Positive Influences
What are the positive effects and influences that technology has on the teenage mind?
Some people, especially parents, wonder if technology benefits teenagers in any way. They know that their teens can use electronics to access online homework and help with studying, but what about the countless social media platforms that comes with technology?
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Staying connected to friends;
Although teens see their friends in person, technology and social media platforms opens up a whole new door to communication. Friends are able to talk through video chats and texting, which creates the ability to make and keep friendships strong. Teens are also going through strong emotions, and having a friend to talk to during a rough situation makes it easier for them to cope and find solutions to their problems through guidance of their peers. Although one's parents could be available to help them through the same situation, most teenagers would rather receive help and advice from a friend, and this is where technology becomes the pathway for that communication. "For many teens, texting is the dominant way that they communicate on a day-to-day basis with their friends. Some 88% of teens text their friends at least occasionally, and fully 55% do so daily" (PEW Research Center).
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There are both obvious and underlying benefits to technology, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. These including:
An escape:
As a teenager, it may feel like the world around you is falling apart. Maturing means realizing that everything isn't easy to achieve and mostly everything has to be worked for. Trying to handle getting good grades in school, peer drama, keeping friends, a new job, and home life can be overwhelming at times. Technology can be an escape from reality at times for teens because they are able to ignore the outside world and instead get lost in a game or entertaining video that can make them relax a little. "Often, teens turn to technology as a way to cope with or avoid uneasy or uncomfortable feelings" (Futures Recovery Healthcare). As long as this indulgence of technology doesn't begin to interfere with responsibilities, such as homework or taking care of a pet, it can be a positive tool teens can use to reduce stress.
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Inspiration:
Most teenagers don't have their future mapped out, and if they do it's likely to change throughout the years. Nothing may sound like something they would want to do for the rest of their lives, and technology can give them the inspiration they need. Online there is hundreds of thousands of job listings and backgrounds about any job. Teens can look up pathways and requirements for something they might be interested in, which helps them be prepared for later life. If someone knows what field they were thinking about looking into, they can find information all about it online. You can find subfields in the field of interest, pay rates, required years of schooling, and more. This can help a lost teen find their way in life and make the process so much easier. Along with this, there is social platforms that have all sorts of people with all sorts of jobs on that site. For example, TikTok is a platform where anyone can post videos about anything, some including information about jobs and education, which can be helpful to a teen searching for a pathway to look into for a career in the future. "Ubiquitous cell-phone technology can play a role here–both connecting youth to job opportunities through a mobile, web-based platform, and also allowing youth to build more basic online profiles, using just their mobile phone to do so... It connects young people with local job opportunities and has forms which allow youth to build profiles that recruiters can access" (Techsocial).
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Learning:
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, teens were using technology to learn, whether they really knew they were learning or not. Teens experience mild to severe experiences and problems in life, and who better to ask about it than Google. "Technology makes it easier for students to find information quickly and accurately. Search engines and e-books are partially replacing traditional textbooks. Instead of personal tutors, students can get one-on-one help through educational videos – anytime and anywhere – and massive open online courses" (Explorance). Teenagers search solutions to their personal, health, and relationship related issues in order to get a trusted result. There are forums online where people openly talk about experiences they've had that can be hard to talk about, which can be comforting and informational to a struggling teen. For example, a teen struggling with depression may look up ways to help themselves overcome it. They may come across an online forum where hundreds of people talk about experiencing the same emotional and health related issues that can come with depression. This now makes this teen feel less alone and safe, and they can read other people's experiences and guidance to try to help themselves. Also, with the COVID-19 pandemic, most students have had to switch to at-home learning, where they would do an online call with a teacher for a class. Without technology, schools could've been just shut down and students would've had an extreme delay from their education. The pandemic itself had students doing online classes for almost two years in some places. Without computers there would be no school for that time, which would create the new issue of: do students advance up to the next grade without completing it, or do students get held back and graduate high school as 20 year-old students?
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Exposure:
If you were to start a line of business, where would you post your advertisements? You probably would choose online, due to how many people have access to the internet, giving your business a lot of recognition and regard. Teens who are thinking of making some money through something like pet sitting, selling art, or wanting to promote a charity they contribute to, will choose a social platform (or multiple) to get the word out. "You can become an influencer and earn money through affiliate marketing as a 15-year-old. There are affiliate marketing jobs available online for freelancers and there is no minimum age requirement. You can gain skills and knowledge for a career in digital marketing by taking an affiliate marketing role" (Abdullah). Since social platforms hold a very diverse group of people, your intended audience will be guaranteed to be reached, or even someone sharing your promotion to someone it would grab the attention of. Through technology teens are able to promote causes and personal achievements to others, which in the long run can be very beneficial.
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Sense of belonging:
Something most teenagers struggle with is finding a sense of belonging. In school, students unconsciously fit themselves into groups by social status, which can leave others feeling lesser than or an outcast. Social platforms online can make open groups for anyone, or people with specific issues, concerns, or interests. This can give teens a sense of belonging to an all-inclusive group outside a status or label, which can ultimately improve self confidence and a feeling of self-worth. "A new study from the University of Washington shows that digital media helps teens reach developmental milestones, such as fostering a sense of belonging and sharing personal problems" (McElroy). Confidence is important for the developing mind to stay motivated for success, and social platforms can encourage just that. Teenagers can learn a new sense of self along with feeling the inclusion from a group through social media. Feeling alone can only damage confidence, especially for teenagers who revolve around having a set image of what is "accepted".
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