Social media has a big impact on our world especially with today’s youth. The first generation of kids and teens are growing up with social media as an integral part of their life. It is changing how they interact with peers, parents and how they use technology.
According to various research studies in the field of online social networks, it has been revealed that these sites are impacting the lives of the youth greatly. When using these sites such as Twitter or Facebook, there are both positive and negative effects on the youth.
On the plus side, social media helps the youth and any other user updated with what is happening around the world, help the teenagers stay connected and interact with each other even if they are many miles apart. This strengthens their relationship even if they finished school and moved to different locations they stay connected and update one another.
However, as the youth tend to spend many hours on these sites, they rarely have face-to-face interaction. Such social isolation can lead to a host of emotional, psychological, physical and mental problems which include anxiety, depression and somatic complaints among many others. Other negative effects of social networking various people suggested included encouraging poor spelling and grammar, exposing underage to online predators, allowing spread of misinformation that is perceived as fact, decreasing productivity as those who are supposed to be working spend time in the sites to chat, and provide a perfect platform for cyber bullying.
Social networking clearly portrays both positive and negative effects on the youth. It is decision of an individual how to make the best of use of this tool. In Cambodia, there are 2.9 million Facebook users as of July 2015, 38% of whom are female users. Users between the age of 13 to 30 account to 1.6 million. Given the fact more and more youth are going online, it is important that they know how to use social networking effectively and minimize the negative effects.
Forum’s Objectives:
The 4th Enrich Forum is organize to achieve the following objectives:
The Forum was presided over by H.E Hun Many, President of Union of Youth Federation of Cambodia. Around 100 youth from more than eight universities across Phnom Penh took part in the event.
According to various research studies in the field of online social networks, it has been revealed that these sites are impacting the lives of the youth greatly. When using these sites such as Twitter or Facebook, there are both positive and negative effects on the youth.
On the plus side, social media helps the youth and any other user updated with what is happening around the world, help the teenagers stay connected and interact with each other even if they are many miles apart. This strengthens their relationship even if they finished school and moved to different locations they stay connected and update one another.
However, as the youth tend to spend many hours on these sites, they rarely have face-to-face interaction. Such social isolation can lead to a host of emotional, psychological, physical and mental problems which include anxiety, depression and somatic complaints among many others. Other negative effects of social networking various people suggested included encouraging poor spelling and grammar, exposing underage to online predators, allowing spread of misinformation that is perceived as fact, decreasing productivity as those who are supposed to be working spend time in the sites to chat, and provide a perfect platform for cyber bullying.
Social networking clearly portrays both positive and negative effects on the youth. It is decision of an individual how to make the best of use of this tool. In Cambodia, there are 2.9 million Facebook users as of July 2015, 38% of whom are female users. Users between the age of 13 to 30 account to 1.6 million. Given the fact more and more youth are going online, it is important that they know how to use social networking effectively and minimize the negative effects.
Forum’s Objectives:
The 4th Enrich Forum is organize to achieve the following objectives:
- Share updated statistic on the use of social media among Cambodian youth
- Raise awareness on the risks and benefit of social media
- Promote the effective and productive use of social media among youth
- Explore the strategies that youth can adopt to make the best use of social media
The Forum was presided over by H.E Hun Many, President of Union of Youth Federation of Cambodia. Around 100 youth from more than eight universities across Phnom Penh took part in the event.
