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Young adults' reflections on their experiences of social media use during adolescence
Mini Dissertation (MSW (Play-Based Intervention))--University of Pretoria, 2021.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2022
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| _version_ | 1867613472778354688 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Le Roux, M.P. (Liana) |
| author_browse | Le Roux, M.P. (Liana) |
| author_facet | Le Roux, M.P. (Liana) |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Mini Dissertation (MSW (Play-Based Intervention))--University of Pretoria, 2021. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/84128 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:36:41.872Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2022 |
| publishDateRange | 2022 |
| publishDateSort | 2022 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/84128 Young adults' reflections on their experiences of social media use during adolescence Le Roux, M.P. (Liana) ogodisengmontsh@gmail.com Montsho, Ogodiseng UCTD Mini Dissertation (MSW (Play-Based Intervention))--University of Pretoria, 2021. Social media refers to internet-based applications that allows people to interact with each other, and to create, exchange content, and take part in social networking. Research studies show that social media use is a growing phenomenon and, in comparison to previous eras, resulted in rapid changes in the manner of communication. Social media use has become a well-known and common activity among adolescents globally, and they regularly engage on social media platforms such as Facebook, Mxit, Twitter and Instagram. Despite many positive aspects related to social media use, such as for social interaction and communication, and to access information, there are concerns over several risks that social media use entail and the negative effects that it can have on adolescents’ well-being. To this effect, social media use can have negative or harmful effects on adolescents’ physical, emotional, social, and academic functioning. In spite of the popularity of social media use among adolescents and young adults, their own experiences and reflections of using social media are not well explored. The goal of the study was thus to explore and describe young adults’ reflections on their experiences of social media use during adolescence. The study was based on a qualitative research approach to obtain information from the participants on their experiences of social media use during their adolescent years. Applied research was a relevant type of research as the research findings could be used to in practice to address problems that could stem from adolescents’ social media use. An instrumental case study design was used which allowed the researcher to explore young adults’ reflections on their experiences of social media use during adolescence. Ten participants between the ages of 19 and 24 years who engaged in social media use during their adolescent years were recruited by means of purposive sampling and snowball sampling. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews with the use of an interview schedule and were analysed by means of thematic analysis. General research ethical considerations were upheld during the study. The research findings showed that social media use was a common activity in which the participants engaged for several hours per day and mostly without monitoring by their parents. The participants identified several positive effects of their social media use, including maintaining contact with friends and family and having access to information on health and other matters. However, the research findings show that the negative effects of their social media use overshadowed its positive effects. Harmful effects included emotional distress, unhealthy comparison with idealised images posted on social media, poor academic performance, false news and awareness of cyberbullying. The participants made several suggestions for preventing the harmful effects of social media use for adolescents and in terms of interventions by parents and professional people such as social workers. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that social media use can, in spite of its advantages, put adolescents at risk for several harmful effects thereof. It is thus recommended that adolescent should be made aware of and empowered to cope with potential risks involved in social media us. Furthermore, parents and professional persons should gain knowledge of the nature and use of social media, the risks involved, and of measures to support adolescents towards responsible social media use. Social Work and Criminology MSW (Play-Based Intervention) Unrestricted 2022-02-22T09:33:42Z 2022-02-22T09:33:42Z 2022 2021 Mini Dissertation * A2022 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/84128 en © 2022 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Young adults' reflections on their experiences of social media use during adolescence |
| title | Young adults' reflections on their experiences of social media use during adolescence |
| title_full | Young adults' reflections on their experiences of social media use during adolescence |
| title_fullStr | Young adults' reflections on their experiences of social media use during adolescence |
| title_full_unstemmed | Young adults' reflections on their experiences of social media use during adolescence |
| title_short | Young adults' reflections on their experiences of social media use during adolescence |
| title_sort | young adults reflections on their experiences of social media use during adolescence |
| topic | UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/84128 |