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Social Impact Assessment: A Systematic Review of Literature

• Original Research
• Open access
• Published: 16 October 2021
• Volume 161 , pages 225–250, ( 2022 )

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• William Alomoto   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4675-3230 1 ,
• Angels Niñerola   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5598-1203 1 &
• Laia Pié   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-3596-7097 1  

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Measuring, analyzing, and evaluating social, environmental, and economic impact is crucial to aligning the sustainable development strategies of international organizations, governments, and businesses. In this sense, society has been a determining factor exerting pressure for urgent solutions. The main objective of this paper is to provide an exhaustive analysis of the literature about the tools for measuring social impact and their evolution over the last 50 years. The search was conducted in the main academic databases (Scopus and Web of Science), where 924 articles were found from 1969 to 2020 related to the topic. The results of the quantitative analysis show that 71% of the publications were in the last ten years and the most productive countries were the USA and the United Kingdom. The relational analysis identifies 4 large clusters that fragment the literature into different subfields. The most used keywords are linked to the term "Social" in measurement methods, new concepts, and participants. This article contributes to the literature by giving the researcher an insight into the current state of art, trends, categories within the field, and future lines of research.

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1 Introduction

Measuring and evaluating social aspects has been gaining importance over the years. There has been a growing interest in knowing the impact that an action, activity, or decision has on society and the environment. The work of Finsterbusch and Wolf ( 1981 ) comments that social impacts are dynamic processes or non-static conditions and therefore must be constantly measured. Becker ( 2001 ) defined social impact as the process of identifying the future consequences of current or proposed action, which are related to individuals, organizations, and social macrosystems. Private organizations seek to ensure that their mission and the impact they generate are consistent (Ormiston et al., 2011 ), and the public sector knows that they are necessary to guide new policies (Reeves, 2016 ). These tools are better known as Social impact assessment (SIA) and play a key role in this environment. A U.S. study presented by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (Cohen, 1969 ) showed the shortcomings and lack of methodology for measuring social issues. Later, development economists called for more accurate social indicators to measure the quality and well-being of their citizens' lives (Hicks and Streeten, 1979 ), the gross national product (GNP) was no longer enough as a measure of growth.

Every day, society demands clear answers from world leaders on social, environmental, and equality issues. This pressure is important and is reflected in the increase in sustainability reports (Cubilla-Montilla et al., 2019 ). The need for more precise indicators adapted to the sector will be reflected in better, more accurate, and reliable results (Hutchins et al., 2018 ). In 1976, with the growth of impact measurement issues, a U.S. study sought to classify them by social impact areas (social security, health, labor) (Fry, 2006 ). After 50 years, other methods of measuring social impact have been introduced, proposed mainly by academics and in some cases by international organizations and governments. Public institutions and organizations worldwide have begun to listen to society. It has been reflected in agreements and regulations for SIA as a basis for monitoring their impact. For example, the United States Environmental Protection Agency ( 2017 ) indicates that sustainable manufacturing is based on at least two of these three elements: economic, social, or environmental. Moreover, the European Commission ( 2014 ) proposes methods and defines the benefits of measuring social impact. In this sense, the Horizon 2020 program seeks to meet social challenges, health and welfare, sustainable energy, and other issues related to generating a positive social and environmental impact. Moreover, the 17 sustainable development goals proposed by the ONU ( 2015 ) seek to address different resources involving all sectors to be part of it. Finally, impact measurement is crucial for achieving these goals and creating better methods, information processing, presentation of results, and analyze how they influence decision-making.

This paper is constructed as follows. In section two, we review the theory and previously published reviews on the subject. In section three, we describe the methodology used and the steps to reach the sample to be analyzed. In section four, we will make a descriptive analysis of the collected material and an assessment of the databases used applying quantitative methods. Section five will analyze the relationship between keywords and their behavior over time using the Vosviewer tool (van Eck and Waltman, 2010 ). And finally, by identifying gaps and future lines of research, we hope to encourage other researchers to continue their research in the field of social sustainability.

2 Literature Review

In the '60s Social Indicators (SI) were positioned as tools to measure social impact and gain more prominence to economic indicators (Bauer, 1966 ). The SIA, first through the SI make their appearance (Olson, 1969 ). For a correct and precise interpretation of these actions, several studies arise initially linked to the social welfare of employees and society (Drewnowski, 1972 ). Besides, the focus and relationship with sustainability issues grow (Psacharopoulos and Patrinos, 1994 ). Table 1 identifies some of the main tools of measuring social impact and its main objective.

Over time, its application has been multiple and has gradually become relevant in economic, commercial, and comparative aspects between nations (Thorelli, 1983 ), in national policy planning (Krendel, 1971 ; Press, 2008 ), the impact of tourism (Perdue et al., 1999 ) or to evaluate the management of companies concerning social issues (Gallego, 2006 ).

In the mid-1970s, research specialized and sought more precise information from those involved who were directly affected by their impact. These first questions arose about the SI since there was no confidence in the veracity of their results (Krieger, 1972 ). For this reason, a methodology was created to evaluate the quality of the indicators (Malizia, 1972 ). Over the years, studies were published to continue correcting and improving these methodologies (Drewnowski, 1972 ), to better understand social welfare and thus help formulate policies that favor the social sector through laws and proper planning (Owens, 1976 ).

Previous studies have examined issues related to measuring social impact, the first compiling the theory generated in those years (Fox, 1986 ). They discussed how these tools are a basic necessity to help measure the development of society (Diener and Suh, 1997 ; Hicks and Streeten, 1979 ) and how they can contribute to reporting (Adams and Frost, 2008 ). Other authors have studied the areas where these measurement tools can contribute, both in the Political, Economic, Society, and Ecological (Brouwer and Van Ek, 2004 ). Others examine in-depth how specific organizations behave in the face of a social evaluation (Arvidson and Lyon, 2014 ). They also investigated the implementation of tools for measuring social impact (Umair et al., 2015 ).

Besides, other authors focused their research on creating new methods and tools to measure social impact (Becker and Sanders, 2006 ). Finally, some research was conducted reviewing and evaluating previous developed tools (Malizia, 1972 ; Sieber, 1979 ), warning about their difficulty measuring them and the data quality used in evaluation (Strauss and Thomas, 1996 ).

As shown in Table 2 , the most extensive review is Josa and Aguado, which ends in 2019. We cover a more extended period from 1960 to 2020. We intend to reach a more global view with our review since most of these previous reviews have a more specific focus on a measurement tool. By doing so, we want to discover new growth sectors in social measurement, such as reporting tools.

3 Methodology

To provide guidance and direction for future research on the topic of SIA, the study followed the PRISMA methodology (Moher et al., 2009 ). PRISMA means Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses. It is a methodology that acts as a guard against arbitrary decision-making during review conduct. It serves as a guideline to improve the transparency, accuracy, completeness, and frequency of documented systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (Shamseer et al., 2015 ). This type of analysis allows qualitative and quantitative evaluation for research on a specific topic (Brewerton and Millward, 2001 ). Moreover, it is a clear and transparent process to achieve our objectives, making them reproducible for other researchers (Kitchenham and Charters, 2007 ). This same methodology has recently been used in publications related to sustainability issues (Ferreira Gregorio et al., 2018 ; Merli et al., 2018 ; Niñerola et al., 2020 ) and social indicators (Kühnen and Hahn, 2018 ).

The next section details the steps followed in this review. How the data sources, were chosen, the filtering (Table 3 ), the screening process, and how the final sample was reached (Fig. 1 ).

PRISMA workflow

3.1 3.1 Data Sources and Search Strategy

The main sources of information to carry out the review were the Web of Science (WoS) and the Scopus database. They were chosen due to the extension and impact of their publications in different scientific fields (Falagas et al., 2008 ).

Following previous works (Merli et al., 2018 ), the article search engine was made up of the following keywords: “Impact Measurement” OR “Social Impact Assessment” OR “Social Indicators” OR “Social Return on Investment”.

The initial search was done on title, abstract, author keywords, and keyword plus in WoS. And in title, abstract, and keywords concerning Scopus. The first results in Scopus were 6,980 documents and, in WoS 4,063 documents (last search 20/06/2021). Later, four filters were set: period, language, document type, and research domain. Only academic peer review papers were considered until 2020, written in English and Spanish. Moreover, they should be included in one of the following research areas: Business, Management and Accounting, and Economics, Econometrics and Finance, in Scopus. In WoS, the areas were: Economics, Management, Business, and Business Finance (Table 3 ) .

In addition, the PRISMA workflow (Moher et al., 2009 ) is presented in Fig. 1 showing the searching process agglutinating both databases.

3.2 3.2 Databases’ Comprehensiveness for SIA

The final result of each database reflects that Scopus has 600 unique records in their 817 documents. On the other hand, WoS, on its 324 papers, only accounts for 107 unique records. 217 duplicated documents were found comparing both databases. So, the final sample for analyzing was 924 records (Fig. 2 ).

Material collection process

With the information obtained, both databases are analyzed quantitatively and not by the quality or impact of the documents to see the similarity of the two chosen databases. Three analyses were done: (1) the Meyer Index of Uniqueness (Meyer et al., 1983 ), (2) Traditional Overlap, and (3) Overlap.

3.2.1 Meyer's Index

The result obtained through the Meyer Index, according to Pulgarín and Escalona ( 2007 ) will serve us to evaluate the coverage of a database on a given topic. In Meyer's index, the result is valued over 1, and each database is given a weight of 0.5 for the duplication that may exist (Meyer et al., 1983 ; Sánchez et al., 2017 ). The results of this indicator will show us how unique and singular the documents are.

In formula 2 , relative to Scopus, the results indicate that this database has a uniqueness of 77%. On the other hand, in WoS, only 23% of its documents will be only found there (Formula 3 ).

3.2.2 Traditional Overlap

On the other hand, the Traditional Overlap indicates that the higher the percentage, the grter the similarity between the documents published in both databases (Pulgarín and Escalona, 2007 ). This measure is interesting because it justifies using two databases together by getting a complete picture of the field of study.

The result of formula 5 indicates that 23.48% of the total articles identified for this study are in both databases, which does not show excessive overlap and reaffirms the decision to use both Scopus and WoS to conduct the review.

3.2.3 Overlap

Finally, to show the percentage of participation or coverage that one database has over the other, formula 6 proposed by Bearman and Kunberger ( 1977 ) was applied.

The results indicate that Scopus covers a broad extension of the document source, including 66.98% of WoS publications (Formula 8 ). This value represents only 26,56% in WoS (Formula 7 ).

4 Descriptive Analysis

The following sections will develop our analysis to visualize who, where, and when has written about the topic of study.

4.1 Evolution of the Publications

The first record found is from 1969. From that point on, its growth has gradually increased in the first 40 years. During the last decade, the research topic takes more importance in the academic world, almost 71% of the total publications occur during this period. Besides, the year 2019 marks a peak of more than 93 publications which means 10%. Figure 3 illustrates the trend that the social impact metrics literature has had throughout its 50 years.

Distribution of the literature over time

4.2 4.2 Main Authors

The study identifies more than 2040 authors who have published documents on SIA. However, 1919 authors only have published a single document which not making this field their main field of expertise.

As can be seen in Table 4 , only 4 authors have published 5 or more documents. In terms of productivity, the main author is George Serafiem, with seven publications directly related to the topics analyzed. His work is related to the measurement, management, and communication of corporate sustainability performance, environmental, social, and governance. The seconds, Sanjeev Gupta and Frank Vanclay, each with six publications. Most of Gupta's studies analyze public spending related to education, health, and poverty, areas where social indicators try to measure impact. Frank Vanclay has maintained his research on measuring the effect that the creation and implementation of large projects have on society, e.g. mining.

On the other hand, Table 5 shows the most cited authors noting that they are not the most prolific, except for Serafeim. Serafiem G., Ioannou I., and Cheng B. are the co-authors of the most cited paper in our sample (Cheng et al., 2014 ). It is about the importance of demonstrating that improving stakeholder engagement and transparency of CSR outcomes are essential for reducing capital constraints and improving finance access.

Baker F. and Intagliata J. work, aimed at improving the quality of life of chronic patients, has more than 276 citations. On it, they evaluate the effectiveness of the Community Support System (CSS) program by showing society's concern and the government in making decisions regarding social issues.

4.3 4.3 Geographical Distribution

The diversity found in the authors' affiliation is shown in Fig. 4 . 80 countries have contributed to this topic in these 50 years.

Geographical origin of literature according to the affiliation of the authors (number of articles)

The United States, being the pioneer in the subject, has maintained its interest and its publications reach 237 documents, representing more than 25% of the sample. Obviously, they are placed at the top of the list. The UK and Australia follow them with 106 and 84 documents, respectively.

By geographical area, Brazil is the leading South American country with 26 documents. On the Asian side, China with 17, India with 42, and Russia with 17 are the countries that have contributed most to the study of SIA. Focusing on Europe, it could be said that the countries of the old continent have had more interest in these topics. They have published almost half of the articles.

Finally, it should be noted that the group of emerging economies that make up the so-called BRICs have shown great interest in researching social impact metrics, with a total of 113 publications.

4.4 4.4 Main Sources

Three journals have made the majority of publications. They have as their primary research topics sustainability, environment, and society issues. They seek to promote solutions to current problems through their publications.

The Journal Cleaner Production occupies the first position with 5.63% of the published articles. The Evaluation and Program Planning journal is second with 2.9% of the papers, and the World Development with 2.16% is third. These journals represent 11% of the total of 924 published documents.

