Letter
of Acknowledgement:
With
deep gratitude and reverence, I would like to express my sincere thanks to my
class teacher, Sayma Arju, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Stamford
University Bangladesh, for giving me the golden opportunity to undertake this
wonderful project on the topic “The Influence of Social Networking on the Young
Generation of Bangladesh.” This project has enabled me to conduct extensive
research and learn about numerous new things. I am immensely thankful to her
for her motivational guidance, assistance, and excellent cooperation in
supervising this report-writing work.
Secondly,
I extend my gratitude to my parents and friends who provided substantial help
in completing this project within the limited time. I could not write this
report without their help. The objective of creating this report is not only to
obtain good marks but also to enhance my knowledge.
Lastly, I would like to express my thanks to all
those who helped me accomplish this challenging task.
Abstract:
We are living in a time when technology plays a
crucial role in human life. It is truly impossible to imagine spending even a single
day without the touch of technology. Social media, or social networking, is
considered the latest gift of technology, an online-based platform that has
revolutionized society and altered the traditional communication system.
However, it also exerts a negative influence on the younger generation. In
recent years, individuals of various ages and professions in Bangladesh have
expressed their concerns about the growing influence of social networking. This
report illustrates how the younger generation is being affected by the
influence of social networking sites and suggests measures to mitigate its side
effects. The report also highlights the positive aspects of social networking
and how young people can benefit from it. Additionally, it outlines effective
steps to reduce the negative impact of social networking.
1.
Introduction:
Whether
for personal or professional purposes, we cannot deny the importance of social
networking sites. Their significance is increasing day by day. The appeal of
social networking has spread among all age groups in the past few years,
particularly among teens and younger adults. In modern days, people cannot
imagine spending a single day without being involved with social networking.
Therefore, it can be said that social networking has become part and parcel of
our everyday lives. Undoubtedly, it plays a crucial role in our lives, and no
one is exempt from its influence.
1.1
What is social networking:
It
does not have a specific definition. The definition of social networking has
been provided on some websites. According to these websites, we come to know
that a social networking service is an online platform or site that helps
people connect through messages and allows them to share their interests,
activities, backgrounds, and many other things. It is also called social media.
Examples of social media platforms include Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Blogs,
and mobile applications.
1.2
How does social networking service influence:
Social networking services have a significant
influence on people of different ages. However, some surveys indicate that
young or teenage individuals are more profoundly affected than adults. They are
particularly drawn to this contemporary means of communication, leading them to
be misguided by technology in various ways and potentially hindering the
development of their careers. In this report, I will discuss the impact of
social networking on the young generation of Bangladesh. It is important to
note that acknowledging its influence does not refute the potential positive
aspects or assistance it may provide to the young generation.
2.
Description:
As
time progresses, more people will become involved in social media. Undoubtedly,
in the future, social media will emerge as one of the most important mediums of
communication. People will increasingly rely on it for interpersonal
communication. It is certain that social media will simplify life for people,
making communication with close friends and family a matter of just one or two
clicks. Despite the numerous benefits of social media, the younger generation
sometimes takes the wrong path.
2.1
Influences on young generation:
It
has already been mentioned that the younger generation is more influenced than
adults, experiencing a greater negative impact from using social media.
Breaking free from the influence of social media proves challenging. If this
trend continues, the future generation will undoubtedly endure prolonged
difficulties, and our country will face a significant disaster that may not be
easily or quickly rectified.
2.1.1
Cybercrime:
Cybercrime
refers to a type of crime that involves a computer and a network. A person
commits cybercrime with the help of the internet. It can be described as the
use of deception on the internet. Cybercrime is not a new phenomenon in our
country. However, the involvement of social crime has been increasing over
time. It occurs in various forms, and often the younger generation is
implicated in these activities.
2.1.1.1
Hacking:
Hacking
is one of the most common crimes in the cyber world, and anyone is likely
familiar with the term. Its definition may vary across different websites, but
hacking generally refers to the illegal attempt to manipulate the normal
behavior of network connections and connected systems. In simpler terms,
hacking involves gaining unauthorized access to a server with the intent of
stealing or acquiring information, such as a copy of a credit card database, or
other types of attacks. Individuals engaged in hacking are commonly referred to
as hackers.
2.1.1.2
Lack of concentration on education:
Due
to their extensive involvement with social media, individuals pay less
attention to education. When it is time to study, they often engage in communication
with friends through social networking systems and prioritize less important
tasks. This trend is particularly noticeable among the younger generation,
leading to a decline in their interest in academic pursuits. This has the
potential to have a negative impact on future generations.
