Allan Barnett
Hoërskool Kalahari
Computer Application Technology
Grade 10 E1
Social Media
19 Aug. 24
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Table of Contents .......................................................................... 2
Folder Structure ............................................................................. 3
Focus Question .............................................................................. 4
Task Definition ............................................................................... 5
Research Questions ....................................................................... 6
Sources used .................................................................................. 8
Bibliographical Information ........................................................... 9
Annexure A .................................................................................. 10
Annexure B .................................................................................. 11
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Folder Structure
Phase 1
Phase 2
Barnett Allan
Barnett Allan
Barnett Allan
PAT 2024
Planning
document
Final
Planning
Document
Research
Presentation
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Focus Question
Focus Question: How can Instagram, improve and negatively impact
our lives in the area of social life?
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Task Definition
1. Why am I doing the investigation?
We live in times where people, including myself, often neglect ‘digging deep’ or acquiring
more knowledge about the significance of day-to-day activities like, being online and
video chatting your friend through Instagram, or just a mere text you send your partner
who lives abroad. We also don’t realize how social media has become such a powerful
tool that plays an incredible role in our social lives as a modern society. I am doing this
investigation to educate not only myself, but many others about the profound impact
social media, specifically Instagram, has on social life.
2. What will the focus of my investigation be?
My investigation is solely focused on Social Life.
3. How will I go about conducting the research?
I shall conduct my research by getting as many sources of information as I can to have
a clear understanding of the possible answers to my focus question.
4. Who is the information for (target audience)?
This information is for every teenager who has an interaction with technology through
the use of social media platforms specifically, Instagram.
5. How must I present the information?
This information must be presented in a manner that best describes the focus question
and answers it fully. I shall make use of clear and concise language and put emphasis
on the purpose of my information.
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Research Questions
Question 1: How has social media changed the way we make friends and connect with
others?
Before social media and the advancement of technology, people made use of traditional
methods such as, face-to-face conversations, phone/telephone calls and handwritten
letters to connect with one another. Long-distance communication often involved sending
these handwritten letters via postal services, which took days or even weeks to reach their
destination. Nowadays, Social media allows individuals to connect with people from
different regions, cultures and backgrounds by just a tap on the voice record or video chat
icon. With platforms such as INSTAGRAM, social networking provides a convenient way
to maintain relationships with friends and family. But social media also has negative
aspects as it showcases curated versions of people’s lives and creates unrealistic
expectations and comparisons. It also promotes shallow connections which lack the depth
and intimacy of in-person relationships.
Overall, social media platforms like Instagram, have transformed the way we connect and
maintain relationships, offering both benefits and drawbacks. As technology continues to
grow, it is important to remember to sustain and maintain both physical and virtual
friendships and connection with others.
Question 2: Does social media affect our ability to have face-to-face conversations?
Absolutely! Recent searches prove that social media contributes to social anxiety as the
constant barrage of updates, notifications, and curated content can create a sense
of pressure and inadequacy. Digital spaces enhance a cycle of continuous
connectivity and comparison, where number of likes, comments, and shares
become a tool used for determining personal worth or success. This environment
can lead to unrealistic expectations and bend our perception of normalcy,
contributing to a bigger sense of anxiety and isolation. Which is obviously going to lead to
the inability to have face-to-face conversations.
Question 3: Can social media harm or improve relationships between people?
As aforementioned, social media has made it easier to stay connected with loved ones,
regardless of distance. Social media has provided us with improved access to resources
and support. With a wealth of information at our fingertips, we can seek out advice, learn
new skills, and connect with others who share our struggles, interests or hobbies or
passions with one another on social media. By doing this, we can learn more about each
other and have improve connections and relationships. But, like everything else, there are
negativities. One of the biggest being, the distraction from physical and face-to-face
connections. It can breed jealousy and insecurity which can be particularly damaging in
romantic relationships.
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Question 4: How does social media affect your
friendships?
Social media can greatly affect my friendships as it
can blur personal boundaries and lead to oversharing and invasion of privacy. There is also,
social media addiction which is the excessive and
compulsive use of social media platforms and
relates a lot to FOMO which is the fear of missing out. This builds an ignorant character
and a sense of validation from social media eventually affecting friendships.
Question 5: Does social media help you meet new people or make it harder?