As a great variety of authors were found in the previous section, the study also identifies 470 sources that have published at least one article related to the topic.

On the other hand, looking at the number of citations, which can be an indicator of the quality of the publications, the first one continues to be The Journal of Cleaner Production with 960, followed by Evaluation and Program Planning and World Development with 784 and 690 citations respectively (Table 6 ). These three journals have become the main and most important source of information about SIA for researchers. In addition, information on the current situation, ranking, quartile, and impact factor is included. The International Journal of Social Economics is new in the Category of Economics in the JCR. Therefore some information is not available.

5 Relational Analysis

Vosviewer software is a tool that allows us to build and visualize bibliometric maps (van Eck & Waltman, 2010 ). It has become the most widely used and fastest-spreading tool in the scientific world (Pan et al., 2018 ). This section will identify the most used keywords, their level of relationship, the proximity between them, and trends over time. Finally, new participants in the SIA environment and their growth in recent years were discovered, resulting in the creation of other categories.

5.1 5.1 Keywords Analysis

Authors use keywords to identify their work. These keywords give us an idea of the content, topic, or methodology of the article. The study identifies 1,593 different keywords. In Table 7 , the ten most used were detailed. As expected, SI and SIA appeared at the top of the list. Among the main measurement tools, only Social Return on Investment is highly used as a keyword.

A threshold of 10 occurrences and a minimum of 10 connections were established in the study to visualize more clearly the relationships between these main keywords. These values led to the identification of 51 keywords.

The node size shows the number of repetitions (occurrences) of each keyword (Fig. 5 ). On the other hand, the lines represent the number of times the keywords appear together. Moreover, the thickness of this line represents the intensity of this relationship, thicker lines more times appearing together.

Keyword network visualization.

One of the biggest nodes is "social indicators", which occupied first place in Table 7 . It should be emphasized that the word "sustainability" appears very close to "Social Indicators", but that is also related to all the most repeated keywords. Moreover, “sustainability” is next to "corporate social responsibility" which contains terms related to the company and its activities. Another important remark is that "social return on investment" (SROI) appears together in the same cluster that "impact measurement" and they are the ones that have more distance to the "social indicators" keyword.

The software groups the items by color. Each color is a cluster, and each keyword can only belong to one. Keywords in the same cluster indicate that they are strongly related to each other. The clusters found are compiled in Table 8 .

Cluster #1 in red has 16 elements, being the largest group. They can relate to economic, development, and social policy issues, highlighting sustainability issues and methods to measure them. Cluster #2, in green with 13 items, with more generic keywords and related to social and economic indicators that sought to know aspects of the welfare of society.

On the other hand, cluster #3 in blue highlights the terms of measurement and social evaluation, several nodes have a considerable thickness and are very close, both companies, investments, ventures, and entrepreneurs, involved with social terms. Finally, cluster #4 in yellow is located in the middle due to the close relationship with all the clusters. Its primary node "social impact assessment" interacts with various sectors such as business, social, and projects that have a great environmental impact. This node is located in this position, showing us that the interest in knowing the social impact has been the subject of research by various sectors, government, environment, and companies.

On the other hand, to see the evolution of these keywords over time is an interesting second analysis of our sample. Through the VOSviewer, it is possible to see if the keywords appearing in older papers or, on the contrary, their use is more recent with a color scale. Figure 6 shows this information.

Keyword trend visualization

The term "social indicator" mainly was employed in the early decades because it is in dark blue. "Social Indicators" was one of the first keyword used since the 60s and has been gaining interest until the 90s. It had great prominence, especially in publications related to politics and the welfare of society. Related keywords were appearing such as "quality life", "poverty" and "public issues" during the first period.

Following the chronological axis from 2011, in green appear themes related to the environment, new terms to measure the impact, such as "social impact assessment". The private sector is included in this topic by the researchers since their activities are the ones that generate more impact, and they seek to evaluate it through their studies of corporate social responsibility. Another major field of research is sustainability in terms of development, reporting, and evaluation.

Currently, as shown in yellow the keywords associated with "social" dominate the graphic. They seek to evaluate businesses and all the agents involved, the investment, its source, or how it is used. On the other hand, also recognize the entrepreneur and social innovations and the social value that this can generate. So, in the end, two terms stand out, which in turn are the tools that seek to measure the current impact in various sectors, both public and private and with particular emphasis on the social. The first is "social life cycle assessment," whose main objective is to provide information on the life cycle activity of your product that can have a social effect on people (Dreyer et al., 2006 ). The second is "social return on investment," which seeks to understand how the value of an investment can generate a social benefit (Nicholls et al., 2012 ).

5.2 5.2 Categorization by Researched Topics

The study identified the main categories that could cover the most relevant and important trends in the publications and know the behavior of each topic in these 50 years. Sixteen categories were established (Table 9 ) and, through an analysis of the content of the publications, each paper was assigned to one category.

According to the results (Table 10 ), the first three categories agglutinate 31% of the publications. They are the most important and related to creating new methodologies and their application in social issues. It is worth noting that the first six categories represent more than 57%. On the other hand, the last five categories do not represent even 20% of the total, but most of them have been published in the last two decades, so a potential growth may be expected.

5.3 5.3 Trends in Publication

The histogram shown in Fig. 7 (see appendix for more detail) shows the evolution of the main categories in the last decade. This analysis includes the first four categories in Table 10 as the most important because of the number of publications. However, SROI's category was added because 92% of its publications appear in the last eight years, being larger than those published by the 3rd and 4th categories in the same period.

Evolution of main categories.

5.3.1 New Measurement Methods

The first paper contributing to this category was published in 1972. The interest and importance of finding new measurement methods are reflected in the number of publications. It indicates that organizations find tools helpful for better strategic planning (Alireza et al., 2017 ). Other studies have considered sustainability, environmental, economic, and social indicators for product redesign (Lacasa et al., 2016 ). During the first years, it was already considered a complement to better measure the quality of life. In this sense, social and human indicators were taken into account (Hicks and Streeten, 1979 ). The study of Wachs and Kumagai ( 1973 ) regarding accessibility indicators helps to elaborate more coherent policies.

5.3.2 Social Issues

The impact created in society has also brought the attention of researchers, with a total of 87 publications. Almost 58% of them were in the last ten years, reaching the maximum in 2017. Papers in this category are focused on knowing how more specific groups are affected by different situations: racial, labor discrimination (Fryer, 2011 ), regional or world poverty (Aturupane et al., 1994 ; Hall & Patrinos, 2006 ), as well as studies oriented to human and social welfare, mental health (Graham and Nikolova, 2015 ) and how an economic crisis can seriously affect it (Mohseni-Cheraghlou, 2016 ). It is vital to measure the impact of those situations for a guarantee that the most vulnerable groups were not the most affected.

5.3.3 Theoretical

Publications aimed at defining, creating concepts, describing, classifying, or applying and interpreting them are included in this category (Becker, 2001 ). It had its most significant contribution in the first 27 years. Until 1999, it was the category that more public had 46% of its production in the last seven years. In 1973 a study highlighted the importance of social policies and programs and their complexity (Moser, 1973 ). Fedderke and Klitgaard ( 1998 ) show a relationship with economic growth. They said that the private sector could also benefit from applying a measurement method and presenting its impact (Doane, 2005 ). Therefore, it was important to provide a theoretical framework for companies (Costa and Pesci, 2016 ).

5.3.4 High Impact sector

There were not many papers in this category in the first years. In fact, until 1999 only 10% of the paper in this category were published. On the other hand, in the last ten years, this score grows to 72%. 2018 was the year with the highest number of papers focused on this subtopic, 11 articles. Australia, in particular, has focused several studies on marine protected areas (McNeill et al., 2018 ; Voyer et al., 2014 ), considered a high impact sector. Papers regarding the fisheries sector have also been a research area included in this category (Bradshaw et al., 2001 ; Brooks, 2010 ). The mining sector and its influence on social and economic development ((Lagos and Blanco Edgar, 2010 ) or the oil sector (Jacob et al., 2013 ) are other examples of industries where the social impact has incidence.

SROI's category has become important in the last seven years of the study. These years include 82% of the articles. 2015 was the most productive year with 12 publications. If only the last 20 years of the study were taken into account, SROI's category would be one of the first five primary categories, given the high volume of participation. From the beginning, some authors comment that social impact assessment can generate financial and social benefits to the company (Lingane and Olsen, 2004 ). Despite its popularity and acceptance in several sectors as a measurement tool, there are barriers and obstacles in the interpretation and lack of training (Millar and Hall, 2013 ). Other aspects such as financial accounting can provide valuable information that, together with social tools, can generate future change in public policy (Nicholls, 2017 ).

6 Discussion

Measuring social impact has been mostly related to issues of politics, welfare, quality of life, and tourism in the first 20 years. There was a need for studies that, through social indicators, sought to measure the influence of business practices in society (Baker and Intagliata, 1982 ; Hicks and Streeten, 1979 ).

In 2000, 8-millennium goals were launched, and several resources were allocated for their achievement. Environmental issues, social development, and the private sector take centre stage in the publications (Gupta et al., 2002 ). Management and policies were further evaluated (Brouwer and Van Ek, 2004 ). Besides, more initiatives have been added, such as the Sustainable Development Goals, which now aim to achieve 17 goals by 2030 (ONU, 2015 ). These objectives increase research, publications, and their variety. The last five years have been a reflection of this effort to improve sustainable practices. At least 7 of the SDG goals are related to the research topic since they claim tools to measure and evaluate them (Schönherr et al., 2017 ).

The international organizations propose that everyone must necessarily participate in achieving the goals. They design several manuals and guides, all to stimulate collaboration and information flow. Therefore, methodologies and models have been developed to help in this regard (Mota et al., 2015 ). The debate is oriented towards exposing the advantages of measuring social impact (Gibbon and Dey, 2011 ) and formulating a criticism or recommendation to improve the methodology.

Previous studies have already shown that companies with better social performance and better stakeholder engagement are essential for reducing capital constraints (Cheng et al., 2014 ). As well as the use of relevant indicators and appropriate language can improve reporting and increase stakeholder interest (Moore et al., 2003 ). The category of companies and enterprises highlights the importance of company objectives and strategies being aligned with social impact measurement (Ormiston et al., 2011 ). Among the categories, it was also possible to detect that some studied established relationships between countries, or in turn regions or cities by their social indicators (Hashimoto et al., 2009 ), either to measure growth or decline between two or more places.

The work of Rawhouser et al. ( 2019 ) also remarked a recent academic interest in focusing on small companies and entrepreneurs. Despite the review of Kühnen and Hahn ( 2018 ), our results indicate that the three leading journals were related to sustainability, environmental, and societal issues. The same happened in the identification of the study subtopics in the field observed through the cluster analysis. Although the search keywords used were exclusively oriented towards social impact, the other dimensions of sustainability appeared (the triple bottom line). It may suggest that many articles do not address social sustainability isolated or authors use very generic keywords to increase their scope.

Finally, another factor to be highlighted is the tremendous growth of the literature reviews over the last two years. 60% of the documents of this category were published since 2018. The increase shows the importance of analyze previous literature for identifying new fields of research or gaps to cover.

7 Conclusion, Limitations, and Future Research Lines

People often work independently, but today's reality depends on being efficient not only at the individual or business level but on a broader scale. Useful tools when measuring social impact in academia and practice may help to improve the whole environment. In this sense, SIA has become a key tool for many governments and public organizations that must obtain precise results for decision-making and create policies that can benefit their population. They are crucial for maintaining and evaluating whether the progress or measures taken are optimal or should be reformulated.

Some of these measurement tools have become a part of operating or even creating new projects and businesses as new funding sources increasingly require a positive social impact. Many non-profit organizations are choosing to provide loans that help develop the social environment. Little by little, public and private sector, even banks are giving more value on the social impact, although there is still a long way to work on. The pressure from society is reflected in global objectives and commitments that nations are willing to achieve in the short term.

Our objective was to show an overview of the content published in the last 50 years on metrics for measuring social impact. The study shows that these metrics produce a bulk of literature not exclusively focused on social practices or implications. The authors chose very generic keywords, which difficult to identify the important documents in the field. This represents a limitation of conducting a study based on keywords searched. Moreover, the categorization has been conducted, giving priority to the main objectives of the article. Some papers could be included in other categories, but the most relevant was chosen by reading the introduction and conclusions.

It should be highlighted that despite "Financing and Investment" and "Reports and tools for measurement" categories do not represent a significant number of our sample papers, they are growing in the last few years. There is an active participation of academics and practitioners in projects considering the objectives included in those categories. Therefore, it is expected that they will continue capturing the attention of researchers as it is essential to disseminate results that include social metrics and to attract financing.

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Alomoto, W., Niñerola, A. & Pié, L. Social Impact Assessment: A Systematic Review of Literature. Soc Indic Res 161 , 225–250 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-021-02809-1

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Social Impact: Definition and Why is Social Impact Important?

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Social impacts have been making waves and changes in many parts of our lives. From the way we evaluate how businesses conduct their operations to the things we choose to purchase, social impacts are becoming more and more important to many people. There is no doubt that how we manage Diversity and inclusion or other topics such as Social Impact Theory   will impact social impact as well.

While there is no easy way for businesses and organizations to reduce social costs, there are many ways to achieve social impacts. Many businesses, organizations, and foundations are making conscious efforts towards achieving greater and better social impact.

