Saturday, June 12, 2010

Research Paper

I am going to write my research paper on the use of social networks and chat lines and the impact that it has on people psychologically. I want to find out more information on the impact in depression, and perhaps even whether or not if effects social anxiety and the need to interact with people. I am curious what the effects are of the use of social networks long term. Since we are seeing that there is an effect on reading and writing skills from the use of social networks, it only makes since that we would see an impact in psychological disorders, and possibly even the increase in social anxiety.

2 comments:

  1. This is a very interesting topic. There has been a lot of research of late on this same matter. Some findings show that there are also some physical effects such as headaches connected to social networks.
    Good luck!

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  2. Thanks. I don't think that there has been a lot of research done, but it is something that people are starting to research. I think the biggest issue that people are finding when doing this research is that they are unable to find a direct connection between internet use and anxiety or depression, but rather have found that perhaps people have other disorders such as bipolar disorder, a compulsive or impulsive disorder that would perhaps cause people to use the internet more to self medicate themselves for the disorders that they already have. It is hard to differentiate, the only thing that I know for sure is that there is only short term gratification with internet usage, that it can have some benefits in adolescents who use "IM-ing" as a way to build their communication skills, but for the most part internet usage as an addictive behavior can be detrimental in the long run.

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