Raising the Media Generation: How Web Based Media influences Adolescent Development
Open Access
Author:
Ward, Ann
Area of Honors:
Journalism
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Patrick Lee Plaisance, Thesis Supervisor Patrick Lee Plaisance, Honors Advisor Cindy Simmons, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
Media Psychology Social Media Adolescence Internet Development Mental Health
Abstract:
The average American adolescent spends roughly seven and a half hours consuming media a day, in addition to academic related media consumption. While mobile devices and web-based media presents many benefits to its users, the effects of media consumption can differ for younger users. During adolescence children develop their own sense of themselves and their opinions; however, todays adolescents are experiencing a world with added social media pressure. With obsessions over "likes", "favorites," and "followers"; are todays adolescents more prone to mold their actions to match their new social pressures? This thesis will look at adolescent development and the influences that can impede the development of young and moldable brains.