What is social impact?

In essence, the  definition of social impact means any significant or positive changes that solve or at least address social injustice and challenges. Businesses or organizations achieve these goals through conscious and deliberate efforts or activities in their operations and administrations .

Businesses or organizations provide impacts to their consumers and the public all the time, though in different capacities. Social impact, however, concentrates on the  direct positive consequences  these parties offer to society.

Social impact can derive from many different sectors and industries. The public, private, plural, and fourth sectors all play different roles in providing to society. These sectors choose to operate through specific sets of goals and approaches to create social impact in the most significant way. 

When did social impact awareness start?

Social impact started as a form of philanthropic efforts in helping those in need . Philanthropy is not something new as many people and organizations have always been ready to lend a helping hand since the beginning of time.

However, the concept entered the mainstream in 1972. The ideology was made famous by an American social entrepreneur,  Bill Drayton . He has a long and impressive record of founding organizations that gear towards making a social impact.

Bill Drayton is passionate about making social changes in fighting social injustice since his varsity days. He is an ardent believer that everyone is capable of making a change, and therefore, we are all “Changemakers.” He was named one of America’s 25 Best Leaders in 2005 for his efforts.

Types of Social Impacts

A business or organization that wants to make social impacts and is aligning its operations with Social Development Goals can create changes in many ways. It’s not limited to how they treat their employees, but also in any form of interaction and relationship.

There’re four types of social impact businesses can make. Clear impact measures the changes in stakeholders’ performance, such in skill assessment or observation tools. High impact measures the changes in the business systems, such as in its environmental effects and input indicators.

The Wide impact measures the changes in relationship mapping and social impact assessments to make sure the operations can achieve the desired social impacts. The Deep impact is the final impact that measures consumers’ satisfaction through happiness inventories from the efforts the business is making towards creating social impacts.

A sustainable business that wants to create social impact needs to consider all business factors of the companies within its supply chain through these four impacts. They need to make deliberate efforts in dealing and maintaining relationships with other businesses that are also creating social impact.

Business owners who want to make or are making significant social impacts are known as social entrepreneurs. These social entrepreneurs own businesses that directly benefit society through their efforts in addressing one or several components of social challenges.

Social enterprises can create social impacts in any way they can through the  17 Social Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations . These SDGs are set as a way for individuals, businesses, and organizations to work together towards making a significant impact in the world.

• GOAL 1: No Poverty
• GOAL 2: Zero Hunger
• GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-being
• GOAL 4: Quality Education
• GOAL 5: Gender Equality
• GOAL 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• GOAL 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• GOAL 10: Reduced Inequality
• GOAL 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• GOAL 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• GOAL 13: Climate Action
• GOAL 14: Life Below Water
• GOAL 15: Life on Land
• GOAL 16: Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
• GOAL 17: Partnerships to achieve the Goal

Other than social enterprises, social innovation is also another type of social impact that’s quickly gaining traction. We’re seeing many impressive and almost out of this world social innovations from people around the world.

Social innovation is a new social practice where innovators aim to meet social needs in better ways than existing solutions. These innovations are often highly ingenious in helping to solve social injustice and at the same time, achieve many of the 17 SDGs.

A business or organization can create many different types of social impact. Even though it may take some time to consciously shift the paradigm and processes, many companies are now making changes in their operations to achieve better and greater social impact.

Why is Social Impact important?

Making a difference in the world is always important.  No matter how small the effort is, social impact impacts everyone in many ways we may not realize . It’s not just about providing equality at the workplace or creating sustainable products to reduce waste.

When one component of society thrives,  many other aspects of their lives will flourish . This can lead to bigger and better changes. The 17 Social Development Goals are helping different components of society in different ways and different capacities.

And social impact doesn’t just help people. When businesses and organizations consciously choose sustainable ways to operate,  other lifeforms on Earth can also have the chance to thrive . Many businesses in the past have caused significant damage to the environment. With social impact in mind, companies can now choose greener ways to operate and create less by-products.

Social impact creates opportunities that are otherwise unavailable to the minorities or underprivileged . These groups can get access to quality education, clean water, gender equality, or able to obtain decent work and thus gain economic growth, etc.

Read the full article here.

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Social-Impact Efforts That Create Real Value

• George Serafeim

Companies don’t win over investors just by issuing sustainability reports and engaging in other standard ESG practices. What they need to do, says Harvard Business School’s George Serafeim, is integrate ESG efforts into strategy and operations. He makes five recommendations: Identify the material issues in your industry and develop initiatives that set your firm apart from rivals; create accountability mechanisms to ensure the board’s commitment; infuse the whole organization with a sense of purpose and enthusiasm for sustainability and good governance; decentralize ESG activities throughout your operations; and communicate regularly and transparently with investors about ESG matters.

The Board’s Role in Sustainability

To build long-term profitability, boards of directors must pay more attention to ESG concerns—and a compelling corporate purpose should underpin their efforts. That’s the contention of the authors, who offer a research-based framework called SCORE to guide boards’ actions: Simplify —define and communicate your purpose clearly; Connect —link your purpose to strategy and capital allocation decisions; Own —ensure that all employees embrace the firm’s mission and have the means to deliver on it; Reward —tie executive compensation to metrics that include ESG performance; Exemplify —use data and narrative accounts to show stakeholders how you’re achieving your purpose and improving sustainability.

The Challenge of Rating ESG Performance

Over the past decade, more and more institutional investors have taken an interest in companies’ records on environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and governance. In this article the head of ESG research at Sustainalytics, which gathers information on tens of thousands of companies worldwide, explains why this data matters and how his firm arrives at its performance ratings. The process involves identifying the risks a company faces, assessing how well it’s managing them, and engaging in follow-up dialogue to ensure accurate analysis. MacMahon also discusses why certain companies’ ratings have improved or worsened and how to put your best foot forward.

The complete Spotlight package is available in a single reprint.

They must be woven into your strategy and differentiate your company.

Idea in Brief

The Situation

Many CEOs feel as if they’re doing everything that’s asked of them in terms of improving environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices. Yet their firms aren’t being rewarded by capital markets.

The Insight

Following the crowd on ESG activities is not the answer. To gain a competitive advantage, firms should instead focus on the ESG issues that are financially material for them and pursue those in distinctive ways.

The Actions

Management should take five steps: Adopt strategic ESG practices; create accountability structures for ESG integration; identify a corporate purpose and build a culture around it; make operational changes to ensure that the ESG strategy is successfully executed; and commit to transparency and relationship building with investors.

Until the mid-2010s few investors paid attention to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data—information about companies’ carbon footprints, labor policies, board makeup, and so forth. Today the data is widely used by investors. Some screen out poor ESG performers, assuming that the factors that cause companies to receive low ESG ratings will result in weak financial results. Some seek out high ESG performers, expecting exemplary ESG behaviors to drive superior financial results, or wishing, for ethical reasons, to invest only in “green funds.” Other investors incorporate ESG data into fundamental analysis. And some use the data as activists, investing and then urging companies to clean up their acts.

A new framework for getting directors behind ESG efforts

• GS George Serafeim is the Charles M. Williams Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, where he leads the Climate and Sustainability Impact AI Lab. Follow him on Twitter @georgeserafeim

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Social Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic. A Systematic Review *

Consecuencias sociales de la pandemia de covid-19. una revisión sistemática, consequências sociais da pandemia de covid-19. uma revisão sistemática, pouya hosseinzadeh.

1 Student Research Committee. Email: [email protected] Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran , Islamic Azad University, Islamic Azad University, Urmia , Iran, moc.liamg@gh7991m

Mordali Zareipour

2 Assistant Professor. Khoy University of Medical Sciences, Khoy, Iran. Email: [email protected]., Islamic Azad University, Khoy University of Medical Sciences, Khoy , Iran, [email protected]

Esfandyar Baljani

3 Ph.D. Assistant Professor. Email: [email protected] Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran , Islamic Azad University, Islamic Azad University, Urmia , Iran, moc.liamg@seinajlab

Monireh Rezaee Moradali

4 Ph.D. Professor. Email: [email protected]. Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran , Islamic Azad University, Islamic Azad University, Urmia , Iran, [email protected]

To provide a systematic review of the social consequences of COVID-19 pandemic.

In the present study, articles indexed in Persian and Latin databases (Web Of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar and Magiran). 43 documents published in the last 3 years in Persian or English language were reviewed. The research steps were performed according to PRISMA writing standard and the quality assessment was done by two researchers independently with Newcastle Ottawa Scale tools for observational studies according to the inclusion criteria.

Measures to break the chain of virus transmission and to control the COVID-19 pandemic have caused major problems in the economic, social, political and psychological spheres and have affected billions of people worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic crisis has caused widespread unrest in society and unprecedented changes in lifestyle, work and social interactions, and increasing social distance has severely affected human relations.

Conclusion.

The COVID-19 pandemic has social consequences in certain groups can exacerbate their unfavorable situation. Special groups in crisis situations should be given more attention, and clear and precise policies and programs should be developed to support them.

Realizar una revisión sistemática de las consecuencias sociales de la pandemia de COVID-19.

Métodos.

En el presente estudio se revisaron los artículos indexados en bases de datos latinas y persas (Web Of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar y Magiran), luego de lo cual se recuperaron 43 documentos publicados en los últimos 3 años en persa o en inglés. Los pasos de la revisión se realizaron según el protocolo PRISMA y, para reducir el sesgo en la evaluación de la calidad, los artículos seleccionados se evaluaron cualitativamente por dos investigadores de forma independiente con la herramienta de Newcastle Ottawa Scale.

Resultados.

Las medidas para romper la cadena de transmisión del virus y para el control de la pandemia de COVID-19 han causado importantes problemas en las esferas económica, social, política y psicológica y han afectado a miles de millones de personas en el mundo. La crisis por la pandemia ha provocado un malestar generalizado en la sociedad y cambios sin precedentes en el estilo de vida, el trabajo y las interacciones sociales. El aumento de la distancia social ha afectado gravemente las relaciones humanas.

Conclusión.

La pandemia de COVID-19 tiene consecuencias sociales que pueden agravar la situación desfavorable de grupos vulnerables. Se debe brindar más atención a los colectivos especiales en situaciones de crisis y desarrollar políticas y programas claros y precisos para apoyarlos.

Realizar uma revisão sistemática das consequências sociais da pandemia de COVID-19.

No presente estudo, os artigos indexados nas bases de dados latinas e persas (Web Of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Google Scholar e Magiran) foram revisadas, logo se recuperaram 43 documentos publicados nos últimos 3 anos em persa ou em inglês. Os passos da revisão se realizaram segundo o protocolo PRISMA e, para reduzir o viés na avaliação da qualidade, os artigos selecionados foram avaliados qualitativamente por dois investigadores de forma independente com a ferramenta de Newcastle Ottawa Scale.

As medidas para romper a cadeia de transmissão do vírus e para o controle da pandemia de COVID-19 há causado importantes problemas nas esferas económica, social, política e psicológica e há afetado a milhares de pessoas no mundo. A crise pela pandemia de COVID-19 há provocado um mal-estar generalizado na sociedade e câmbios sem precedentes no estilo de vida, no trabalho e nas interações sociais. O aumento da distância social há afetado gravemente às relações humanas.

Conclusão.

A pandemia de COVID-19 tem consequências sociais que podem agravar a situação desfavorável de grupos vulneráveis. Se deve brindar mais atenção aos coletivos especiais nas situações de crise e desenvolver políticas e programas claros e precisos para apoiá-los.

Introduction

In late December 2019, an outbreak of a new viral disease belonging to the coronavirus family was reported in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei, China.( 1 ) The new COVID-19 belongs to the same group of coronaviruses as acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which has caused two outbreaks in recent years.( 2 ) The new virus is mainly transmitted by respiratory droplets and contact( 3 ) and affects all age groups.( 4 ) On December, 2021, due to the rapid spread of the virus and the increase in infections, followed by alarming death tolls from the disease was declared an epidemic by the World Health Organization.( 5 ) According to the WHO, as of December 6, 2021, 269 559 230 people worldwide have been infected and 530 5337 people have died from the virus. Also in Iran, as of December 6 in 2021, 6 137 821 people have been infected and 130 277 people have died due to this virus.( 6 , 7 )

The COVID-19 pandemics crisis has caused great unrest in society and unprecedented changes in lifestyle, work and social interactions.( 8 ) The implementation of policies such as social distancing and the closure of gathering and interaction centers such as parks, cafes, shrines, schools, universities, etc., has had certain social consequences.( 9 ) Prolonged stay at home, in a society with a patriarchal lifestyle, will increase the pressure for women to do housework. The economic and psychological dimensions of COVID-19 also affect family members. The issue of increasing domestic violence, including child abuse, spousal abuse, elder abuse, and disability abuse following the COVID-19 pandemics crisis, is such that the Secretary-General of the United Nations has also expressed concern.( 10 ) The closure of schools and universities will deprive millions of children, teenagers and young people of social educational activities for a long time, after which it may not be easy to compensate.( 11 , 12 ) Travel restrictions by different countries have reduced social relations in external areas and led to the isolation of individuals. Because COVID-19 affects all aspects of human life, it has increased divorce and reduced marriage in many countries.( 13 ) In couples' lives, we have witnessed a decrease in marital relationships due to fear of contracting or transmitting the disease.( 14 ) COVID-19 has also challenged and damaged public transport.( 15 , 16 )

The COVID-19 greatly affects people's lives. Everyone in the world directly or indirectly faces the severe consequences of this disease. Due to severe isolation and cessation of some social affairs, this disease causes problems such as social anxiety, panic due to insecurity, economic recession and severe psychological stress, which requires coordinated efforts to prevent and control them, and people should follow the advice and the suggestions of government officials and the World Health Organization to make the necessary and at the same time contrary to the internal desire in their daily plan.( 17 ) Given that previous studies have evaluated the psychological and social consequences of other respiratory illnesses; few studies have been performed to evaluate the results of the current epidemic of COVID-19. Therefore, this review study will be conducted with the aim of estimating the social consequences of COVID-19 in order to identify them and take the necessary preventive measures to reduce the problems caused by these consequences. The present study sought to answer the following question: What are the social consequences of COVID-19 disease?

