GENERAL INTRODUCTION

In spite of all the financial issues of obtaining a Smartphone or digital device with
a working internet connection and social media sites, its use to delimit teenagers
haven’t stop. Thus I have chosen the theme “The Effects of Social media On
Teenagers”.

Social media is an online tool that allows multiple users to communicate with each
other this can be through discussion, videos or pictures. Popular amongst the others
are Facebook and Whatsapp.

The purpose of the theme that I have chosen “The Effects of Social media On
Teenagers” is to raise awareness of the impact that social media has on teenagers.
My reflective piece a play entitled “SAVE THE TEENS” deals with a group of
school students discussing a suicide case and ways it may be prevented.

In my exposition I will be using information gathered from both primary and

secondary sources to discuss the grave effects that social media causes physically
and emotionally on teenagers.

This theme fuels my academics since it is based on communication which has a

direct relationship to the subject upon which this portfolio is based, which also
connects to the career I want to pursue that deals with technology such as software
engineering this can add on essential information that can help me be more
successful in my career path.

Speaking personally I love communicating with my close friends on social media

whether it is school work or even chatting about how we have spent our vacation.
 EXPOSITION
Social media is considered a harmless tool. This is a common belief that teenagers
agree upon, which is proven wrong daily by its negative effects, even by experts
but its importance is not taken seriously.

Good day teachers my name is Shandev Indoi and I’m going to prove that this is
absolutely false, as social media is slowly killing our young teens.

I will be presenting my theme “The Effects of Social Media on Teenagers” by

discussing its negative effects physically and emotionally on teens and ways it may
be prevented.

Social media is an internet based form of communication used by millions of teens

across the globe. As we all know it is the number one online tool of
communicating with family, friends and even unknowns. Even though there are
good uses it is outweighed by the negative outcomes.

Social media harms teens, posture, eye sight and sleep.

( Dr Janice Moreside of Dalhousie University in Halifax a physiotherapist),

She stated that she has seen many campus students with low back and neck pain or
arm dysfunction because of sitting and leaning forward on computers. Sitting with
the shoulders forward can lead to tightness and pulling at the opposing muscles in
the back, Moreside said, the arteries, veins and nerves that run to the arms and
hands can also be compressed, which increases the likelihood of tennis elbow and
carpal tunnel syndrome. Numerous medical and scientific studies have shown
alarming results when testing people who use Smartphone’s for more than four
hours a day and those who don’t. Smartphone users tend to develop rounded
shoulders, spinal curvatures, vertebrate disorders, and associated neck pain and
headaches caused by these ailments which proves the theme is valid, since using
our Smartphone’s and laptops often involves being hunched, this tends to
strengthens over time in that position. Our posture suffers, as this alters the
muscles and bones in our torsos over time.
(According to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation),

Almost 60% of teens have adopted the habit of carrying their phones to bed, direct
exposure to the blue light emitted by LED devices can damage the retina.
The retinal damage that occurs from starring at the blue light especially at night
can lead to macular degeneration (a medical condition that results in blurred or
no vision in the center of the visual field, which is the ability to see things right
in front of you), As you age, your retina becomes more sensitive to damage,
which can often leave you with additional age related macular degeneration. A
major effect of these blue light emitted by cell phones screens which restrains the
production of melatonin, the hormone that controls your sleep/wake cycle.
Reducing melatonin makes it harder to fall asleep as it influences the timing of our
internal clock, which tricks it to thinking that it is daytime and thereby affecting
our preferred time to sleep. Poor sleep has been linked with an increased risk of
developing anxiety, weight gain, reduced immunity and heart diseases.

