Research Question:How does social media impact college students’ views of American society?
Description of relevant theory or theoretical perspectives found in articles.
Social media is a method for individuals to interact and share their ideas and perspectives on current events, according to the theory behind it and its influence on college students’ perceptions of American culture. Social media may be used to inform people about problems and to motivate them to take action. In the Ahmad et al. study, the researchers utilized a survey to gather information regarding rural Pakistani university students’ usage of social media and political engagement. The survey’s findings revealed that social media has a big impact on how politically active college students are. Elsayed (2021) talks about how social media has a detrimental impact on young people’s social identities. He contends that using social media might result in feelings of anxiety and social isolation as well as a lack of empathy for other people. He also mentions how social media can both be a vehicle for social progress and a tool for reinforcing unfavorable perceptions. The contribution of digital media to youth micro-mobilization is discussed by Maher and Earl (2019). According to their claims, the usage of digital media may either hinder or facilitate youth mobilization. They point out that although digital media may provide young people a platform to organize and exchange information, it can also be used to promote false information and deter them from engaging in more conventional political activities.
The contribution of digital media to youth micro-mobilization is discussed by Maher and Earl (2019). According to their claims, the usage of digital media may either hinder or facilitate youth mobilization. They point out that although digital media may provide young people a platform to organize and exchange information, it can also be used to promote false information and deter them from engaging in more conventional political activities. The rise of socioeconomic division in America is discussed by Mijs and Roe in 2021. They contend that since social media gives users a place to interact with individuals who are similar to them, it might increase socioeconomic division. They also mention how social media may help unite individuals who would otherwise be socially isolated. Towne (2022) talks on how social media affects how college students see the use of force by police. She contends that social media may provide college students a platform to learn about and interact with material regarding the use of force by police. She also points out that disinformation and unfavorable perceptions may be transmitted through social media.
Synthesis of the arguments in a coherent way.
The five studies selected for this assessment of the literature examine various facets of how social media influences college students’ perceptions of American culture. Ahmad et al. (2019) look at how social media impacts university students’ political engagement in rural Pakistan. From a social work viewpoint, Elsayed (2021) examines how social media has a detrimental impact on young people’s social identities. Digital media and social networks’ effects on young people’s micro-mobilization are examined by Maher & Earl (2019). Mijs & Roe (2021) analyze whether America is breaking apart by looking at socioeconomic segregation in communities, schools, workplaces, and social networks. Towne (2022) analyzes how college students view and interact with police use of force information on social media. Ahmad et al. (2019) find that social media has a beneficial influence on political involvement among university students in rural Pakistan. The authors observe that social media has provided university students in rural Pakistan more access to knowledge and enabled them to interact with individuals who share their political beliefs. The authors also conclude that social media has contributed to boost university students’ perception of political effectiveness.
Elsayed (2021) thinks that social media has harmful impacts on the social identity of teenagers. The author claims that social media contributes to teenagers feeling lonely and separated from society. Additionally, Elsayed thinks that social media might severely influence teenagers’ self-esteem and body image. Maher & Earl (2019) discover that social media may be both a barrier and a booster of teenage micro-mobilization. The authors remark that social media may give teenagers with knowledge on social movements and enable them to interact with like-minded people. However, the authors also discover that social media may generate echo chambers that reinforce youth’s prior ideas.
Mijs & Roe (2021) find that America is growing increasingly socioeconomically separated. The authors ascribe this to various variables, including the growing usage of social media. The authors believe that social media has led to individuals self-selecting into echo chambers that strengthen their prior ideas. Additionally, the authors conclude that social media has made it simpler for consumers to interact with others who share their socioeconomic background. Towne (2022) shows that college students experience and interact with police use of force information on social media in diverse ways. The author observes that certain college students are exposed to police use of force information on social media and become more aware of the problem. Other college students may view police use of force information on social media and feel overwhelmed or distanced from the problem.
Identification and discussion of any issues, limitations, or gaps you may see in the existing research and/or literature.
The present study on the influence of social media on college students’ perspectives of American culture is restricted in numerous respects. First, much of the research has been conducted in Pakistan, which may not be representative of the experience of college students in other countries. Second, the study has generally been focused on the function of social media in political involvement, rather than on its influence on students’ perceptions of American society more broadly. This is a serious issue, since it implies that we do not have a thorough grasp of how social media is altering college students’ opinions of American culture. Additionally, the study is restricted in its emphasis on teens and does not evaluate the experiences of college students of all ages. Finally, the study does not evaluate the possible influence of social media on college students’ opinions of American culture over time.
How do the articles assist solve the research question?
The papers included in this literature review analyze the influence of social media on college students’ perceptions of American society from a range of angles. Ahmad et al. (2019) study the impact of social media on political involvement among university students in rural Pakistan, concluding that social media is a crucial element in molding students’ perspectives of the political process. Elsayed (2021) focuses on the detrimental impacts of social media on the social identity of teenagers, stating that social media may contribute to feelings of isolation and anxiety. Maher and Earl (2019) study the influence of social media on adolescent micro-mobilization, finding that social media may be both a barrier and a booster of young involvement in social movements. Mijs and Roe (2021) analyze the effect of social media in aggravating socioeconomic segregation in the United States, finding that social media may perpetuate current patterns of inequality. Towne (2022) examines the influence of social media on college students’ attitudes toward police use of force, concluding that social media is a key element in altering students’ perspectives of law enforcement.
The articles give a detailed review of the influence of social media on college students’ perspectives of American culture. Social media is a powerful tool that can alter the way college students perceive the world around them. The papers in this research review illustrate that social media may have a beneficial influence by boosting political involvement and engagement in social movements, but it can also have a negative impact by reinforcing existing patterns of inequality and creating fear and isolation.
References
Ahmad, T., Alvi, A., & Ittefaq, M. (2019). The Use of Social Media on Political Participation Among University Students: An Analysis of Survey Results From Rural Pakistan. SAGE Open, 9(3), 215824401986448. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244019864484
Elsayed, W. (2021). The negative effects of social media on the social identity of adolescents from the perspective of social work. Heliyon, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06327
Maher, T. V., & Earl, J. (2019). Barrier or Booster? Digital Media, Social Networks, and Youth Micromobilization. Sociological Perspectives, 62(6), 865–883. https://doi.org/10.1177/0731121419867697
Mijs, J. J. B., & Roe, E. L. (2021). Is America coming apart? Socioeconomic segregation in neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and social networks, 1970–2020. Sociology Compass, 15(6). https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12884
Towne, K. (2022). “My friends keep me woke about these things”: how college students experience and engage with police use of force content on social media. Sociological Spectrum, 42(1), 61–74. https://doi.org/10.1080/02732173.2022.2068099