Search strategy. All stages of this research were performed based on the writing standard of systematic studies, PRISMA meta-analysis. The study population in this study included articles on the social consequences of COVID-19 that were indexed on one of the Internet sites. The Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Embase, and Magiran databases were searched as international databases, and the Google Scholar search engine was searched in Persian and English between 2000 and 2020. To find related articles in Persian and English language databases, the words searched in line with the research topic and based on mesh and syntax were the following items that were combined using AND and OR operators. The searching strategy used in Medline was: “(COVID-19[tiab] OR Coronavirus[tiab] OR Coronaviruses[tiab] OR Deltacoronavirus[tiab] OR Deltacoronaviruses[tiab] OR “Munia coronavirus HKU13”[tiab] OR “Coronavirus HKU15”[tiab] OR (Coronavirus[tiab] AND Rabbit[tiab]) OR “Rabbit Coronavirus*” [tiab] OR (Coronaviruses[tiab] AND Rabbit[tiab]) OR “Bulbul coronavirus HKU11”[tiab] OR “Thrush coronavirus HKU12”[tiab] OR (“Coronavirus 229E”[tiab] AND Human[tiab]) OR (“Coronavirus NL63”[tiab] AND Human[tiab]) OR “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus”[tiab] OR “SARS Virus”[tiab]) AND (“Social Behavior”[tiab] OR (Behavior[tiab] AND Social[tiab]) OR (Behaviors[tiab] AND Social[tiab]) OR “Social Behaviors”[tiab] OR “Competitive Behavior”[tiab] OR “Cooperative Behavior”[tiab] OR Self-Control[tiab] OR “Social Adjustment”[tiab] OR “Social Distance”[tiab] OR “Social Isolation”[tiab] OR “Social Skills”[tiab] OR “Social Stigma”[tiab] OR (Psychology[tiab] AND Social[tiab]))”.

Selection of studies. In total, in this study, systematic review with the above keywords was initially studied in 912 articles and reports, protocols by reputable health organizations and considering the entry and exit criteria of articles in the relevant databases. After studying the titles and abstracts of articles by the authors of the article and removing similar and unrelated items, the relevant items were selected as research. Due to the widespread and increasing prevalence of the disease and the change in the statistics related to the prevalence, the statistics presented in this study are until July 23, 2020. Criteria for selecting articles are: (i) Descriptive, analytical, interventional and review articles related to the last 5 years; (ii) Persian and English language articles published in scientific research journals inside and outside the country, the full text of which was available; and, (iii) Articles related to the study of the social consequences of COVID-19.

Criteria for deleting articles were: articles that did not have a full text, articles that did not have a clear implementation method, and articles that focused solely on the social consequences of the disease. To review the articles obtained in the search of databases, were evaluated and evaluated according to the inclusion and exit criteria in the working method, four research colleagues participated. After reviewing the inclusion and exclusion criteria of the study, 43 articles and 4 protocols and reports in accordance with the above criteria entered the final quality assessment stage ( Figure 1 ).

Quality control. The quality of the papers selected by the two individuals was assessed independently using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS). This scale examines articles in terms of selection process (including four sections: sample expediency and sample size, non-response and measurement tools, comparability (control of confounders and influencing factors) and results (evaluation of results and statistical tests). Based on this scale, articles are rated from zero (weakest study) to 10 (strongest study). In this study, studies that scored above 4 were considered as quality studies. Therefore, according to the quality results of the reviewed articles, all articles selected at this stage had a score higher than 4 (optimal level).

Extracting the data: After evaluating the quality, to extract data from the text of articles eligible to enter to the study of two researchers independently by the researcher form, information about each article by name of authors, year of publication, type of research, place of research, Sample size and specificity of samples, standardization of research tools, main findings were extracted. In case of need for review and doubt in the method of reviewing articles, the help of a third researcher was sought ( Table 1 ).

In late 2019, the world faced a global crisis called COVID-19, which was a threatening epidemic. In addition to increasing the incidence and mortality of this epidemic, it caused significant other economic, social, political, and psychological problems. Social isolation by quarantining billions of people at home to disrupt the virus transmission chain has created many crises in various dimensions,( 18 ) here are some of them:

Scope of knowledge and education. COVID-19 has disrupted students' lives in different ways and it has provided anxious times for students and parents.( 19 ) According to UNESCO, more than 1.5 billion students in about 165 countries have been affected by the restrictions on schools and universities. As a result, schools, colleges and universities were forced to turn to online learning. This has caused students to continue their education at home.( 20 ) Closing schools and accepting distance education may negatively affect students' learning through four main channels: spending less time learning, stress symptoms, changes in how students interact, and lack of motivation to learn. Most formal child learning takes place in schools, and closing schools and moving to a distance learning environment may cause children to spend less time learning.( 21 ) Students who stay home because of COVID-19 are more likely to develop acute stress, maladaptation, and PTSD. The possibility of dropping out of school due to mental health problems also increases.( 22 ) Attendance at schools increases the interaction between students and teachers and strengthens social skills and increases self-esteem and other skills necessary for the social environment. However, due to quarantine proceedings and the closure of schools, these social interactions have decreased.( 21 ) Also, some teachers or students are not familiar enough with the world of the Internet and distance education, and this has disrupted the educational process. On the other hand, due to the lack of access to online education tools for all students such as phones or laptops or the lack of Internet access in less developed areas, problems in distance education have been created for them.( 23 )

Family scope. With the announcement of the epidemic of COVID-19 and the application of various restrictions in the community, some jobs were closed, which increased the financial and economic burden on the family and increased the couple's dissatisfaction, as well as disputes and even divorce. Also, due to the constraints and economic problems caused by COVID-19, weddings and bonds between people have decreased.( 24 , 25 ) With the closure of schools and the presence of students in homes and the closure of businesses due to social constraints, it has increased psychological problems in families, abuse and violence between family members.( 26 ) This has a very important impact on people's lifestyle, the short-term consequences of which can be seen in health. These restrictions have led to decreased physical activity, weight gain, changes in diet, changes in smoking and alcohol consumption habits, changes in lifestyle, and ultimately quality of life and well-being.( 27 , 28 ) Also, different degrees of quarantine measures have reduced people's access to healthy food, inequality between communities, increased anxiety and stress, and impaired sleep quality. Some people also used drugs and alcohol to alleviate the fear and anxiety of COVID-19.( 29 )

Judicial scope. By imposing social distancing and various restrictions, individuals may resist these commands. The increasing burden of social distance in daily life has led to violence, bad temper, conflict, theft, murder, suicide, sabotage, and disregard for the law.( 30 ) Social distance at the court level has also disrupted the proceedings and the presence of parties and witnesses in court.( 31 ) The sale of illicit drugs, the distribution and consumption of drugs and alcohol, cybercrime, as well as the sale and purchase of firearms are among the crimes that are on the rise during COVID-19.( 32 ) The outbreak of COVID-19 and the need for social isolation have also hampered the normal process of prisons. The temporary release of many prisoners in some countries has caused anxiety at the community level, and due to the lack of adequate space for solitary confinement, the possibility of increasing the incidence of COVID-19 among prisoners has become even more significant. Also, in some countries, the possibility of COVID-19 disease is higher among prisoners due to lack of adequate hygiene.( 33 )

Sexual scope. Anxiety about the state of the world, along with constant exposure to images of illness and death, has severely affected everyone's emotional stability. Daily turmoil, restriction of freedom and loss of sense of usefulness in society create a feeling of helplessness and overload in human beings. This has also affected the sexual sphere. Fear of these conditions has reduced physical contact in couples from simple kissing to full sexual intercourse and has weakened the bond between husband and wife.( 34 ) Further depression and anxiety can reduce the level of sexual desire. With the closure of schools and the constant presence of children at home, sexual relations between individuals have also been overshadowed.( 35 ) With the restrictions imposed, the tendency to have sex online has increased. Fear of infection has led single people to masturbate, have sex on the phone, and use of sexual means, which in turn has increased their desire for pornography and visits to pornographic sites and movies.( 22 , 36 )

Scope of transportation. Restrictions imposed by the government have halted public transport, restricted travel and activities abroad. The change of direction to personal transportation by individuals has intensified traffic on the roads and reduced the overall air quality in the urban environment. With the application of social distance, we are witnessing an increase in queues at bus and metro stations.( 37 , 38 ) Air travel has also decreased significantly. COVID-19 has also led to the closure of many transportation agencies around the world due to a sharp drop in demand and a heavy economic burden on the people and the government. Violations and accidents on the road and in the city have also increased due to the use of private vehicles by the people.( 16 )

Cyberspace scope. This epidemic has played an important role in disseminating information in a news cycle.( 39 ) The COVID-19 epidemic has not only posed significant challenges to the health care system worldwide, but has also played an important role in increasing rumors, deception and misinformation about the disease, its consequences, prevention and treatment. With so much news coming from different sources, there are many concerns about fake news. People are constantly following the news of COVID-19 and may experience high anxiety while doing things.( 40 ) Comprehensive media exposure during the 24-hour news cycle can also lead the viewer to inaccurate and threatening information. These stress reactions may also have long-term consequences for physical and mental health.( 41 ) It may even reduce the function of the immune system and upset the balance of their natural physiological mechanisms.( 42 )

The social effects of the changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic crisis are not yet well known. We know that due to the implementation of social distance policy, many of the usual activities of society in the economic, social and political spheres have been closed or suspended.( 43 ) As a result, many people in areas such as business, family relationships, and education have experienced the changes and effects of this policy. Many sectors were forced to adjust their workforce and increase the number of unemployed to reduce costs.( 44 ) The heavy economic burden and unemployment caused by the COVID-19 epidemic have caused anxiety thoughts, anxiety, and ultimately an increase in crimes such as theft, strife, domestic disputes, fraud, and etc. To prevent such crimes, the government can adopt policies that can include livelihood support, management and organization of Internet businesses, and low-interest lending.( 45 ) In the policy of social distancing, the situation of certain social groups such as immigrants, refugees and addicts has been ignored and the problems of this group of people have intensified.( 46 ) Civil society and voluntary groups of people are full of initiatives, innovations and resources that can be used in times of crisis. Internet infrastructures and modern communication tools have transcended the physical limitations of communication and enabled virtual social interactions that can be used to maintain connections.( 47 )

It should be noted that the lack of management and monitoring of the virtual world can impose irreparable damage on society in the long time.( 3 ) Social distancing, despite its problems, has a significant impact on reduction of casualties from the disease and reducing its negative consequences, but ultimately it is the level of public trust in the government that ensures the success of policies and measures. It is necessary to provide more freedom of action for the media to provide accurate, transparent information in this regard. The development of information infrastructure, especially in the less developed regions of the country, must be seriously on the agenda. Necessary requirements for equipping students in need of teaching aids such as tablets.( 11 , 48 ) The need for public transportation in any society is an indisputable need. Therefore, the government should take action to provide the desired service in accordance with social distance.( 49 ) Increasing the number of public vehicles, regular disinfection and the use of social distance labels can revitalize this vital sector and meet the needs of the community and prevent pollution. Also, providing brochures and educational materials in public transportation can help reduce anxiety and increase public literacy.( 16 , 50 )

One must be careful about the social consequences of COVID-19 for certain groups. Ignoring this issue can cause COVID-19 to exacerbate the unfavorable situation of these groups. Groups such as addicts in crisis situations should be given more attention and clear and precise policies and programs should be developed to support this group. Immigrants and refugees also have their own circumstances, and their fate in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis cannot be ignored. Doing all of the above means that a small part of the social issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis require capacities of trust, cross-sectoral cooperation, coordination, transparency and joint action. Capacities that many of them may not have looked good under normal circumstances.( 51 , 52 )

Limitations of the study: In this study, due to the lack of proficiency of researchers in languages other than English and Persian, articles in other languages were excluded from the study, which can be a limitation of the study.

Conclusion: In this review study, the effect of coronavirus on some aspects of people's lives was briefly discussed. Unfortunately, in the current epidemic and control of the corona virus, while becoming a crisis of health in the world, it is considered as such that it still has various aspects. In recent months, the world has been going through one of the most severe crises in the field of health and without a doubt one of the most important consequences of its epidemic and social ills. In fact, anxiety factors related to the risk of contracting the disease, future employment status, and sources of income for individuals and families, as well as long-term quarantine, can be kept at home for a long time.

Implications of the results for nursing practice. Considering the psychological consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak, the design and planning of intervention and supportive strategies to reduce the negative effects are suggested. In fact, it is necessary to identify the factors that cause the danger to the psychological health of different people in the society in order to use appropriate treatment methods.