Social media also affect a teen’s emotional health in ways such as

(Fernandez-Baen a researcher at the royal college of psychiatrists)

Research, continue to identify the consequences of cyber bullying on the emotional

health of teens. Victims experience lack of acceptance in their peer groups, which
results in loneliness and social isolation. The young person’s consequent social
withdrawal is likely to lead to low self esteem and depression. Bullies too are at
risk. They are more likely than non bullies to engage in a range of maladaptive and
antisocial behaviors, and they are at risk of alcohol and drugs dependency; like
victims, they have an increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts. The
effects of being bullied at school can persist into young adulthood.
Studies demonstrate that most teens who are cyberbullied are already being bullied
by traditional, face to face methods. Cyberbullying can extend into the target’s life
at all times of the day and night and there is evidence for additional risks to the
targets of cyber bullying, including damage to self esteem, academic achievement
and emotional well-being. For example studies of school cyber victims indicate
heightened risk of depression, psychosomatic symptoms such as headaches and
sleeplessness and of behavioral difficulties including alcohol consumption. As
found in studies of face to face bullying, cyber victims report feeling unsafe and
isolated, both at school and at home they also report a range of social and
emotional difficulties, including feeling unsafe at school, perceptions of being
unsupported by school staff .like traditional bullies, they too are engaged in a range
of other antisocial behaviors, conduct disorders, alcohol and drug misuse.

These negative effects of social media can be prevented by implementing

lectures in high schools that effectively discuss the dangers of using social media
and its effects on young lives. Also parents should take advantage of web site
filtering by blocking access to certain websites and even educating their children
on the harmful impacts of social media that has been discussed and how it may
affect their future. Also mental health counselors can be implemented in schools.

In my research I used the internet and books which are both secondary sources.
Also one of the internet posts by the “American macular degeneration foundation”
was posted on September 2014 and it claims are supported by the University of
Wisconsin which makes it a reliable source.

Challenges faced in my research were the small range of information on the effects
of social media specifically on teenagers. Also obtaining books with respect to my
theme was difficult and time consuming.

In conclusion I would like to argue that the use social media is very dangerous and
should be taken seriously. I personally think that social media sites should be
banned since it contributes to relatively negative activities such as bullying and
physical damage. It ruins friendships and can lead to suicidal thoughts. Social
media should be completely stopped or its use should be limited.

In closing I quote a statement by Adam Alter sphere.

“Remember: once your cucumber brain has become pickled, it can never go back
to being a cucumber.”
 PREFACE
As mentioned in the general introduction, my reflective piece a play entitled “save
the teens”. In this play a group of school students discuss the terrifying case of a
teenage girl who was assaulted in which she then committed suicide and how it
may be prevented by implementing new systems in schools which can even be
used in other public places.

The main purpose of this play is to increase knowledge about the dangers of social
media its causes and serves to educate the reader about ways it may be prevented
or even stopped.

My target group is the general public and schools. The context for which this story
should be used include schools magazines, the newspapers, online websites and
most importantly it can be shown or presented in the auditorium at any schools or
even in public offices.
 REFLECTION
“SAVE THE TEENS”

SCENE 1

(Sound of rustling branches)

Enter Shandev, Sita and Nicolas under an oak tree chatting at lunch break.

Shandev: (Rubbing his foot against the scattered leaves)

Ay, alyuh hear about dah girl who committed suicide?

Nicoals: (In a depressed tone)

Oh yh boi tha rel sad boi way.

Shandev: (Shakes his head in disbelief)

What really goin on in dis world boi.

Sita: (Trying to be impressive)

But did you guys know that this was a cause of social media miss use?

Nicoals: Serious how social media cud cause dis?

Shandev: (In a loud voice)

What? Boi how could you not know dis, did u know that social media is
one of the leading cause of suicide rates among teens worldwide?

Sita: Yes! And also there has been incidence of people actually filming their own
death due to negative social media use.

Shandev: yh and that’s really heart touching to see young people do dis to
themselves jus because ah negative influences.

Nicolas: (In a soft voie)

buh lewe get bak to d topic na ulah so wah really went on day.
 Sita: Oh yes yes, and her name was Audrie, her mother Sheila claims that she was
a very loving and kind heart, it was also said that she was kidnapped and sexually
assaulted but not long did she decided to take her own life.

Nicolas: (Nodding his head)

yh and her mother was in shock for like ah year wen the sad new came to her.

Sita:Yes and also it was not long ago when detectives cleared the area of the
suicide scene behind her Los Angeles school that they found her phone and
messages linked to her death.

Shandev: yh she was gettin messages from other school children she didn’t even
know, her mother also said that she would come home really angry and crying nut
talking to anyone.

