Running head:
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Psychology of Adolescence
Wendy L. Bates
Department of Psychology, Liberty University
PSYC 231: Psychology of Adolescence
Mrs. Jennifer Russell
October 14, 2020
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The Age of Technology
The three subgroups identified in this article were described as being ages 11-14 years of
age and varied according to their use of social media in three different areas: intermittent social
media activity across several sites, also identified as “dabblers” and “samplers”; regular,
everyday use of the two most popular online locations amid adolescents that included Instagram
and Snapchat, also labeled “devotees”; and recurrent, daily-to-hourly social media visitors across
numerous platforms, or “omnivores” (Vannucci & McCauley Ohannessian, 2019). The main
objective of this study was to comprehend social media utilization models and their influence on
psychosocial behaviors throughout early adolescence. The researchers highlight this area of
study considering that little information is established regarding “social media use in early
adolescence” (Vannucci & McCauley Ohannessian, 2019), regardless of the significance of the
social media environment at this stage of development when identity formation, approval from
contemporaries, and peer relations grow to be vital to ideals and every day functioning
(Vannucci & McCauley Ohannessian, 2019; Santrock, 2019). Past cross-sectional models were
reduced to middle-to-late teenagers and university undergraduates (Vannucci & McCauley
Ohannessian, 2019).
Deviations among the subgroups of early teens were emphasized to gauge whether
certain aspects of social media patterns affected psychosocial workings among adolescents, and
if these relationships are relevant in improving, or impairing their growth long-term (Vannucci &
McCauley Ohannessian, 2019). Differences in time management patterns based on the time spent
online, the type of site visited, and the number of platforms accessed were evaluated across a sixmonth cycle to estimate the prospect of psychological deficiencies and social impairments. Late
adolescents and evolving, young adults have adverse consequences from social media habits that
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affect cognition and physical health, bullying of persons concurrently using these platforms,
accessing inappropriate sextual subject matter, and mentally abusing others. The Internet was
once a place of unlimited knowledge, today if not carefully monitored, our youth are susceptible
to all manor of dangers. As for this textbook providing up-to-date information, Katie Davis, from
the University of Washington, testifies that, “The newest edition of J. Santrock’s Adolescence
offers a comprehensive and current view of the major developmental tasks facing today’s
adolescents. The terrain is evolving quickly as new technologies are introduced at a rapid pace.”
(Santrock, 2019, p. xi, Expert Consultants). We must stay in the lead when it comes to
understanding today’s adolescents, because they can be quite elusive when they feel they are in a
“fight-or-flight” situation, and there is relevant information in the text as well as this article
(Vannucci & McCauley Ohannessian, 2019; (Santrock, 2019).
A Christian worldview is of the greatest importance when referencing one’s outlook on
life, with a godly heart, especially in early adolescence when the young are most open to
stimulation and vulnerability (Santrock, 2019; Feist, Feist, & Roberts, 2018). And the Lord said,
“You say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’-but not everything is good for you. And even though ‘I
am allowed to do anything’, I must not become a slave to anything.” (New Living Translation
Bible, 1996/2015, 1 Corinthians 6:12). There are limitations to everything we do in life, too
much of any one thing is wrong (New Living Translation Bible, 1996/2015, Romans 13:14, 1
Corinthians 6:19-20).
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References
Feist, G. J., Feist, J., & Roberts, T.-A. (2018). Theories of personality (9th ed.). (L. O.
Bookshelf, Ed.) New York, New York: McGraw-Hill Education. Retrieved from
https://player-ui.mheducation.com/#/epub/sn_4fe06#epubcfi(%2F6%2F10%5Bdata-uuid73ea06a2a8c8448cb9dd69658de5799d%5D!%2F4%2F4%5Bdata-uuid68ab7f265b3d4cdaa948f908df4e35b5%5D)
New Living Translation Bible. (2007). Tyndale House Publishers. Retrieved from
https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com/reader
Santrock, J. W. (2019). Adolescence (17th ed.).[Liberty Online Bookshelf]. Dallas, Texas:
McGraw-Hill Education. Retrieved from https://playerui.mheducation.com/#/epub/sn_b937#epubcfi(%2F6%2F8%5Bdata-uuid769ff7b813014c959db1683d90a2717a%5D!%2F4%2F2%5Bdata-uuid3943cf1d890d4720ae9810f9d5fe2e12%5D%2F4%5Bdata-uuid113ad7678ab0407aaa2ddfd8a6a9440a%5D%2F2%5Bdata-uuid-ab865346e9e546c1
Vannucci , A., & McCauley Ohannessian, C. (2019, June 29). Social media use subgroups
differentially predict psychosocial well-being during early adolescence. Journal of youth
and adolescence, 48(8), 1469-1493. Retrieved from https://link-springercom.ezproxy.liberty.edu/article/10.1007%2Fs10964-019-01060-9#Sec10
doi:10.1007/s10964-019-01060-9