* How to cite this article : Hosseinzadeh P, Zareipour M, Baljani E, Rezaee Moradali M. Social Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review. Invest. Educ. Enferm. 2022; 40(1):e10.

Chapter 6: 21st-century media and issues

6.10.2 Social media and communication (research essay)

Lindsey Matier

English 102, April 2021

Communication is extremely important in today’s world, whether it be verbal or nonverbal. It can take place through many different forms such as through writing, speaking, listening and physical actions. These forms of communication evolve and continue to improve over time. As humans, we rely on communication for almost everything and it is a way of life. Communication has evolved from talking to writing letters to texting or talking over the phone. Every time a new form of communication is brought up and becomes more popular, we have to adapt and evolve to that new lifestyle. Throughout all the new forms of communication and ways of evolving, social media has been one of the most influential so far. Social media has allowed us to create new ways of communicating, such as texting or posting through different apps. It can connect us with people all over the world and give us a platform to express ourselves in ways that have not been possible before. While social media started off as a small form of technology, it has morphed into aspects of our everyday life. Now there are apps for everything from social media profiles to online shopping. While social media and technology itself has evolved, this has also affected our communication with each other and the world. Social media has created a fast track for information in a matter of seconds. It can give people a platform with millions of followers overnight for doing practically anything. It can help people express themselves in new ways and connect with people who have similar interests. The end goal of social media is to make people happy and ultimately make lives easier.

Introduction

With all this being said, it is evident that social media is in our everyday lives and will continue to change. It has a very strong grip on society as social media usage continues to rise throughout the years. Generalizing social media, we are exposed to forms of media at almost all times of the day. Answering the question of what media is will help give a better understanding of social media as a whole. Media can be defined as a way of mass communication. This could include siting in the car listening to ads on the radio all the way to scrolling on twitter. We are exposed to social media less often than generalized media, but it tends to come in greater quantities when exposed. For example, for people that wake up and check twitter it is an instant flood of information with every scroll. Everything from politics to sports to celebrity news is available at the fingertips. The concern is not all focused on the overwhelming information, but also the overwhelming number of comments and opinions. If we wanted to debate or talk about something before social media it had to be done in person, face to face. Now with social media, we are able to fight with people in comment sections on a backup account with a different name and no connection to who we really are. This new form of communication takes away the vulnerability of speaking to people and having genuine conversation, and makes up for it in internet trolls. Overall, social media is impacting the way we communicate with each other and the real questions are: Is social media impacting us in a positive or negative way? Do the positive aspects outweigh the negative aspects? Is social media hindering the way we communicate in person with each other? Is their more room for improvement when it comes to dealing with communication in the social media spectrum? How is social media impacting younger generation’s communication versus older generation’s communication? How can we help improve our communication skills on social media and in real life?

Personal Research 

Along with the other studies that I found from the sources I chose, I also conducted my own study to determine more accurate and recent data. I asked students mostly within high school and college range questions relating to social media and communication. I tried to get a wide range of data dealing with social media apps, screen time, and overall communication as a result of social media. I expected to see almost all negative responses about social media and communication. I figured that most people would respond saying that it has affected them negatively rather than positively, but the results were different compared to what I expected.

The first questions I asked had to do with social media itself. I asked questions about their most used social media apps, screen time, what age they were allowed to start using social media, and whether or not they think social media has had a negative or positive impact on them. As expected, most of the social media apps were some of the most popular ones like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok. Overall, the average screen time for all apps was evenly split between 4-6 and 6-8 hours, which I also expected. Something that did surprise me was the amount of time spent on certain social media apps. The data was split pretty evenly three ways and all between 1-4 hours. The next two questions dealt with when they group surveyed started using social media. I asked these questions because a lot of the points I want to discuss later in my paper have to deal with age and whether younger generations are suffering when it comes to communication. More than half the people surveyed said that they wished that they had waited to get social media until they were older. Some said that it is not appropriate for younger kids and that it is just toxic in general. Something that I really like that a couple people mentioned was that in reality, social media at a young age is stupid and useless. A lot of people said they wish they would have enjoyed their childhood more and they would be more extroverted now if they had not been exposed that early. The last question of this section that I asked was if they thought social media has had a more positive or negative impact on them. Overall, the data was split but leaning slightly towards the more positive side. The positive answers mostly dealt with being able to talk to stay in contact with people and meeting new friends. The negative answers all related to mental health and feeling bad about themselves. A lot of people said it is toxic and very controlling and takes up too much of our time.

The next set of questions I asked had to do more with communication and interaction with and without social media. I asked questions like how they feel about social media and how it has impacted their communication, their mental health, and if it has made our lives easier. I decided to ask questions like these because I figured I would get a wide range of responses and a lot of people’s different opinions. I started off by asking if people are an introvert or an extrovert to get an idea of what the responses would be like, and 66% said somewhere in between the two. The response for the next question really shocked me because I received such a one-side response. I asked if they think social media has impacted their communication and the way they interact with others and 75% (18/24 people) said yes. This is the information that I was looking for along with the next two questions. The next question asked if they think social media has negatively impacted their mental health and 50% said yes. I also plan on using this as a research question to show that social media can affect our mental health and therefore affect the way we interact with and around other people. The last two questions are similar but the responses were both very good. Almost everyone answered yes to the question asking if social media has made our lives easier. Everyone that answered yes said they think so because it helps them talk to friends, stay in touch with people they do not see as much, and meet new people that they are comfortable talking to. The people that said no also made good points such as it takes over our lives and it is filled with too much hate and cancel culture. I agree with both sides and am very happy that people can feel a positive response especially when it comes to communicating with other people online. The last question I asked was used to wrap up the whole survey and topic. I asked if they think social media has made our generation’s communication improve or worsen. The data was pretty evenly split, and most people gave a positive and a negative. The people that said improve gave that answer because they said it broadens our communication and allows us to talk to people at a wider range. The people who said it has made it worse all said that it is ruining our face-to-face interaction and causing us to lose emotion. They said that some people do not even know how to have a proper in person conversation and that they are too dependent on their phones. Overall, I agree with both arguments that people made but I do think that the positives outweigh the negatives in most of these situations and questions.

Research Questions

The first question I want to ask has to deal with the overall social media and communication connection and has multiple other questions I would like to cover within it. The main question is: Is social media hindering the way we communicate with each other? I also want to touch on questions like: Is social media impacting us in a positive or negative way? Do the positives outweigh the negatives? The second set of research questions I have is: Is their more room for improvement when it comes to dealing with communication in the social media spectrum? How can we help improve our communication skills on social media and in real life? How is social media impacting younger generation’s communication versus older generation’s communication?

Research Question One

Social media and communication have a direct connection to each other and both have a strong impact on the outcome of the other. My first research question has to do with that. My questions center around how social media has impacted our communication, and whether or not it is positive or negative. First, I think it is important to note the changes and different characteristics that come into play when talking about this. Things like age and problems going on in our world can affect our social media usage and communication. While we connect to people on a deeper level when talking to the in person, social media has also given us a newer and more broad way of communicating. The article “How Social Media Affects Our Ability to Communicate” by Stacey Hanke, talks about different ways social media has impacted our communication. Social media has become so relevant in our day to day lives and Hanke describes it in a couple different ways. She describes it as information binging and the fear of missing out, social graces and conversational boredom. Within these, she explains how social media has become an excuse and escape to talk to people face to face. Hanke also talks about how even though it is limiting our in person communication, it can sometimes make communicating in general easier, by being able to talk to each other in just a few words (Hanke 1). In another article by Ryan J. Fuller titled “The Impact of Social Media Use on Our Social Skills”, he discusses similar topics to Hanke’s article but also brings up more positive attributes of social media. Fuller starts of his article by giving some statistics, stating that 75% of teens own cellphones and 25% of them using it for social media, and also says that they use 7.5 hours a day using it (Fuller 1). I am glad that this was brought up because it is important to know how much time is spent on social media, scrolling through feed. Next, Fuller starts to discuss some of the benefits of social media. He briefly explains how social media is beneficial because we are able to stay in touch with our friends and family, and share important parts of our lives with them. He also explains how it helps people reach out to new friends and provide themselves with more opportunities (Fuller 1). Overall, I really like that he mentioned these because it is important to keep in mind the vast majority of social media and communication. While some use it for more simpler purposes likes just keeping up to date with what is going on in the world, others use it to make new friends, find new job opportunities, and stay in touch with people. Another topic I find important when it comes to answering this research question is how Covid affected everything. With the pandemic, we were left inside with nothing to do but what was at our fingertips. This pandemic increased social media usage drastically. The article “Social Media Insights Into US Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Analysis of Twitter Data” by Danny Valdez et al, shows extensive research into determining just how much social media usage in the United States increased during the pandemic. They did experiments and surveys to determine multiple responses to research questions and show how much we rely on social media to communicate with each other. During the pandemic, everyone spent more time on their social media and their phone in general, probably more than they would like to admit. The article helps give more insight into this claim. There is the idea that social media was meant as an addition to our lives. For some people, it has become an addiction and a new piece of their life. The article focuses on how social media could be a toxic place and have a negative effect on our mental health. The time period for this information focuses around the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from Twitter, Valdez created a study to determine the mood of people during the pandemic and the usage throughout (Valdez et al 2). Collecting tweets with certain hashtags and during time periods, the goal was to determine how much the pandemic affected people’s moods, and how much they put out and shared on social media. They used hashtags, timeline data, and tweets from different periods such as the first lockdown, different stay at home orders, etc. Given the responses to the data, they were able to determine the increase in social media usage. We cannot determine if this had a positive or negative effect on the people who were using Twitter, but we can infer that social media is becoming a key part of our lives. Not being able to talk to people as much in person during the first few months of the pandemic greatly affected communication, in positive and negative ways. Communication over the phone increased due to the amount of free time that people had and were able to spend talking to others. Contrary to that, in person communication also decreased given that people were not really allowed to leave the house. The next article by Tayebi et al, “The Role of Information Systems in Communication Through Social Media” focuses a lot about how we have evolved over time with social media and communication. They start off by talking about how social networks are like social media societies. They explain it by resembling it to a human society, as it is filled with people communicating, regardless of time or place. They also exemplify other aspects such as emotional support, information, emotions (Tayebi 2). Social media is constantly looked at through such a negative light due to some of the major bad events that have taken place. While it can be difficult at times to look past the negatives, it is important to recognize and acknowledge the positives. The growth of scientific research would not be possible without the amount of information received from the media (Tayebi 3). Without social media and media in general, we would not be where we are today as a society. As mentioned earlier, it is so easy to get lost in the negative aspects of social media and discard the positive ones. Positive parts of social media such as widespread communication and unlimited access to information makes it all worth it. Staying on topic with positive aspects of social media and communication, social media in the workplace has also broken down barriers for communication. The article “A Guide to the Successful Use of Social Media in the Workplace” by Clark Boyd gives insight into how social media has improved the workplace, and ultimately communication and interaction as a whole. Companies can use social media as a form of branding and way to communicate their products (Boyd 4). Boyd states, “Harvard Business Review finds that 82% of employees believe social media improves work relationships. Left to their own devices, your teams will connect and communicate on social networks, both inside and outside the office.” This directly relates to the research question asking whether social media hinders our communication with each other. Social media also helps when it comes to dealing with complaints placed online. By seeing these through social media, it can help the company communicate either with the person or their company the concerns that are being stated (Boyd 9). Overall, it is safe to say that social media has directly affected communication throughout different aspects of our lives.

