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Robert Patton
ENG110, Professor Silvey
29 September 2011
The Disadvantages of Social Network Sites
Annotated Bibliography
Day, Ashley. "The Facebook Effect: Good or Bad for Your Health?" Everyday Health. Ed. Day
Ashley. Everyday Health Properties, 6 Apr. 2011. Web. 27 Sept. 2011.
Day opens this web article with the headline “Facebook Linked to Depression.” She then
continues to report that a published paper by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
revealed that Facebook Depression is a “condition said to result when tweens and teens
spend too much time on social media, leading them to turn to substance abuse, unsafe
sexual practices, or aggressive or self-destructive behaviors.” Included in this article is
the assumption that using social network sites may cause adolescent girls to
develop eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and extreme dieting. Day also brings
to light the fact that Facebook, according to Time Magazine, in some way contributes to a
20% increase in Divorce. This article will benefit this paper by bringing out various
studies and it also explains some of the advantages of social network sites should further
data be needed on that topic.
Dyer, Pam. "We’re Addicted to Social Networks: 48% of Us Check Them in Bed.” Panorama
Building Buzz in a Connected World. Ed. Pam Dyer. Panorama, 21 Mar. 2010. Web. 27
Sept. 2011.
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Dyer examines a recent study of 1000 Americans conducted by Retrevo, that asked
questions on when, where, and how much time they spend on sites and services like
Facebook and Twitter. It is alarming that over 48% of those surveyed, according to the
study, are addicted to Social Network Sites that is almost half of all users. She states, not
only do we check Facebook and Twitter throughout the day, almost half of those
surveyed said they check in on the social network site in bed, during the night, or as soon
as they wake up in the morning, even before breakfast. This survey also revealed that, to
no big surprise, the majority of those who check their media sites in the night are under
the age of 25. Using this survey and this article by Dyer in this paper will add new
information to show others how we are addicted to Social Network Sites.
Cherry Hill Police Department. Facebook Stats on Bullying and Cyber Bulling. Facebook, 4
Nov. 2010. Web. 27 Sept. 2011.
Facebook Stats on Bullying and Cyber Bullying is a report presented by the Cherry Hill
Police Department in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The report presents statistics on Cyber
Bullying, which will assist in identifiying another disadvantage to social network sites.
The site states that the statistics reveal 42% of kids asked were victims of Cyber
Bullying while on-line. It reveals that 35% of those surveyed have been threatened and
that 53% say they themselves are guilty of saying inappropriate or hurtful things to
someone else on-line. The department continues with various statistics that are alarming
on Cyber Bullying. This information will draw attention to the possible physical and
cyber threat that Facebook and other social media sires exposes to its users.
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Fodeman, Doug, and Marje Monroe. "The Impact of Facebook on Our Students." National
Association of Independent Schools. National Association of Independent Schools, 23
Jan. 2009. Web. 27 Sept. 2011.
Fodeman and Monroe discuss the false sense of privacy that users of social network sites
experience. Add this false sense of privacy with the feeling of anonymity and lack of
social responsibility that often develops from using the internet, and that explains why
many students post embarrassing, humiliating, and hurtful content in text, blogs, photos,
and videos. They further explain that it is our responsibility to teach younger students that
nothing is private online, especially their social networks. Fodeman and Monroe focus on
the consequences such as Students being expelled from high schools and colleges. Being
denied acceptances to intern programs, admission to colleges, and jobs at summer camps
all because of the content they've posted in their "private" social network accounts. They
also make mention of the various people that troll accounts looking for any information
that they can use against anyone. Through this article, we can see the see the sense of
false security a social network might give.
Karpinski, Aryn. "Study finds link between Facebook use and lower grades in
college." Eurekalert.org. Ed. Jeff Grabmeier. Ohio State University, 13 Apr. 2009. Web.
27 Sept. 2011.
Karpinski conducted a research project with college students attending Ohio State
University and determined that there is a relationship between Facebook usage and lower
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grades. She concluded that typically, Facebook users in the study, had GPAs between 3.0
and 3.5, while non-users had GPAs between 3.5 and 4.0. The survey was administered to
219 undergraduate and graduate students. This usage is affecting the amount of time
available for school study. This study was presented to The American Education
Research Association in San Diego, California. This information can be used in
conjunction with our class survey on this issue, with a comparison of results.