Australian Teens Addicted To Social Media
Rest Of World Just As Bad, Probably Worse
A recent study by the Bully Zero Foundation in Australia
found that out of 1,023 teens aged 11 to 17, 27.8% would be more upset over
losing their smart phones and connection to social media than to discover they had any health problems. I suspect that living in a country where nearly
every animal has evolved some form of method to murder has made these teens
fearless in the face of adversity. Either that or they really do love their
Tumblr accounts.
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| source: shaneoleary.me |
Furthermore, 42.9% would be more concerned about issues with
technology than the breakdown of a friendship or the loss of a pet. Sorry,
Fido.
Oscar Yildiz, chief executive of the foundation, had the following to say: "Some teenagers said their life would change dramatically should they
lose their phone or friends on social media, including Instagram and Facebook,
while others said they check their phone more than 80 times a day, even while
at school." I’m so glad I didn't have a smart phone while I was at school. I
would have failed those A-Levels just that bit more spectacularly.
This issue is obviously not limited just to Australia. A
national survey in the US recently discovered that teens spend up to seven
hours a day trawling through their social media accounts. It sounds like an
awful lot, doesn't it? I would say it’s not that startling. Well, the issue
of teens being more concerned about technology than their pets is. I think my
dog would eat my phone if I was guilty of similar feelings.
Being plugged into the world is something that is becoming ever more important in our society. Teens aren't the only ones concerned about their social media presence, adults and companies are also liable to long social binges. Emily Bryce-Perkins a 29 year old publicist in London, commented that she’ll use a combination of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for upwards of six hours a day.
Being plugged into the world is something that is becoming ever more important in our society. Teens aren't the only ones concerned about their social media presence, adults and companies are also liable to long social binges. Emily Bryce-Perkins a 29 year old publicist in London, commented that she’ll use a combination of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for upwards of six hours a day.
This is where we enter the shady realm of where
responsibility lies. Is it really social media’s fault that it’s simply the
best way to stay in contact with your school friends? Or is it more that teens
aren't being told healthy amounts of time to spend in front of the screen? I
can recall countless times that my parents would take away my Nintendo 64 controller so
that I would do my homework (joke was on them, I always had a spare hidden).
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| source: cmswire.com |
Heather Hawkins, principle at Essendon Keilor College, spoke
about teaching students to limit their social media use at schools. However, she felt the responsibility should lie with
the community as a whole. I have to agree with Heather. I don’t feel that social media
should be shunned for the time it seems to take up in our lives these days. Responsibility
has to lie with those who consume it and it’s down to us to decide what we feel is
a healthy dose of social media a day.
Tom has just graduated from University of East London in Creative and Professional Writing. He loves writing and is currently interning as content writer hoping to go further. His other loves include Arnold Schwarzenegger films and his dog. Follow him @TomAtSMF
Australian Teens Addicted To Social Media
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Rating:
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Rating:
Unknown
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