Media and social connections

Media

the forms in which information is communicated and spread throughout society.

Examples of media

Television, video games, social media, Newspapers, magazines,

Technological determinism

the idea that media causes changes in behaviour.

What does the technological determinism theory propose?

This theory suggests that technology inevitably drives cultural and social change, with the type of media influencing behaviour more than the content it delivers.

Social connections

The network of people available to someone for support and engagement.

Examples of social connections

 friends, family members, work colleagues, teachers.

Positive influence of social connections (individuals)

• Increased ability to access support,

• Increased social connections that are not limited by physical proximity, enabling people to stay in touch.

Negative influence of social connections (individuals)

• Increased pressure to stay connected and respond in real-time, leading to social fatigue and burnout.

• Social connections are more numerous but potentially more shallow

• Social connections may be false, fake profiles, harmful and unsafe behaviours/relationships online.

positive influences of social connections (groups)

• Increased scope to form communities and mobilise large groups. 

• Protests and rallies organised by community groups, shared online.

negative influences of social connections (groups)

• Increases potential conformity, including people being more likely to participate in online bullying 

• Match the behaviour of other people within a social group

Social comparison

A proposal that humans measure their self-worth in relation to the people around them, playing a significant role in mental wellbeing.

Positive influence of social comparison (individuals)

• High self-esteem at an individual level.

• This positive experience of social comparison relies on sharing hobbies with other people on social media

negative influence of social comparison (individuals)

• Curated social media profiles can enable unrealistic social comparisons

• Some individual social media users could be experiencing low self-esteem when comparing themselves to their peers online.

Positive influence of social comparison (group)

• Group behaviour can be influenced when somebody with a large following uses social media to share personal experiences. 

• Inspire healthier habits for their audience's/following

negative influence of social comparison (group)

• Unrealistic social comparisons to imagery project unrealistic beauty standards. 

• Lead to mental health problems affecting, functioning overall

form

audio visual, print, convergence/hybrid (digital), hybrid, audio