compatible?

12. 4It’s
deceiving.
teens can
mould their
online
identities to
be who they
want
to be

13. ...Posting let[s] us present the self we want to be. This
means we can edit. And if we wish to, we can delete.
Or retouch: the voice, the flesh, the face, the body.
Sherry Turkle, The Flight from Conversation

14. 5It’s fun.
many teens suffer from the fear
of missing out

15. We think constant connection will make us feel less
lonely. The opposite is true... If we don’t teach our
children to be alone, they will only know how to be
lonely.
Sherry Turkle, The Flight from Conversation

16. So here
are THE
reasons
why this
thumbs up

17. IS A
THUMBS
DOWN

18. insecure
self-conscious
dependent
shy
lonely
a typical
teen
remember
this
guy?

19. insecure
self-conscious
dependent
shy
lonely
a typical
teen
The world of social media has allowed platforms like Facebook
and Twitter to play on the human need for reinforcement and
validation. Its game mechanics for “Likes” and “Comments” are
those bits of validation that satisfies.
Hessie Jones, Teaching Our Kids Not to Treat the Internet as a Private Diary

20. insecure
self-conscious
dependent
shy
lonely
a typical
teen
Studies have shown that the comments on your Facebook profile
picture strongly affect your level of perceived physical, social, and
professional attractiveness.
Christine Erickson, The Social Psychology of the Selfie

21. insecure
self-conscious
dependent
shy
lonely
a typical
teen
The thought of that tiny splintering red heart spreading across
hundreds of news feeds and everyone you know commenting,
“ohmygod WHAT happened?” can sometimes prolong the
inevitable...
Allison McCann, How Facebook Ruined Dating (And Breaking Up Too)

22. insecure
self-conscious
dependent
shy
lonely
a typical
teen
There are forums - like the subreddit amiugly, which has more
than 22 000 subscribers - that allow users to give constructive
criticism on self-submitted portraits.
Christine Erickson,The Social Psychology of the Selfie

23. insecure
self-conscious
dependent
shy
lonely
a typical
teen
...Disclosing more about ourselves online actually lessens
intimacy and satisfaction among romantic couples.
From bullying to relationships: Mapping our online communications

24. Houston, we have
a problem.

25. Photo
Credits
Slide 1 (girl): Andy Morales
Slide 2 (boys): Gaurav Kandal
Slide 3 (mask): Mo Riza
Slide 4 (Facebook): Michael Brashier
Slide 5 (web): photophilde
Slide 6 (me): Bryn Berry
Slide 8 (trapped man): Aditya Doshi
Slide 10 (cell phone): Louis Volant
Slide 12 (book face): Massimo Barbieri
Slide 14 (kids): Archives of Florida
Slide 16 (thumbs up): Owen W. Brown
Slide 24 (rocket ship): Emilie Hardman
Slide 25 (cameras): See Wah