Social media most definitely makes meeting new people EASIER! You meet a very large
capacity of people on social media platforms and these platforms have a way of
connecting people of the same interests together by increasing connectivity and promote
community building. It allows us to connect with anyone, at any time. Although social
media can be a great tool for connecting with people, it is no substitute for meeting people
in person. It might also help you build relationships, but there is no substitute for real-life,
in person conversations and interactions.
Question 6: Can social media make you feel lonely or more connected?
It can make you feel more connected although will not last for too long. People turn to
social media more when they’re feeling lonely. But, turns out, people feel worse after
spending time on social media. It doesn’t help them feel less isolated. This is due to social
comparison or the act of comparing yourself to others. The more people compared
themselves to others, the less happy they become or feel. Passive scrolling takes away
the positive mood-boosting benefits that come from person to person interaction.
Question 7: What are the good things about using social media with your friends?
Social media not only connects teens to information and friends, but also connects them to
opportunities for social support from their friends, peers and broader social networks.
Among teens, 68% have received support on social media during challenges or tough
times. Social media helps build and strengthen relationships, create new connections.
Question 8: How does social media change how you spend time with family?
Social media can lead to a lack of interaction between siblings, couples, or parents and
their children. It deprives the family of learning and modeling with each other’s social cues,
interpersonal relationship skills, communication skills and bonding. It can also result in
introverted personalities and a change in the value system. The negative impact of social
media is far-reaching. As people tend to only show the best parts of their lives on social
media, it can be very easy to imagine that that is what their lives are always like. This can
sometimes lead to making families or couples very unhappy with their lives and situations.
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Sources used for the questions above:
Question
Number
e.g. Question A
e.g. Question B
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Source: In this table you must write the type of source you used to
answer every question e.g. Internet (website)
Website
Interview
Website
Website
Website
website
Interview
Website
Online newspaper
Website
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Bibliographical Information
Source 1
Name of website
Name of web page
URL
Author
Date
created/updated
Date accessed
Source 2
Name of website
Name of web page
URL
Author
Date
created/updated
Date accessed
Source 3
Name of website
Name of webpage
URL
Date
created/published
Publisher
Date accessed
Vengo ai
How social media affects the way we make friends
today
https://www.vengoai.com/how-social-media-affectsthe-way-we-make-friends-today/
David Parrish
January 19, 2024
15 August 2024
Harvard Health
Is a steady diet of social media unhealthy
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-a-steadydiet-of-social-media-unhealthy-2018122115600
Jeremy Nobel
December 21, 2018
15 August 2024
Social media today
Instagram chief flags coming changes to profile grid
displays
https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/instagramchief-flags-coming-changes-to-profile-griddisplays/724532/
August 18,2024
Andrew Hutchinson
17 August 2024
https://www-wlfa-com.cdn.approgect.com.org/
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Annexure A
KWLS Chart
Step 1
K
What I
already
know
The
pros
and
cons of
social
media.
Step 2
W
What I want to
know


How social
media
influence
gender
based
violence?
How do
social
media
companies
regulate
their
platforms
to
minimise
violations
of their
codes of
conduct?
Step 3
L
What I have
learned


Social
media can
provide a
platform for
individuals
to share
content
that
normalizes
violence
against
people of
any
gender.
Companies
balance
interests
by setting
and
enforcing
community
rules for
speech.
Step 4
S
What I still
want to
know
Step 5
Repeat the
previous 4
steps until you
have all the
information
needed (add
questions &
answers) at
the bottom of
the table
What are
Social
the
media has
implication
potential to
of social
promote
media’s
diversity of
role in
opinion and
shaping
provide a
and
platform of
influencing
marginalized
public
voices to be
opinion?
heard.
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Annexure B
Declaration of Authenticity Phase 1
Grade
10
Year
Learner name
Allan Barnett
2024
I hereby declare that the contents of this assessment task are my own original work
(except where there is clear acknowledgement and appropriate reference to the work of
others) and that I have not plagiarised, copied from someone else or used work
previously submitted for assessment by anyone.
Signature
Date
Did you receive any help/information from anyone to complete this project?
No
Yes (provide details below)
Help/Information received
from (person):
Nature of the help/information (provide evidence):
Phase 1
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