Nicoals: (With a puzzled facial expression)

Buh why target dis specific girl an ah wonder if day ketch dem who
assaulted d girl?

Sita: well, Nicolas you see that these teen girls are most venerable since they are at
this changing state of their life where a lot of emotions tends to be expressed.

Shandev: And yes they did ketch dem bad boy’s infact it was three boys whom
pleaded guilty of the assault.

Sita: (Taking a deep breath)

I just think that the trauma of it was just too much for her to think there was
a future.

Shandev: (In an angry voice)

At least she had the strength to do what she thought she had to do to
escape the evil of the world, which her assaulters

Nicolas: (In a loud voice)

Wow! luk like tha poor girl went thru alot.

Sita: You guys think we should go back to class and meet with Miss Campbell
mabe there we could ask alot of questions to gain more knowledge on this topic.

Shandev: Yes! Sure she is our social studies teacher it would be great to get her
opinions on our discussion.

SCENE 2

(All three students gathered around Miss Campbell with their chairs in the class
room)

Miss Campbell: (In a puzzled look)

What seems to be the problem guys?

Shandev: Well Miss earlier we were talking about an incident of a teenage girl
who committed suicide.

Sita: Yes! Yes! Miss did you hear about that incident.

Miss Campbell: Oh yes guys that were really sad news, but do you all know that
this could have been prevented?

Nicolas: Yes Miss this could have been stopped and I think systems should be put
in place for situation like this and the government should do something too.

Miss Campbell: Yes Nicolas I agree, also social media safety should start in the
home.

Shandev: Yes! Parents should educate their children on the safety to be taken such
as only interacting with people they know and really trust and not giving out any
personal information and smartphone use should be limited to less than one hour.

Miss Campbell: Also I think that mental health counselors should be implemented
in schools by the governments to students having any sort of mental stress or
suicidal thoughts.
Sita: Do you guys think that Audrie’s parents should organise a foundation in
Audrie’s name, providing anti cyberbullying presentations in maybe at the
morning assembly schools.

Miss Campbell: You know what that sounds like a good idea I support that.

Nicolas: Yes and Miss Do you think we should do something for we school, like
hav ah presentation in d auditorium every morning on social media safety and how
to prevent bad situations from unfolding.

Miss Campbell: Yes why not that will influence the school population positively,
maybe you can even do a skit.

Shandev: (Pumping his fists in the air)

Yes I totally ship that.

Sita: You know what guys I think it’s a plan.

 ANALYSIS
My analysis is based on “The Negative Effects of Social Media on Teenagers” its
causes and possible prevention .It deals with the ways in which teens are affected
by excessive social media use

In order to effectively present this topic to my targeted audience teenagers. I have

written a play entitled, “SAVE THE TEENS.” This play involves a group of high
school students at school. Where one of the characters bring up an incident of a
teenage girl who has committed suicide which lead them into having a discussion
on some of the causes and ways in which these incidents could be prevented and
possible solution to alleviate such incidents. To analyse the reflective piece, I have
decided to look at Registers and Communicative Behaviours (nonverbal) as the
play written illustrates the use of both elements.

The term registers refers to the choice of language a person uses which is
in the case of the Caribbean can be any variation of Creole or Standard English.
Levels of this can be seen in the play (Scene 1) when Nicolas responded to
Shandev’s statement which uses the Creole form of language to communicate in an
informal setting with each other. One example include when Nicolas responds “Oh
yh boi tha rel sad boi way” On the other hand Standard English was spoken by Sita
throughout the play. However in scene 2 when the students come in contact with
Miss Campbell, Standard English was utilised by each student this emphasizes the
level of respect they have for the teacher

Communicative behaviours are non -verbal forms of communication which

includes body language.

In this play there are many examples of communicative behaviours. For example
“Nodding his head,” as shown by Nicolas in scene 1 when he shares what Audrie’s
mother had been through.” This gesture indicates the level of sympathy that
Nicolas has on hearing the news. Another example is when Shandev “Pumping his
fists in the air” (Scene 2) in supportive response to a decision Nicolas had made.

The use of communicative behaviour and registers both shows the importance in
the development of this play and in conveying meaning in the play.