Narcissism and aggressive tendencies on the one hand; and empathy and socialization on the other. These were the pros and cons of using social networking sites such as Facebook, according to a recent presentation at the Americal Psychological Association. Psychology Professor Larry Rosen made the presentation in a plenary talk entitled "Poke Me: How Social Networks Can Both Help and Harm Our Kids." "While nobody can deny that Facebook has altered the landscape of social interaction, particularly among young people, we are just now starting to see solid psychological research demonstrating both the positives and the negatives," he said in his presentation before the 119th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association. Rosen is a professor of psychology at California State University, Dominguez Hills. Excerpts of his findings were posted on the American Psychological Association and on Science Daily. Among the potential negative effects of using Facebook were:
Teens who use Facebook may show more narcissistic tendencies while young adults who have a strong Facebook presence show more signs of other psychological disorders, including antisocial behaviors, mania and aggressive tendencies. Daily overuse of media and technology may have a negative effect on the health of all children, preteens and teenagers. They may become more prone to anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders, as well as by making them more susceptible to future health problems. Facebook can be distracting and can negatively impact learning. Studies showed middle school, high school and college students who checked Facebook at least once during a 15-minute study period achieved lower grades. But the study also found positive influences linked to social networking, including: Young adults who spend more time on Facebook are better at showing "virtual empathy" to online friends. Online social networking can help introverted adolescents learn to socialize, even if it is via an electronic gadget like a computer or a smartphone. Social networking can provide tools for teaching in compelling ways that engage young students. On the other hand, Rosen advised parents against using computer programs to monitor their children's social networking, as the child can find a workaround. Instead, he urged parents to talk about technology use early and build trust. "You have to start talking about appropriate technology use early and often and build trust, so that when there is a problem, whether it is being bullied or seeing a disturbing image, your child will talk to you about it," he said. Parents should also pay attention to the online trends and the latest technologies, websites and applications children are using, he said. He said the ratio of parent listen to parent talk should be at least five-to-one - "Talk one minute and listen for five." "Communication is the crux of parenting. You need to talk to your kids, or rather, listen to them," he said. — RSJ, GMA News 
GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
