The results are in! Our Student Insiders present their final project.
As the fall 2017 Student Insiders at The Social Institute, we were asked to create and complete a project. The possibilities were endless, and we chose to create a survey, collect responses, and analyze the results. But first, a little about us!
Hi 👋 , my name is Kailey Jackson, and I am a senior at Hoggard High School in North Carolina. I personally wanted to become a Student Insider to dive deeper into the world of social media and share how it can be utilized in a positive and meaningful way. I feel as if many parents and even some teenagers my age maintain a negative perception of social media. There have been times where I have witnessed people using social media in an unacceptable manner, but I believe there are more ways for it to be a powerful tool that can make a difference for the better.
This project has opened up my eyes to the fact that many teenagers feel the same way I do — that social media provides us with a voice to speak up on whatever significant event that is happening in our community and even around the globe, and that social networking is a key factor in making a change.
Aloha 🌺 ! My name is Krizhna Bayudan and I am a senior at Lahainaluna High School in Hawaii. I wanted to be a Student Insider to be a part of this new, unique and upcoming organization/business. The Social Institute has crafted such a valuable perspective on social media. As an avid Instagrammer and Snapchatter, I believe a positive philosophy in something so influential and extensive like social media is extremely necessary for this day and age. We can use social media to positively raise awareness, voice our opinions, and come together as a human race in countless ways. Social media is a platform to change the world!
I was extremely happy with the results of this project. Teenagers are more informed than ever with social media around. I am glad that social media provides teenagers with a platform to express ourselves and become knowledgeable.
We received a variety of profound and interesting responses from a wide variety of people mostly (and not surprisingly) from Hawaii and North Carolina. A total of 60 students aged 16 to 18 were surveyed. The survey posed questions regarding the number of hours participants spend on social media each day, their preferred platform, and the extent to which social networking allows them to stay in touch with world events. Feel free to view all the questions from the survey here.
Below are some of our major findings. Let’s start with…
What surprised us 😲
- Amount of time spent using social media each day
The survey results show that 45% of the teenagers spend more than 2 hours a day on social media. While that is a significant amount of time spent on social networking daily, it is the easiest and most efficient way to connect with other people. - Biggest positive effect of social media
Forty-eight out of 60 students believe that one of the biggest positive effects of social networking is that it allows people to communicate with different locations around the world. This likely accounts for the 2+ hours teenagers spend on social media every day. However, teenagers must be careful about investing too much time on social media sites — Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. It is crucial that an individual does not become obsessed with their self-image and the popularity aspect that comes along social media. - Use of social media as a news outlet
A participant in the survey expressed their concern that social media should not be used as a news outlet because it is biased. During the time that teens spend every day on social media, it is plausible that they come across opinionated comments on news articles that are shared. Teens must be cautious about where the information regarding current events is coming from.
Next, we want to share…
What other teens will find interesting 🙋
- Use of social media to make real changes in real life
We often hear the phrase, “You’re just a teenager.” It’s discouraging and suggests that as teenagers, we are unable and too ignorant to take any significant actions or even voice opinions. Teenagers are dominant users of social media, and with it, we can take action and voice our opinions.One respondent said that he/she was able to change their school’s dress code using social media. Many said they used social media to express their opinion on political and current events going on. Social media has paved a pathway for us teens to understand and learn more about global events (but remember to set aside some time for yourself).
And finally…
What parents may be most interested in 👨👩
- Positive social media projects
Although there are parents who are not advocates of the constant use of social media in their kids’ lives, there are positive projects that stem from social media that are worth sharing. Dating back to 2010, a man named Brandon Stanton developed a photoblog known as Humans of New York. He interviewed regular people on the streets of the city and captured photos of them at that moment. - Relatable accounts
By following accounts on social media such as Humans of New York, you can relate to others, read their stories and see how they are struggling just like you — a normal person. It makes you much more appreciative of what you have. Humans of New York would not be prevalent if it weren’t for social media. This movement has inspired other communities across the country to share their personal stories, allowing everyone to connect to one another uniquely.