2.1.1.3
Influence on health:
It
has a negative influence on health as well. Both youths and children are losing
interest in playing outdoor games, leading to various physical problems. They
spend hours sitting in front of lifeless machines, resulting in weight gain and
the start of diseases from a young age. Additionally, excessive use of social
media can be harmful to eyesight. Users may experience eye fatigue and dryness,
and physical fitness may decline due to a lack of exercise and mental
sharpness. Someone spending excessive time on social media may suffer from
headaches and carpal tunnel syndrome.
2.1.1.4
Fraudulency on net:
Fraudulence
on the internet has become a common issue. People frequently fall victim to
fraudulent activities on social media. Some individuals create fake profiles on
social networking sites, providing incorrect information and manipulating the
emotions of others. It is challenging to ascertain their real identity. These
deceptive individuals emotionally blackmail their victims, exploiting their
vulnerabilities for personal gain.
2.1.1.5
Adultery on Internet:
It
has become one of the major concerns for internet users, with the young
generation being the primary victims of adult content. They are drawn to sites
that offer illegal, unethical, and offensive material, leading to the misguided
development of the future generation and contributing to immoral behavior. In
some instances, individuals create fake photos of someone and post them on
various websites that contain offensive content, ultimately pushing the victim
towards taking drastic measures such as suicide.
3.
Advantages:
Every
coin has two sides. Similarly, social networking sites have both merits and
demerits. Thus far, we have discussed the negative aspects of social media.
Now, let us delve into the positive sides of social networking.
3.1
Help being connected with friends and family members:
It
is perhaps the biggest advantage that we derive from social media. It does not
matter where we are or how far we are; it helps us stay connected with our
friends and family members all the time. It makes our lives easier, faster, and
safer. Thanks to social media, the world has become smaller. Now, distance is
not an obstacle in the path of communication. With social networking, making
friendships with unknown people has become much easier. It will help you stay
connected with those friends with whom you have not been in touch for years.
Communicating with others has become much cheaper.
3.2
Help expand ideas:
The
purpose of using social networking is not only to stay connected with close
people but also to share ideas, opinions, or views through text messages, voice
chat, and video conferencing. It helps in expanding ideas and making them more
vibrant. Users can gather more information or ideas from other friends or
chatmates, enabling them to gain a clearer view of their topic. Exchanging
ideas with many people can assist them in reaching the main point or overcoming
doubts.
3.3
Best medium of entertainment:
There
is no doubt that social networking is the best medium for entertainment. People
sign up on social networking sites primarily for enjoyment. They derive
pleasure from sharing photos, videos, messages, and other content.
3.4
An alternative way of earning money:
Social
media can be an alternative way of earning money. As an example, we can talk
about blogging, vlogging, and content creation. Nowadays, people around the
world are choosing these as professions. These have gained huge popularity
among the younger generation because they allow them to earn money along with
their studies. It can also be considered a way of spending leisure time
productively. The younger generation can choose blogging for their career
development. If anyone continues writing for a blog, they can observe
improvement in their writing skills. Therefore, it can be said that blogging
can help people develop their careers and, at the same time, earn money. It can
be used as a portfolio.
3.5
Help promote business:
Social
networking sites play a very important role in promoting businesses, especially
for small and medium-sized entrepreneurs. They can promote their business on
social media without incurring any costs. It also helps them gain worldwide
recognition. By having a direct line of communication with their customers,
businesses can pay attention to improving their product quality. This trend is
not limited to small and medium-sized companies; even large companies have
their pages on various social networking sites with millions of fans. This has
given birth to terms like ‘F-Commerce.’
4.
Results:
The first question in the questionnaire asks
whether social media is good for society. In response to this question, all
participants provided a positive answer. They found no harmful aspects of
social media, indicating that the majority believe social media is beneficial
for society.
In
the second question, the objective was to find out the most popular or most
used social media platform among the young generation. Most of the students
chose between option a (mobile phone) and option b (Facebook).Facebook
has topped the chart with 46.74%, while Mobile is in the second position with
46.15%. There is a very short gap between Mobile phone and Facebook. Twitter is
not a very popular medium of communication among the young generation of
Bangladesh. It has secured the third position with 5.26%. Students are not
concerned about the use of a blog in their education. That is why this medium
is not used as much compared to Facebook and mobile phones. It has been placed
at the bottom of the chart with 2.63%.
In
the third question, the specific aim was to find out which device people prefer
most for using social media. The majority of respondents chose a desktop
computer for using social media, with desktops covering the highest percentage
at 43.33% in the chart. Laptops and mobile phones came in the second and third
positions with 33.33% and 23.33%, respectively.
It
indicates that most people in our country use desktop computers. Laptops are
still expensive and beyond the affordability of lower-middle-class and
lower-class people. A tablet PC is the latest technology in ultra-portable
mobile computing devices. It is not widely available in our country, and its
high cost makes it accessible to very few people. Another problem is that most
top brands of tablet PCs require at least a 3G-enabled internet connection,
which is still a dream in our country.
