Social media as a more positive place for users in the future
Mecklin, Melanie (2023)
Mecklin, Melanie
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023053116637
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023053116637
Tiivistelmä
In this work, the impact of social media on users is investigated with emphasis on the positive side of social media. Since the topic of social media is so broad, this work focuses on the more positive side of social media and how to make it better for future users. "How do users view the idea of an earlier introduction to critical thinking over social media in schools?" and “How would a better relationship to social media from a young age benefit society?” are the research questions of this thesis. To get as relevant and honest answers as possible about how users are influenced by social media, written interviews were conducted for participants in three age groups: 14–19 years, 20–35 years and 40–60 years. These age groups were chosen for the survey because they were at different stages of life when social media started to grow into what it is today. Many aspects of both negative and positive were highlighted in the responses, some of which were similar in all age groups and some of which were more specific to a certain age group, for example the younger groups had more to say in their responses. The question where all but one answer was of the same opinion that an earlier introduction to critical thinking about social media already at the first stage in schools could promote the relationship between the user and social media. This is supported by the theories addressed in the work, Lev Vygotsky's sociocultural theory of cognitive development (1934), Albert Bandura's theory of social learning (1977) and Jan Piaget's developmental theory (1936, 1950) and more. According to the results, social media really has a very positive impact on users, although there were a lot of negative aspects as well, which contributes to the discussion of how to solve the problems that come with social media such as bad mental health.