Research Question Two

My second set of research questions has a lot to do with the future and how we can improve. Questions such as: Is their more room for improvement when it comes to dealing with communication in the social media spectrum? How can we help improve our communication skills on social media and in real life? How is social media impacting younger generation’s communication versus older generation’s communication? The article “What is Literacy” by James Paul Gee talks a lot about the basics of communication. I find this an important article to talk about before I go into more detail with this second research question. Gee explains discourse as a socially accepted way of speaking, thinking, and acting (Gee 1). It is important to note this because social media has changed that discourse for us. We no longer communicate and interact the same way in which we use to therefore almost giving us a new discourse. Another thing Gee discusses is identity kits. Gee explains identity kits as “appropriate costumes and instructions on how to act and talk” (Gee 2). This relates to social media because there is a certain way we communicate online that we wouldn’t do in person. For example, we use emojis and abbreviations to communicate on social media or over text, but this is something we would not do when communicating face-to-face. There are also some basic well-known rules of social media that follow along the lines of an identity kit. Such as, for Instagram it is a common idea not to like people’s pictures from too long ago. When you say this aloud it sounds like it is not a big deal and silly almost, but for people that use social media it is something that makes sense. The next article is going to focus more on the question that has to do with room for improvement of communication. The article “The Positive Effect of Not Following Others on Social Media” by Francesca Valsesia, Davide Proserpio, and Joseph C. Nunes involves how we deal with social media and how we react to it. The article has a lot to do with pyramid schemes and marketing schemes on social media, simply due to follower count. Social media has a lot of power over us and the content we see. Influencers have too much impact on what we see every day and this overall effects our communication (Valsesia 1). Social media feeds us information at our fingertips, whether it be true or false. Valsesia is trying to get the point across that social media has no impact on our lives without the phone and therefore, having a smaller follower count is better for our communication and overall wellbeing in the first place. Leading into my next article, social media can have a huge impact on the younger generation. This leads into part of my second research question dealing with the younger generation and their communication. The article “The Impact of Social Media on Youth Mental Health: Challenges and Opportunities” by Jacqueline Nesi shows how social media is a very complex brand of information and makes it complicated for everyone. Younger kids having access to it and multiple devices like computers and phones makes it that much more difficult. There are a lot of positives and negatives for younger kids having access to social media and the internet in general. It has an impact on their mental health and studies show it leads to signs of depression, body dysmorphia, eating disorders (Nesi 2). It can also affect their communication and outward identity due to things such as bullying, internet drama, and behavioral problems. While it does have serious negative risks, social media also can bring a lot of new positive ones. Things like creative ideas, humor and entertainment, and being able to explore their identity are all really great positives that social media gives us (Nesi 4). Most of them using it as a way to connect with friends and family and help them feel a sense of acceptance and belonging (Nesi 4). Similarly to this, social media has given a great outlet for kids and young adults to speak out on issues going on in the world. The article “Building Bridges: Exploring the Communication Trends and Perceived Sociopolitical Benefits of Adolescents Engaging in Online Social Justice Efforts” by Mariah Elsa Kornbluh goes into detail about the racial injustices in the world and how they are communicated through social media. Social media networks can help connect kids to different backgrounds and aspects of their lives (Kornbluh 1). Kornbluh expresses how a society only can flourish under civic engagement and being able to express ourselves, and social media is helping us do that. It is helping the younger generation prepare for the civic role that they will undergo (Kornbluh 2). Social media helps play a major role in participating in political movements and bringing awareness to topics (Kornbluh 3). This all is done by the younger generation and would not be possible without them. So, while it is easy to look at the negative parts of social media and how it effects the younger generation, it also brings great awareness to real life problems in our world. This last article I wanted to go over dealing with this research question has to do with the pandemic. The article “Responses to COVID-19 in Higher Education: Social Media Usage for Sustaining Formal Academic Communication in Developing Countries” by Abu Elnasr E. Sobaih, Ahmed M. Hasanein and Ahmed E. Abu Elnasr briefly talks about communication with social media in higher education systems. Education systems had to switch from in person learning and communication to online learning, which was a struggle for everyone. Throughout the time that this took place, results showed that social media had a positive effect on students dealing with this (Sobaih 1). Students used social media to build a community and help support each other through this rough time. Through these results, proper usage of social media can be shown as a positive result for a new era of learning (Sobaih 1). This is just one more reason why social media can help us improve our future.

After answering my research questions, it has become clear to me that while social media does have negative aspects, the positive aspects outweigh them. Between the articles and my own research, I have enough evidence to prove that social media does effect communication, but in a more positive way. The way we act and present ourselves is heavily influenced by social media and communication between generations are different and can be seen that way. It is important to note the accomplishments we have made as a society with social media and the media in general. It has helped connect families, provide support groups, and provide entertainment in desperate times. Our communication has changed because of social media but has changed and helped us for the better in the long run. Keeping social media a positive place and staying away from the toxic people on it will only help us grow and learn new things about ourselves.

Works Cited

Boyd, Clark. “A Guide to Using Social Media in the Workplace in 2021.”  The Blueprint , The Blueprint, 13 May 2020, www.fool.com/the-blueprint/social-media-in-the-workplace/.

https://www.fool.com/the-blueprint/social-media-in-the-workplace/

D, Valdez, et al. “Social Media Insights Into US Mental Health During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Longitudinal Analysis of Twitter Data.”  Journal of Medical Internet Research  , vol. 22, no. 12, 14 Dec. 2020, pp. 1438–8871.

http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu:2050/eds/detail/detail? vid=8&sid=ff59b04c-b868-44cd-b864-4538e112a2ea%40sessionmgr103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=33284783&db=mnh

J, Nesi. “The Impact of Social Media on Youth Health: Challenges and Opportunities.”  North Carolina Medical Journal , vol. 81, no. 2, 2020, pp. 116–121.

http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu:2050/eds/detail/detail?vid=10&sid=ff59b04c-b868-44cd-b864-4538e112a2ea%40sessionmgr103&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=32132255&db=mnh

Gee, James Paul. “What is literacy.”  Negotiating academic literacies: Teaching and learning  across languages and cultures  (1998): 51-59.

https://academic.jamespaulgee.com/pdfs/Gee%20What%20is%20Literacy.pdf

Hanke, Stacey. “How Social Media Affects Our Ability to Communicate.”  Thrive Global , 13  Sept. 2018, thriveglobal.com/stories/how-social-media-affects-our-ability-to-communicate/.

https://thriveglobal.com/stories/how-social-media-affects-our-ability-to-communicate/

http://eds.a.ebscohost.com.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu:2050/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=467b825c-34f8-4e47-95df-e5b2b61bbaf4%40sessionmgr4006

Kornbluh, Mariah Elsa. “Building Bridges.”  Youth & Society , vol. 51, no. 8, 2017, pp. 1104–1126., doi:10.1177/0044118×17723656.

https://journals-sagepub-com.proxy.ulib.csuohio.edu/doi/pdf/10.1177/0044118X17723656

Retchin, Sarah, et al. “The Impact of Social Media Use on Social Skills.”  New York Behavioral Health , 1 Dec. 2020, newyorkbehavioralhealth.com/the-impact-of-social-media-use-on-social-skills/.

https://newyorkbehavioralhealth.com/the-impact-of-social-media-use-on-social-skills/

Sobaih, Abu Elnasr E., et al. “Responses to COVID-19 in Higher Education: Social Media Usage for Sustaining Formal Academic Communication in Developing Countries.”  MDPI , Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, 12 Aug. 2020, www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/16/6520/htm.

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/16/6520/htm

Tayeb, Seyed Mohammad, et al. “The Role of Information Systems in Communication through Social Media.”  International Journal of Data and Network Science , vol. 3, no. 3, 2019, pp. 245–268., doi:10.5267/j.ijdns.2019.2.002.

http://www.growingscience.com/ijds/Vol3/ijdns_2019_15.pdf

Valsesia, Francesca, et al. “The Positive Effect of Not Following Others on Social Media .”  Journal of Marketing Research  , vol. 57, no. 6, Dec. 2020, pp. 1152–1168.

https://www.francescavalsesia.com/uploads/1/0/5/1/105151509/the_positive_effect_of_not_following_others_on_social_media.pdf

Understanding Literacy in Our Lives by Lindsey Matier is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Social media harms teens’ mental health, mounting evidence shows. what now.

Understanding what is going on in teens’ minds is necessary for targeted policy suggestions

Most teens use social media, often for hours on end. Some social scientists are confident that such use is harming their mental health. Now they want to pinpoint what explains the link.

Carol Yepes/Getty Images

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By Sujata Gupta

February 20, 2024 at 7:30 am

In January, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook’s parent company Meta, appeared at a congressional hearing to answer questions about how social media potentially harms children. Zuckerberg opened by saying: “The existing body of scientific work has not shown a causal link between using social media and young people having worse mental health.”

But many social scientists would disagree with that statement. In recent years, studies have started to show a causal link between teen social media use and reduced well-being or mood disorders, chiefly depression and anxiety.

Ironically, one of the most cited studies into this link focused on Facebook.

Researchers delved into whether the platform’s introduction across college campuses in the mid 2000s increased symptoms associated with depression and anxiety. The answer was a clear yes , says MIT economist Alexey Makarin, a coauthor of the study, which appeared in the November 2022 American Economic Review . “There is still a lot to be explored,” Makarin says, but “[to say] there is no causal evidence that social media causes mental health issues, to that I definitely object.”

The concern, and the studies, come from statistics showing that social media use in teens ages 13 to 17 is now almost ubiquitous. Two-thirds of teens report using TikTok, and some 60 percent of teens report using Instagram or Snapchat, a 2022 survey found. (Only 30 percent said they used Facebook.) Another survey showed that girls, on average, allot roughly 3.4 hours per day to TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, compared with roughly 2.1 hours among boys. At the same time, more teens are showing signs of depression than ever, especially girls ( SN: 6/30/23 ).

As more studies show a strong link between these phenomena, some researchers are starting to shift their attention to possible mechanisms. Why does social media use seem to trigger mental health problems? Why are those effects unevenly distributed among different groups, such as girls or young adults? And can the positives of social media be teased out from the negatives to provide more targeted guidance to teens, their caregivers and policymakers?

“You can’t design good public policy if you don’t know why things are happening,” says Scott Cunningham, an economist at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

Increasing rigor

Concerns over the effects of social media use in children have been circulating for years, resulting in a massive body of scientific literature. But those mostly correlational studies could not show if teen social media use was harming mental health or if teens with mental health problems were using more social media.

Moreover, the findings from such studies were often inconclusive, or the effects on mental health so small as to be inconsequential. In one study that received considerable media attention, psychologists Amy Orben and Andrew Przybylski combined data from three surveys to see if they could find a link between technology use, including social media, and reduced well-being. The duo gauged the well-being of over 355,000 teenagers by focusing on questions around depression, suicidal thinking and self-esteem.

Digital technology use was associated with a slight decrease in adolescent well-being , Orben, now of the University of Cambridge, and Przybylski, of the University of Oxford, reported in 2019 in Nature Human Behaviour . But the duo downplayed that finding, noting that researchers have observed similar drops in adolescent well-being associated with drinking milk, going to the movies or eating potatoes.

Holes have begun to appear in that narrative thanks to newer, more rigorous studies.

In one longitudinal study, researchers — including Orben and Przybylski — used survey data on social media use and well-being from over 17,400 teens and young adults to look at how individuals’ responses to a question gauging life satisfaction changed between 2011 and 2018. And they dug into how the responses varied by gender, age and time spent on social media.

Social media use was associated with a drop in well-being among teens during certain developmental periods, chiefly puberty and young adulthood, the team reported in 2022 in Nature Communications . That translated to lower well-being scores around ages 11 to 13 for girls and ages 14 to 15 for boys. Both groups also reported a drop in well-being around age 19. Moreover, among the older teens, the team found evidence for the Goldilocks Hypothesis: the idea that both too much and too little time spent on social media can harm mental health.

“There’s hardly any effect if you look over everybody. But if you look at specific age groups, at particularly what [Orben] calls ‘windows of sensitivity’ … you see these clear effects,” says L.J. Shrum, a consumer psychologist at HEC Paris who was not involved with this research. His review of studies related to teen social media use and mental health is forthcoming in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research.

Cause and effect

That longitudinal study hints at causation, researchers say. But one of the clearest ways to pin down cause and effect is through natural or quasi-experiments. For these in-the-wild experiments, researchers must identify situations where the rollout of a societal “treatment” is staggered across space and time. They can then compare outcomes among members of the group who received the treatment to those still in the queue — the control group.

That was the approach Makarin and his team used in their study of Facebook. The researchers homed in on the staggered rollout of Facebook across 775 college campuses from 2004 to 2006. They combined that rollout data with student responses to the National College Health Assessment, a widely used survey of college students’ mental and physical health.

The team then sought to understand if those survey questions captured diagnosable mental health problems. Specifically, they had roughly 500 undergraduate students respond to questions both in the National College Health Assessment and in validated screening tools for depression and anxiety. They found that mental health scores on the assessment predicted scores on the screenings. That suggested that a drop in well-being on the college survey was a good proxy for a corresponding increase in diagnosable mental health disorders. 

Compared with campuses that had not yet gained access to Facebook, college campuses with Facebook experienced a 2 percentage point increase in the number of students who met the diagnostic criteria for anxiety or depression, the team found.

When it comes to showing a causal link between social media use in teens and worse mental health, “that study really is the crown jewel right now,” says Cunningham, who was not involved in that research.

A need for nuance

The social media landscape today is vastly different than the landscape of 20 years ago. Facebook is now optimized for maximum addiction, Shrum says, and other newer platforms, such as Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok, have since copied and built on those features. Paired with the ubiquity of social media in general, the negative effects on mental health may well be larger now.

Moreover, social media research tends to focus on young adults — an easier cohort to study than minors. That needs to change, Cunningham says. “Most of us are worried about our high school kids and younger.” 

And so, researchers must pivot accordingly. Crucially, simple comparisons of social media users and nonusers no longer make sense. As Orben and Przybylski’s 2022 work suggested, a teen not on social media might well feel worse than one who briefly logs on. 

Researchers must also dig into why, and under what circumstances, social media use can harm mental health, Cunningham says. Explanations for this link abound. For instance, social media is thought to crowd out other activities or increase people’s likelihood of comparing themselves unfavorably with others. But big data studies, with their reliance on existing surveys and statistical analyses, cannot address those deeper questions. “These kinds of papers, there’s nothing you can really ask … to find these plausible mechanisms,” Cunningham says.

One ongoing effort to understand social media use from this more nuanced vantage point is the SMART Schools project out of the University of Birmingham in England. Pedagogical expert Victoria Goodyear and her team are comparing mental and physical health outcomes among children who attend schools that have restricted cell phone use to those attending schools without such a policy. The researchers described the protocol of that study of 30 schools and over 1,000 students in the July BMJ Open.

Goodyear and colleagues are also combining that natural experiment with qualitative research. They met with 36 five-person focus groups each consisting of all students, all parents or all educators at six of those schools. The team hopes to learn how students use their phones during the day, how usage practices make students feel, and what the various parties think of restrictions on cell phone use during the school day.

Talking to teens and those in their orbit is the best way to get at the mechanisms by which social media influences well-being — for better or worse, Goodyear says. Moving beyond big data to this more personal approach, however, takes considerable time and effort. “Social media has increased in pace and momentum very, very quickly,” she says. “And research takes a long time to catch up with that process.”