The
fourth question was an open-ended question that asked people to share how much
money they spend in a month using the internet. The reported amounts ranged between
400 and 2000 taka.
The
above-mentioned pie chart shows that 56.67% of people use social media for less
than five hours a week. Additionally, 16.67% of people use social media for 5
to 10 hours a week, while the same percentage of people also use social media
for more than 20 hours a week. Following that, 6.67% of people take the
third-highest part of the chart by using social media for 11–15 hours. The
lowest percentage is 3.33%, indicating 16–20 hours in a week.
The sixth question was created or asked to
understand the various purposes for using social media.
In
this chart, I can see that 66.67% of youth use social media to stay connected
with their friends. Then, I observe that 16.67% of people use this platform as
a medium of entertainment, using it to pass the time. According to the chart,
10% of people use it for other purposes, while 6.67% of people use it as a
profile for their business.
From
this chart, it is clear that young people use social media to stay connected
with their friends. It helps them maintain connections and communicate with
others.
Using too much social media can also have some
side effects on users. Those who excessively use social media may suffer from
various physical problems that can hamper their everyday lives.
The
chart describes that eyesight problems are the main issue for those who spend
hours in front of the computer, reaching a peak at 46.67%. The physical problem
that people suffer from the most after that is a lack of sleep, which accounts
for 40%. It also shows that 13.33% of people face various other problems due to
excessive use of social media. The interesting thing is that no one mentioned
headaches and obesity as their physical problems.
It was mentioned earlier that different people
use social media for various purposes. Besides chatting with friends and
sharing photos and videos, it can also be used to spread news quickly.
According
to this chart, everyone believes that social media helps spread news quickly. There
is no one who expresses a different opinion.
It is no longer just an entertaining device. It
can be used to increase job opportunities in society. Students can earn money
while studying by working with different people online. The number of people working
on the Internet is increasing day by day. It also contributes to our economy by
earning foreign currency.
This
chart shows that 76.67% of people believe that social media can help increase
job opportunities in society, while 23.33% of people have expressed the
opposite opinion.
In
this chart, it can be seen that 86.67% of people do not think that social media
has a negative impact on the young generation. However, 13.33% of people have
the opposite view.
People have expressed their concern about the
increasing incidence of cybercrime, which is growing day by day and often affecting
young people. I did a survey to collect the opinions of young people on this
matter. In the survey, 66.67% of people think that the young generation is
involved in cybercrime, while 33.33% think the opposite. The chart is given
below:
In
this report, I also aimed to understand if users had faced any unpleasant
situations while using social media. However, participants in this survey
provided two types of opinions.
The majority of people, accounting for 63.33%,
have answered yes, while the minority, accounting for 36.67%, have said no. A
line chart based on the results has been provided below.
5.
Conclusion:
Social
networking is the latest medium of communication and plays a very important
role in our modern-day lives. It is no longer just an entertaining device but
has become a part of our everyday lives. We cannot keep ourselves away from the
influence of social networking. It is the boon of modern technology. However,
it has both positive and negative impacts not only on users but also on
society. The effective use of social media can make our lives easier, faster,
and safer. On the other hand, its negative use can lead anyone to destroy his
or her life.
6.
Recommendation:
Just
like other scientific inventions, social media also has both pros and cons. It
affects all age groups, but most of the time, the young generation becomes the
main victim of its negative side. It has become a great cause for concern for
the future generation. If it continues, our future generation may face moral
challenges. While we cannot entirely avoid the side effects of social media, we
can try to mitigate them.
6.1
Duties of Parents:
Parents
can play a very important role in reducing the negative impact of using social
media. They can monitor their children and their daily activities. In this way,
the younger generation will be kept away from engaging in any unlawful
activities on social networking.
6.2
Teaching moral lesson:
A
young age is a very good time for teaching moral lessons. People with strong
morals cannot be easily misguided. If parents provide moral lessons to their
children, then their children will keep themselves away from harmful
activities. Nothing can entice them into doing anything bad.
6.3
Encourage youth for reading novel, drama and story book:
One
of the biggest problems observed among the young generation is their reduced
interest in reading novels, dramas, or storybooks. Encouraging them to read
more works by famous writers can help enhance their knowledge. It is worth
mentioning that books are the best friends of human beings.
6.4
Steps taken by government:
No
doubt, the government will have to take more responsibility to reduce the
negative impact of social networking. To do so, they can pass laws. What is
very important is that they should impose a ban on those sites that provide
unethical, unlawful, and offensive content. The government should establish a
branch within the security force for identifying and apprehending cyber
criminals.
6.5
Organizing more competitions for youth people:
More
competitions should be organized for young people so that they can keep
themselves busy with various activities and stay away from negative influences.
By participating in numerous competitions, they can develop themselves and
become smarter.
7.
Reference:
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