Is Social Network Good or Bad for Mental Health, Essay Example

With the emergence of social networking in the society as a common driving factors that brings about a particular sense of confidence to several individuals, it is often asked if this particular form of communication and connection with others is actually a vital source of support for improving mental health or not. In this study, measuring the capacity of social networking to impact the thinking process of its users shall be given way through performing a survey on individuals between the ages 18 to 35. The reason for such choice of age bracket is based upon the fact that the individuals under the said age are the ones considered to establish strong relationships online based on trust and friendship. It is expected that somehow, the cognitive approach in developing intact relationships online however have its own pros and cons. Most often than not, such impacting situations affect the mental capacity of the users of social networks in a general aspect. Hence, to know whether or not this assumption is true, a series of questionnaires shall be presented to at least 35 individuals. Five of them shall be chosen randomly for actual personal interview which shall be scheduled by the researcher.

The questionnaire shall be divided into two tiers. The first tier is intended to measure the personal willingness of the users and the second tier is designed to establish a more age-respective effect of the said system of networking on the manner by which the users handle their established relationships online. Relatively, such relationships involve family connections and friendships. The inclusion of romantic relationships in the picture is somewhat considered too complicated for this study and hence is being set aside. Evaluation of family connection and friendship between the users and their online connections is much easier to undergo as the said relationships become less complicated along the way. Considering that the study is focused on the development of mental health issues, it is important that the measurement be directed to understand how the users think before they even started to use social networking against the way of thinking they have developed during their actual use of the system.

To make the results more focused and controlled, the demographics of the participants to be chosen shall also include a background distinction, which includes the schedule of the students as they enter class. It is assumed that the time they spend in front of their computers or gadgets to connect to the social network is largely affected by the fixed schedule of activities they have to attend to. Remarkably, it could be analyzed that such condition of thinking would define how important they think their social connections are to them. This fact shall also set an indication of whether or not such connections provide them pressure or if they establish satisfaction instead. Measuring the pros and cons of social networking connections on the participants based on their age-range and their scheduled activities [including studies and part time jobs if there are] shall provide a clear distinction on how they intend to utilize the said online system in their lives and how they let such situations affect them personally and mentally.

The questions that shall be presented shall be spearheaded with the following inquiries:

1. Are you fond of social networking?
2. Are you currently connected or using any type of social networking? If yes, what specific network are you associated with?
3. How many months or years have you already been registered in the network?
4. Do you have any specific feedbacks about the system?

The second tier of the questionnaire would be more directed to specific indicators in the satisfaction level of the users, which would include inquiries such as:

1. Do you find social networking helpful in enriching relationships you share with your families and friends?
2. Do you feel pressured to respond to comments, messages and others that are posted in your website to retain the connection you have with your friends or families?
3. Have you ever felt that it was necessary to regularly check your site in the social network just to make sure that your are retaining good relationship with your connections?

These series of questions are to be presented to provide a more distinctive condition of understanding on how the social networking activities actually affect the everyday activities of the individuals asked and therefore measure how much they allow such situations affect their personal beings at the same time. IT is assumed that through these questions [and others that are still to be added in], the resulting factors would provide a clear indication on whether or not the process of engaging in social network does affect the way individuals think [in relation o their mental health] in a positive manner.