Until that catch-up occurs, though, researchers cannot dole out much advice. “What guidance could we provide to young people, parents and schools to help maintain the positives of social media use?” Goodyear asks. “There’s not concrete evidence yet.”

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This start-up made doing good a business priority – and flourished

A citizen journalist documented flooding in Kolkata, India, last year. Image:  Sourav Das

.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo{-webkit-transition:all 0.15s ease-out;transition:all 0.15s ease-out;cursor:pointer;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;outline:none;color:inherit;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:hover,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-hover]{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo:focus,.chakra .wef-1c7l3mo[data-focus]{box-shadow:0 0 0 3px rgba(168,203,251,0.5);} Miriam Schive

.chakra .wef-9dduvl{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-9dduvl{font-size:1.125rem;}} Explore and monitor how .chakra .wef-15eoq1r{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;font-size:1.25rem;color:#F7DB5E;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-15eoq1r{font-size:1.125rem;}} Sustainable Development is affecting economies, industries and global issues

.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;color:#2846F8;font-size:1.25rem;}@media screen and (min-width:56.5rem){.chakra .wef-1nk5u5d{font-size:1.125rem;}} Get involved with our crowdsourced digital platform to deliver impact at scale

Stay up to date:, davos agenda.

Businesses cannot afford to ignore the social impact of their business or the interests of their wider stakeholders, as the Business Roundtable explained in the updated Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation . Today, the “business as usual” approach to social and environmental concerns is simply insufficient given the rapid pace of change and disruption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

To achieve the ambitious 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), governments and businesses alike will need to take action. And as employees, consumers and wider stakeholders increasingly demand companies step up and lead the way on sustainable development, businesses in particular must make social impact part of their core business model.

Doing good can actually help companies succeed. Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan provides a clear example of what is possible when business leaders decide to prioritise social impact. One might argue larger companies are better positioned to invest the necessary funds to redesign their businesses, while smaller businesses and start-ups struggle to make social impact part of their business proposition because of the initial costs and concerns that the return on investment will not significantly contribute to revenue.

Yet, in the experience of one of the 2019 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers , making social impact a core business focus has actually been beneficial to a start-up’s growth.

It’s an annual meeting featuring top examples of public-private cooperation and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies being used to develop the sustainable development agenda.

It runs alongside the United Nations General Assembly, which this year features a one-day climate summit. This is timely given rising public fears – and citizen action – over weather conditions, pollution, ocean health and dwindling wildlife. It also reflects the understanding of the growing business case for action.

The UN’s Strategic Development Goals and the Paris Agreement provide the architecture for resolving many of these challenges. But to achieve this, we need to change the patterns of production, operation and consumption.

The World Economic Forum’s work is key, with the summit offering the opportunity to debate, discuss and engage on these issues at a global policy level.

In 2015, a seemingly distant time before “fake news” and “deepfakes” became part of the common vernacular, Truepic CEO Jeff McGregor and Co-founder Craig Stack set out to develop a tool to counter highly edited and curated online content and fight fraud. Truepic’s engineers developed an image verification tool leveraging blockchain, machine learning and computer vision technology. The business applications of this type of authentication technology – from insurance to peer-to-peer commerce – were obvious.

But shortly after raising seed funding in 2017, Jeff received a message from a US diplomat, Mounir Ibrahim, who suggested Truepic’s technology could have a far greater social impact. Image verification, Ibrahim suggested, could empower citizen journalists documenting alleged war crimes and other atrocities around the world to help protect them against accusations of fraudulent claims, a significant problem on the world’s biggest geo-political stages. Ibrahim also saw immense utility for oversight and monitoring of international development, particularly in hard-to-reach or non-permissive locations.

McGregor and Stack were quickly convinced. As McGregor put it: “From day one we understood that more truth, more transparency is positive for the entire world. It’s good for business because we know that countering fraud and improving transparency can have immense benefits within an enterprise, but it’s also impactful on a global scale. So, it’s been very natural to have a social impact mission as a core value.”

Recognizing the value and power of the image verification technology, Truepic’s leadership decided to redesign the company’s business practices and make partnering with social impact organizations a central part of its business. This key leadership decision early on in Truepic’s trajectory has had an overwhelmingly positive impact on the company's growth.

1. Recruiting and retaining top talent

Perhaps the most immediate benefit of aligning its business with a broader social impact mission was Truepic’s ability to attract and retain top talent. Several key, early hires cold-emailed Truepic’s leadership to build a relationship and find an ideal, dynamic, mutually beneficial role. For example, Sherif Hanna, Truepic’s Vice President of Ecosystem Development, was formerly a director at Qualcomm. “I recall sitting in a meeting with Jeff completely in awe of the positive impact that Truepic already had in some conflict zones, empowering the powerless to communicate truth visually. It immediately clicked in my mind how this technology can help so many others. That day I decided to dedicate my career to help proliferate Truepic's technology as widely as possible, and I was privileged that the company agreed to take me in.”

In addition to Hanna, Truepic’s mission also attracted top-tier talent from Dropbox, SpaceX and board members of the likes of Dr. Hany Farid, one of the world’s preeminent scholars on image veracity.

2. Beta-testing

As anyone in the tech world will tell you, developing useful, secure and evolving technology is an expensive undertaking. So, it might seem counterintuitive for a company to provide access to a product or capability for free, let alone use early-stage resources to set up an entire division within the company for social impact. Yet for nascent technologies, especially ones addressing fast-evolving or looming problems (e.g. the proliferation of deepfakes), it is critical to test the technology with a wide range of users in order to build a deeper understanding of user interaction and deployments of the technology. This helps companies constantly iterate, improve and evolve their product.

In Truepic’s experience, partnerships with social impact organizations expanded the company’s horizons in terms of users and use cases. “Our social impact work demonstrates the boundless and borderless nature of our technology,” according to McGregor. Truepic has several partners who use the technology to monitor and evaluate the progress of development projects. One such partner has taken tens of thousands of images from over 200 sources to track the progress of development projects in some of the most remote areas of Syria. This can be applied to a range of other business compliance needs, whether it’s remotely assessing the progress of a construction project or tracking supply-chain integrity.

Financing Sustainable Development

The world’s economies are already absorbing the costs of climate change and a “business as usual” approach that is obsolete. Both scientific evidence and the dislocation of people are highlighting the urgent need to create a sustainable, inclusive and climate-resilient future.

This will require no less than a transformation of our current economic model into one that generates long-term value by balancing natural, social, human and financial conditions. Cooperation between different stakeholders will be vital to developing the innovative strategies, partnerships and markets that will drive this transformation and allow us to raise the trillions of dollars in investments that are needed.

To tackle these challenges, Financing Sustainable Development is one of the four focus areas at the World Economic Forum's 2019 Sustainable Development Impact summit . A range of sessions will spotlight the innovative financial models, pioneering solutions and scalable best practices that can mobilize capital for the the world's sustainable development goals. It will focus on the conditions that both public and private institutions should create to enable large-scale financing of sustainable development. It will also explore the role that governments, corporations, investors, philanthropists and consumers could play to deliver new ways of financing sustainable development.

3. Media recognition brings investors

In addition to being selected as one of the World Economic Forum’s 2019 Technology Pioneers, Truepic was recently recognized by FastCompany as one of the 50 most innovative companies , ranked #1 for Social Good . The State Department, TedX and many other organizations have picked up on Truepic’s social impact work and featured their leadership at major conferences, which has led to new and innovative partnerships with business, government and non-governmental organizations.

Rather than using limited early-stage capital for a marketing team and public affairs strategy, Truepic’s investment in the work drives the media attention. The positive recognition for Truepic's efforts in this space has had a cascading effect, drawing additional media and partnership attention, as well as investors.

Truepic’s experience shows that having the courage to embrace social impact as a core business value can benefit profit and growth. The Blueprint for Business Leadership on the SDGs is a good starting point for business leaders looking for guidance on how to take action towards supporting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

As Truepic’s experience shows, when leaders prioritise social impact goals, act on those goals and learn from the impact to improve their business model, they create a virtuous cycle with dramatically positive effects on a business’ bottom-line.

Truepic recognizes their work is far from done. As a start-up, the company is rapidly expanding and Truepic’s leadership must remain mindful and committed to ensuring support for social impact.

As Tara Vassefi, Truepic’s Washington Director of Strategic Initiatives, notes: “There is no clear roadmap for smaller businesses looking to embed SDGs at the core of their business. Given Truepic’s positive experience, we plan to work with our partner organizations and peers to help chart the path and build a roadmap that might help other early-stage companies put the SDGs at the core of their business.”

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World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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How Does Social Media Affect Your Mental Health?

Facebook has delayed the development of an Instagram app for children amid questions about its harmful effects on young people’s mental health. Does social media have an impact on your well-being?

By Nicole Daniels

What is your relationship with social media like? Which platforms do you spend the most time on? Which do you stay away from? How often do you log on?

What do you notice about your mental health and well-being when spending time on social networks?

In “ Facebook Delays Instagram App for Users 13 and Younger ,” Adam Satariano and Ryan Mac write about the findings of an internal study conducted by Facebook and what they mean for the Instagram Kids app that the company was developing:

Facebook said on Monday that it had paused development of an Instagram Kids service that would be tailored for children 13 years old or younger, as the social network increasingly faces questions about the app’s effect on young people’s mental health. The pullback preceded a congressional hearing this week about internal research conducted by Facebook , and reported in The Wall Street Journal , that showed the company knew of the harmful mental health effects that Instagram was having on teenage girls. The revelations have set off a public relations crisis for the Silicon Valley company and led to a fresh round of calls for new regulation. Facebook said it still wanted to build an Instagram product intended for children that would have a more “age appropriate experience,” but was postponing the plans in the face of criticism.

The article continues:

With Instagram Kids, Facebook had argued that young people were using the photo-sharing app anyway, despite age-requirement rules, so it would be better to develop a version more suitable for them. Facebook said the “kids” app was intended for ages 10 to 12 and would require parental permission to join, forgo ads and carry more age-appropriate content and features. Parents would be able to control what accounts their child followed. YouTube, which Google owns, has released a children’s version of its app. But since BuzzFeed broke the news this year that Facebook was working on the app, the company has faced scrutiny. Policymakers, regulators, child safety groups and consumer rights groups have argued that it hooks children on the app at a younger age rather than protecting them from problems with the service, including child predatory grooming, bullying and body shaming.

The article goes on to quote Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram:

Mr. Mosseri said on Monday that the “the project leaked way before we knew what it would be” and that the company had “few answers” for the public at the time. Opposition to Facebook’s plans gained momentum this month when The Journal published articles based on leaked internal documents that showed Facebook knew about many of the harms it was causing. Facebook’s internal research showed that Instagram, in particular, had caused teen girls to feel worse about their bodies and led to increased rates of anxiety and depression, even while company executives publicly tried to minimize the app’s downsides.

But concerns about the effect of social media on young people go beyond Instagram Kids, the article notes:

A children’s version of Instagram would not fix more systemic problems, said Al Mik, a spokesman for 5Rights Foundation, a London group focused on digital rights issues for children. The group published a report in July showing that children as young as 13 were targeted within 24 hours of creating an account with harmful content, including material related to eating disorders, extreme diets, sexualized imagery, body shaming, self-harm and suicide. “Big Tobacco understood that the younger you got to someone, the easier you could get them addicted to become a lifelong user,” Doug Peterson, Nebraska’s attorney general, said in an interview. “I see some comparisons to social media platforms.” In May, attorneys general from 44 states and jurisdictions had signed a letter to Facebook’s chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, asking him to end plans for building an Instagram app for children. American policymakers should pass tougher laws to restrict how tech platforms target children, said Josh Golin, executive director of Fairplay, a Boston-based group that was part of an international coalition of children’s and consumer groups opposed to the new app. Last year, Britain adopted an Age Appropriate Design Code , which requires added privacy protections for digital services used by people under the age of 18.

Students, read the entire article , then tell us:

Do you think Facebook made the right decision in halting the development of the Instagram Kids app? Do you think there should be social media apps for children 13 and younger? Why or why not?

What is your reaction to the research that found that Instagram can have harmful mental health effects on teenagers, particularly teenage girls? Have you experienced body image issues, anxiety or depression tied to your use of the app? How do you think social media affects your mental health?

What has your experience been on different social media apps? Are there apps that have a more positive or negative effect on your well-being? What do you think could explain these differences?

Have you ever been targeted with inappropriate or harmful content on Instagram or other social media apps? What responsibility do you think social media companies have to address these issues? Do you think there should be more protections in place for users under 18? Why or why not?

What does healthy social media engagement look like for you? What habits do you have around social media that you feel proud of? What behaviors would you like to change? How involved are your parents in your social media use? How involved do you think they should be?

If you were in charge of making Instagram, or another social media app, safer for teenagers, what changes would you make?

Want more writing prompts? You can find all of our questions in our Student Opinion column . Teachers, check out this guide to learn how you can incorporate them into your classroom.

Students 13 and older in the United States and Britain, and 16 and older elsewhere, are invited to comment. All comments are moderated by the Learning Network staff, but please keep in mind that once your comment is accepted, it will be made public.

Nicole Daniels joined The Learning Network as a staff editor in 2019 after working in museum education, curriculum writing and bilingual education. More about Nicole Daniels

Social Impact Theory of Human Communication Essay

Introduction, works cited.

