Annotated Article Abrams, Zara “Why young brains are especially vulnerable to social media” Abrams, Zara. “Why Young Brains Are Especially Vulnerable to Social Media.” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, https://www.apa.org/news/apa/2022/social-media-children-teens. Abstract: At young ages, the brain is very impressionable and many different stimuli and hormones can have an effect on the mental state of the child. As the brain is still growing, children can be vulnerable to the perceptions on social media. Instead of real interactions, the child will find validation through likes and views. This leads kids to have poor self images and different mental disorders because of social media. Keywords: social media, mental health, brain, approval, vulnerability, social relationships Citations: Psychological Inquiry, Vol. 21, No. 3, 2020 Saiphoo, A. N., & Vahedi, Z., Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 101, 2019; Charmaraman, L., et al., Computers in Human Behavior, Vol. 127, 2022 Quotations: 1. “Social media platforms like Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and Snapchat have provided crucial opportunities for interaction… But they’ve also been increasingly linked to mental health problems, including anxiety, depressive symptoms, and body image concerns” (3). 2. “Specifically, receptors for the “happy hormones” oxytocin and dopamine multiply in a part of the brain called the ventral striatum, making preteens extra sensitive to attention and admiration from others” (6). 3. “Part of what makes online interactions so different from in-person ones is their permanent—and often public—nature, according to research by Jacqueline Nesi, PhD, an assistant professor of psychology at Brown University” (11). Questions: 1. They mention social media allows kids to social interact in an easier way so, compared to before social media is this social interaction actually beneficial and worth the cost? 2. During the pandemic, was there any spike in these mental health issues due to the isolation on top of the only interactions of people being over the internet? 1. Writing the annotation was slightly difficult since it is hard sometimes to decide what is valuable information versus what is just a part of the material. Digging through the text and deciphering the important facts is definitely a bit challenging. However, I definitely see how this process can be helpful in deciding the important parts of a piece and I overall found it more helpful than challenging. 2. The readings definitely allowed me to get a better insight into how social media can be negative, even though on the surface it seems mostly positive. I understand now how there are actually changes that occur in a person that are bad in response to social media. I can see how the constant need of validation through the internet as well as the constant comparison to others can be challenging to a young mind. I definitely furthered my view on how social media can be extremely toxic and detrimental to young individuals and.
