Literature Review Undergraduate 1,727 words

Social Media Effects on Teenagers: A Literature Review

~9 min read 6 sections Education · Educational Psychology

Abstract

This literature review explores the multifaceted impact of social media on teenagers between the ages of 13 and 19, drawing on a range of empirical studies. The paper examines how social media use influences academic performance through disrupted sleep patterns, affects student retention and social skill development, raises concerns about privacy and security, and shapes teenagers' management of personal health information. It also considers evidence suggesting that social media can improve academic participation when used appropriately. By synthesizing findings from multiple researchers, the review highlights both the negative and positive consequences of social media use among adolescents and underscores the importance of understanding how and why teenagers engage with these platforms.

Key Takeaways

Introduction: Social media's growing influence on teenagers and schooling
Bad Sleeping Habits: Social media disrupts teen sleep and academic performance
Student Retention and Development of Social Skills: Social media's role in retention and social skill building
Loss of Privacy and Security: Teens risk privacy on Facebook and social platforms
Health Information and Academic Participation: Social media's effects on health disclosure and engagement
Conclusion: Balanced summary of social media's mixed impacts on teens

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What makes this paper effective

It organizes a wide range of studies thematically, grouping findings by impact area (sleep, retention, privacy, academic participation) rather than simply listing sources sequentially.
It balances competing viewpoints — for example, noting where researchers agree and where they diverge, such as on whether social media itself or its specific use patterns is the primary problem.
It maintains a consistent evaluative tone, briefly noting the methodology (observational, qualitative, archival) of each cited study, which adds scholarly credibility to the synthesis.

Key academic technique demonstrated

The paper demonstrates effective comparative synthesis: rather than summarizing each source in isolation, the author explicitly connects studies to one another using signal phrases like "concurs with," "provides a different perspective," and "seemingly agrees with." This technique shows the reader how the literature converges and diverges on key questions, which is the hallmark of a strong literature review.

Structure breakdown

The paper opens with a problem statement situating social media use among teenagers as a growing concern, then moves into a thematically organized literature review. Each themed section introduces a specific impact area, presents at least two relevant studies, and briefly compares their conclusions. The review closes by noting unresolved questions, particularly around why social media remains so attractive to teenagers at the expense of schoolwork. The reference list follows APA format throughout.

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Essay 1,727 words

Introduction

Recent technological advancements have transformed modern communications by generating new ways for interaction. One of the by-products of these advancements is the emergence of social media, which has become an important communication tool in today's society, especially among teenagers. Teenagers are increasingly using social media networks for interactions because of the numerous advantages of social networking sites. However, the substantial use of social media by teenagers has become an alarming issue characterized by concerns regarding privacy and security.

The impact of social media on teenagers aged between 13 and 19 years has become the focus of numerous studies. This is primarily because teenagers are increasingly trying to be socially active while also struggling to keep up with school. Existing studies have attempted to determine the various impacts of social media on teenagers and how negative impacts can be addressed. Nevertheless, it remains inconclusive why social media is so attractive to teenagers that they dedicate more time to it instead of schoolwork.

Modern communications have been significantly transformed by rapid technological developments that have contributed to the emergence of social media. Social media continues to have numerous impacts on teenagers, who must grapple with attempts to be socially active alongside the need to keep pace with their studies. Recent statistics indicate that social media has considerable negative impacts on teenagers because they dedicate more time to it rather than focusing on schoolwork. Therefore, while social media enhances communication and is undeniably attractive, it has considerable effects on teenagers in relation to their education.

The impact of social media on teenagers has become a major issue for parents, teachers, and the public. Social media is so attractive to teens that they dedicate more time to it instead of school. As a result of this increased use at the expense of academics, the impact of social media on teens has been subject to increased scrutiny. Numerous studies have been carried out to examine this issue — to determine why social media is so attractive to teenagers and what its related impacts are. A review of existing literature on the issue reveals several positive and negative impacts of social media on teenagers in relation to school.

Bad Sleeping Habits

Dimitriou, Knight, and Milton (2015) conducted a study examining how social media use and consuming drinks prior to going to bed have significant impacts on teenagers' academic performance. These researchers pointed out that environmental factors such as sleeping patterns and habits have a considerable impact on academic performance, and that these environmental factors are in turn influenced by individual behaviors and habits, especially before bedtime. In the study, the researchers noted that sleep quantity has a close, direct link to academic performance, whereas the quality of sleep is closely linked to cognitive assessment. Following a study of 48 students aged between 16 and 19, the researchers concluded that social media use and drinks before bedtime contribute to bad sleeping habits that negatively affect academic performance.

Woods et al. (2015) concur with Dimitriou, Knight, and Milton (2015) that social media contributes to poor sleeping habits among teenagers and can eventually affect their academic performance. Woods et al. (2015) conducted a study demonstrating how social media use is closely linked with poor sleep quality and low self-esteem among teenagers. These researchers carried out their study on 467 teenagers to determine the overall and night-time-specific use of social media by these individuals. They determined that teenagers' presumed need to be available on social media at all times contributes to depression, anxiety, and poor sleep quality. Even though they agree with Dimitriou, Knight, and Milton (2015) that social media affects teenagers' sleeping habits and sleep quality, Woods et al. (2015) do not argue that social media directly affects teenagers' academic performance. Instead, these researchers state that there is a strong link between social media use and an individual's health and well-being.

Student Retention and Development of Social Skills

Eckles and Stradley (2012) carried out a study to analyze student retention using archival data and social network analysis. The goal of the study was to determine the probable link between first-to-second-year retention and social network variables for a group of first-year students at an arts college (Eckles & Stradley, 2012, p. 165). The study demonstrates that social media has considerable impacts on student retention, which is determined by their friends' retention levels within the same social network. In essence, social media contributes to this dynamic because the retention and attrition behaviors of a teenager are significantly influenced by those of their immediate relationships in the social network.

Sung (2014) seemingly agrees with Eckles and Stradley (2012) in his analysis of the differential impact of social-emotional behaviors on the academic performance of language-minority students. The researcher highlights the significance of social skills for the school success of these teenagers, given their increased tendency to perform at lower levels and their heightened risk of school failure. In this context, social media acts as a means through which language-minority students develop the social skills necessary for school success. Sung (2014) argues that these students tend to demonstrate lower performance and risk school failure when they have limited English proficiency (p. 393).

Mastrodicasa and Metellus (2013) provide a different perspective on the impact of social media on the development of social skills and student retention by examining the effect of social media on college students. They argue that social media has several positive and negative impacts on college students (Mastrodicasa & Metellus, 2013, p. 21). Unlike Eckles and Stradley (2012) and Sung (2014), Mastrodicasa and Metellus (2013) state that the impact of social media on college students depends on the type of activities they engage in when using social networking sites. They postulate that social media is not inherently the problem, but rather the specific purposes and activities for which these sites are used.

2 Sections Hidden · 310 words

Loss of Privacy and Security110 words

Vanderhoven et al. (2014) examined teenagers' behavior on social media, especially Facebook, given that…

Health Information and Academic Participation200 words

Van der Velden and El (2013) examined teenage patients, privacy, and social media in light of the increased use of social networking sites for communication. Through their qualitative study, the researchers concluded that many teenagers do…

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Conclusion

A review of the existing literature demonstrates that social media has both positive and negative impacts on teenagers in relation to school. While social media contributes to poor sleeping habits, privacy concerns, and distractions from academic work, it can also support student retention, social skill development, and collaborative learning when used appropriately. The studies reviewed suggest that the effects of social media on teenagers are not uniform and are significantly shaped by how and why these platforms are used. Further research is needed to fully understand why social media remains so compelling to teenagers that they prioritize it over schoolwork, and how educators, parents, and policymakers can guide adolescents toward more constructive engagement with these tools.

References

Daclan, J. R. L. (2013, October). Online social networking-based health education: Effects on students' awareness and practice of laboratory safety. TOJET: The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 12(4).

Dimitriou, D., Knight, F. L., & Milton, P. (2015, December 1). Social media and drinks before bed affecting teenagers' school performances. Community Practitioner: The Journal of the Community Practitioners' & Health Visitors' Association, 89(1).

Eckles, J. E., & Stradley, E. G. (2012). A social network analysis of student retention using archival data. Social Psychology of Education: An International Journal, 15(2), 165–180.

Jimoyiannis, A., Tsiotakis, P., & Roussinos, D. (2013). Social network analysis of students' participation and presence in a community of educational blogging. Smart Education, 10(1), 15–30.

Mastrodicasa, J., & Metellus, P. (2013). The impact of social media on college students. Journal of College and Character, 14(1), 21–30.

Steele, J. R. (2005). Kids & media in America / Parental control of television broadcasting / Children, teens, families, and mass media: The millennial generation / The window in the corner: A half-century of children's television. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 82(1), 199–203.

Sung, Y. (2014). Differential effect of social-emotional behaviors on academic achievement of language-minority students. Child & Youth Care Forum, 43(3).

Vanderhoven, E., Schellens, T., Valcke, M., & Raes, A. (2014, January 1). How safe do teenagers behave on Facebook? An observational study. PLOS ONE, 9(8).

Van der Velden, M., & El, K. E. (2013). "Not all my friends need to know": A qualitative study of teenage patients, privacy, and social media. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association: JAMIA, 20(1), 16–24.

Woods et al. (2015, September 23). Use of social media associated with poorer sleep quality and low self-esteem in teenagers. Nursing Standard, 30(4), 15.

Key Concepts in This Paper

Social Media Use Teen Academic Performance Sleep Quality Student Retention Privacy Concerns Social Skills Online Safety Collaborative Learning Health Information Digital Communication