The social impact theory is the theory that is applied to individual and inter-group relations as well as tendencies that may be viewed in the course of human communication. In general, the theory investigates the influence of society on individuals and the opposite influence an individual may produce on society. it has been long ago proved that the interrelations of two individuals and influence they may produce on each other highly differ from the distribution of power that occurs between a group and an individual. Together with this, it is a fact that the more the size of the group is, the more effective the influence produced by it on a individual is. The opposite influence is also reducing with the extent of increasing the number of the group on which influence is produced. Scientifically speaking, it is “a model that conceives of influence from other people… acting on individuals, much as physical forces can affect an object” (Leslie).

There are two types of the social impact theories – first of all, it is the general theory that claims that all forms of social influence, whatever the specific social process, will be proportional to a multiplicative function of the strength, immediacy, and number of people who are the sources of influence, and inversely proportional to the strength, immediacy, and number of people being influenced (Latane and Drigotas).

In contrast to the general theory, or as its consequence, there appeared a dynamic social impact theory that explores the relations between people within and between groups, juxtaposing the influence that may be produced by an individual on a group and vice versa. According to the opinion of Mabry and Sudweeks, the dynamic social impact theory has a disadvantage of not considering the relationd of space, time and communication modality, which makes it limited to a certain extent (Mabry and Sudweeks, p. 2).

The social impact theory has found much support and became very interesting for research as its functionality has been proved in many spheres. There is even a method of utilizing the theory in order to manipulate people and achieve one’s goal: people who are knowledgeable in manipulating people may do it much quicker and easier if they involve some person into their influence thus creating a group, and then continue producing influence on other people with the help of this group. As a result, the number of people in the group enlarges, becomes more powerful and fulfills the initial aim of the initiator. Together with this, the members of the group may not even realize that the follow not their aims but the initially stipulated aim of the person who was the creator of the group.

The discussed theory has been successfully applied in many social events such as massive gathering, propaganda, group work in an organization, learning the principles of convincing people in something. Group pressure is also a common phenomenon in any place where an individual may come across a need to persuade some people thus entering the relations of mutual influence. It is absolutely commonplace to see the examples of the theory in action. “In meetings in the workplace, few will speak out if their opinion differs from the majority” (Social Impact Theory).

The theory has been developed recently; there were many findings represented in the sphere of psychology, furthering its findings. For example, it is interesting to note some of Latane’s findings, for example, that each individual can influence others; but the more people are present, the less influence any one individual will have. Thus, we are more likely to listen attentively to a speaker if we are in a small group than if we were in a large group (Theory of Social Impact).

• Latane, Bibb, and Drigotas, Stephen. Social Impact Theory. 2009.
• Leslie. Social Impact Theory, 2008.
• Mabry, Edward, and Sudweeks, Evelyn. “Assessing the Impacts of Dynamic Social Impact Theory in Asynchronous Groups” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Communication Association, Dresden International Congress Centre, Dresden, Germany, 2009.
• Social Impact Theory , 2009. Web.
• Theory of Social Impact, 2009.
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2022, March 7). Social Impact Theory of Human Communication. https://ivypanda.com/essays/social-impact-theory-of-human-communication/

"Social Impact Theory of Human Communication." IvyPanda , 7 Mar. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/social-impact-theory-of-human-communication/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Social Impact Theory of Human Communication'. 7 March.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Social Impact Theory of Human Communication." March 7, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/social-impact-theory-of-human-communication/.

1. IvyPanda . "Social Impact Theory of Human Communication." March 7, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/social-impact-theory-of-human-communication/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Social Impact Theory of Human Communication." March 7, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/social-impact-theory-of-human-communication/.

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6 Example Essays on Social Media | Advantages, Effects, and Outlines

Got an essay assignment about the effects of social media we got you covered check out our examples and outlines below.

Social media has become one of our society's most prominent ways of communication and information sharing in a very short time. It has changed how we communicate and has given us a platform to express our views and opinions and connect with others. It keeps us informed about the world around us. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn have brought individuals from all over the world together, breaking down geographical borders and fostering a genuinely global community.

However, social media comes with its difficulties. With the rise of misinformation, cyberbullying, and privacy problems, it's critical to utilize these platforms properly and be aware of the risks. Students in the academic world are frequently assigned essays about the impact of social media on numerous elements of our lives, such as relationships, politics, and culture. These essays necessitate a thorough comprehension of the subject matter, critical thinking, and the ability to synthesize and convey information clearly and succinctly.

But where do you begin? It can be challenging to know where to start with so much information available. Jenni.ai comes in handy here. Jenni.ai is an AI application built exclusively for students to help them write essays more quickly and easily. Jenni.ai provides students with inspiration and assistance on how to approach their essays with its enormous database of sample essays on a variety of themes, including social media. Jenni.ai is the solution you've been looking for if you're experiencing writer's block or need assistance getting started.

So, whether you're a student looking to better your essay writing skills or want to remain up to date on the latest social media advancements, Jenni.ai is here to help. Jenni.ai is the ideal tool for helping you write your finest essay ever, thanks to its simple design, an extensive database of example essays, and cutting-edge AI technology. So, why delay? Sign up for a free trial of Jenni.ai today and begin exploring the worlds of social networking and essay writing!

Want to learn how to write an argumentative essay? Check out these inspiring examples!

We will provide various examples of social media essays so you may get a feel for the genre.

6 Examples of Social Media Essays

Here are 6 examples of Social Media Essays:

The Impact of Social Media on Relationships and Communication

Introduction:.

The way we share information and build relationships has evolved as a direct result of the prevalence of social media in our daily lives. The influence of social media on interpersonal connections and conversation is a hot topic. Although social media has many positive effects, such as bringing people together regardless of physical proximity and making communication quicker and more accessible, it also has a dark side that can affect interpersonal connections and dialogue.

Positive Effects:

Connecting People Across Distances

One of social media's most significant benefits is its ability to connect individuals across long distances. People can use social media platforms to interact and stay in touch with friends and family far away. People can now maintain intimate relationships with those they care about, even when physically separated.

Improved Communication Speed and Efficiency

Additionally, the proliferation of social media sites has accelerated and simplified communication. Thanks to instant messaging, users can have short, timely conversations rather than lengthy ones via email. Furthermore, social media facilitates group communication, such as with classmates or employees, by providing a unified forum for such activities.

Negative Effects:

Decreased Face-to-Face Communication

The decline in in-person interaction is one of social media's most pernicious consequences on interpersonal connections and dialogue. People's reliance on digital communication over in-person contact has increased along with the popularity of social media. Face-to-face interaction has suffered as a result, which has adverse effects on interpersonal relationships and the development of social skills.

Decreased Emotional Intimacy

Another adverse effect of social media on relationships and communication is decreased emotional intimacy. Digital communication lacks the nonverbal cues and facial expressions critical in building emotional connections with others. This can make it more difficult for people to develop close and meaningful relationships, leading to increased loneliness and isolation.

Increased Conflict and Miscommunication

Finally, social media can also lead to increased conflict and miscommunication. The anonymity and distance provided by digital communication can lead to misunderstandings and hurtful comments that might not have been made face-to-face. Additionally, social media can provide a platform for cyberbullying , which can have severe consequences for the victim's mental health and well-being.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the impact of social media on relationships and communication is a complex issue with both positive and negative effects. While social media platforms offer many benefits, such as connecting people across distances and enabling faster and more accessible communication, they also have a dark side that can negatively affect relationships and communication. It is up to individuals to use social media responsibly and to prioritize in-person communication in their relationships and interactions with others.

The Role of Social Media in the Spread of Misinformation and Fake News

Social media has revolutionized the way information is shared and disseminated. However, the ease and speed at which data can be spread on social media also make it a powerful tool for spreading misinformation and fake news. Misinformation and fake news can seriously affect public opinion, influence political decisions, and even cause harm to individuals and communities.

The Pervasiveness of Misinformation and Fake News on Social Media

Misinformation and fake news are prevalent on social media platforms, where they can spread quickly and reach a large audience. This is partly due to the way social media algorithms work, which prioritizes content likely to generate engagement, such as sensational or controversial stories. As a result, false information can spread rapidly and be widely shared before it is fact-checked or debunked.

The Influence of Social Media on Public Opinion

Social media can significantly impact public opinion, as people are likelier to believe the information they see shared by their friends and followers. This can lead to a self-reinforcing cycle, where misinformation and fake news are spread and reinforced, even in the face of evidence to the contrary.

The Challenge of Correcting Misinformation and Fake News

Correcting misinformation and fake news on social media can be a challenging task. This is partly due to the speed at which false information can spread and the difficulty of reaching the same audience exposed to the wrong information in the first place. Additionally, some individuals may be resistant to accepting correction, primarily if the incorrect information supports their beliefs or biases.

In conclusion, the function of social media in disseminating misinformation and fake news is complex and urgent. While social media has revolutionized the sharing of information, it has also made it simpler for false information to propagate and be widely believed. Individuals must be accountable for the information they share and consume, and social media firms must take measures to prevent the spread of disinformation and fake news on their platforms.

The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health and Well-Being

Social media has become an integral part of modern life, with billions of people around the world using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to stay connected with others and access information. However, while social media has many benefits, it can also negatively affect mental health and well-being.

Comparison and Low Self-Esteem

One of the key ways that social media can affect mental health is by promoting feelings of comparison and low self-esteem. People often present a curated version of their lives on social media, highlighting their successes and hiding their struggles. This can lead others to compare themselves unfavorably, leading to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

Cyberbullying and Online Harassment

Another way that social media can negatively impact mental health is through cyberbullying and online harassment. Social media provides a platform for anonymous individuals to harass and abuse others, leading to feelings of anxiety, fear, and depression.

Social Isolation

Despite its name, social media can also contribute to feelings of isolation. At the same time, people may have many online friends but need more meaningful in-person connections and support. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression.

Addiction and Overuse

Finally, social media can be addictive, leading to overuse and negatively impacting mental health and well-being. People may spend hours each day scrolling through their feeds, neglecting other important areas of their lives, such as work, family, and self-care.

In sum, social media has positive and negative consequences on one's psychological and emotional well-being. Realizing this, and taking measures like reducing one's social media use, reaching out to loved ones for help, and prioritizing one's well-being, are crucial. In addition, it's vital that social media giants take ownership of their platforms and actively encourage excellent mental health and well-being.

The Use of Social Media in Political Activism and Social Movements

Social media has recently become increasingly crucial in political action and social movements. Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have given people new ways to express themselves, organize protests, and raise awareness about social and political issues.

Raising Awareness and Mobilizing Action

One of the most important uses of social media in political activity and social movements has been to raise awareness about important issues and mobilize action. Hashtags such as #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter, for example, have brought attention to sexual harassment and racial injustice, respectively. Similarly, social media has been used to organize protests and other political actions, allowing people to band together and express themselves on a bigger scale.

Connecting with like-minded individuals

A second method in that social media has been utilized in political activity and social movements is to unite like-minded individuals. Through social media, individuals can join online groups, share knowledge and resources, and work with others to accomplish shared objectives. This has been especially significant for geographically scattered individuals or those without access to traditional means of political organizing.

Challenges and Limitations

As a vehicle for political action and social movements, social media has faced many obstacles and restrictions despite its many advantages. For instance, the propagation of misinformation and fake news on social media can impede attempts to disseminate accurate and reliable information. In addition, social media corporations have been condemned for censorship and insufficient protection of user rights.

In conclusion, social media has emerged as a potent instrument for political activism and social movements, giving voice to previously unheard communities and galvanizing support for change. Social media presents many opportunities for communication and collaboration. Still, users and institutions must be conscious of the risks and limitations of these tools to promote their responsible and productive usage.

The Potential Privacy Concerns Raised by Social Media Use and Data Collection Practices

With billions of users each day on sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, social media has ingrained itself into every aspect of our lives. While these platforms offer a straightforward method to communicate with others and exchange information, they also raise significant concerns over data collecting and privacy. This article will examine the possible privacy issues posed by social media use and data-gathering techniques.

Data Collection and Sharing

The gathering and sharing of personal data are significant privacy issues brought up by social media use. Social networking sites gather user data, including details about their relationships, hobbies, and routines. This information is made available to third-party businesses for various uses, such as marketing and advertising. This can lead to serious concerns about who has access to and uses our personal information.

Lack of Control Over Personal Information

The absence of user control over personal information is a significant privacy issue brought up by social media usage. Social media makes it challenging to limit who has access to and how data is utilized once it has been posted. Sensitive information may end up being extensively disseminated and may be used maliciously as a result.

Personalized Marketing

Social media companies utilize the information they gather about users to target them with adverts relevant to their interests and usage patterns. Although this could be useful, it might also cause consumers to worry about their privacy since they might feel that their personal information is being used without their permission. Furthermore, there are issues with the integrity of the data being used to target users and the possibility of prejudice based on individual traits.

Government Surveillance

Using social media might spark worries about government surveillance. There are significant concerns regarding privacy and free expression when governments in some nations utilize social media platforms to follow and monitor residents.

In conclusion, social media use raises significant concerns regarding data collecting and privacy. While these platforms make it easy to interact with people and exchange information, they also gather a lot of personal information, which raises questions about who may access it and how it will be used. Users should be aware of these privacy issues and take precautions to safeguard their personal information, such as exercising caution when choosing what details to disclose on social media and keeping their information sharing with other firms to a minimum.

The Ethical and Privacy Concerns Surrounding Social Media Use And Data Collection

Our use of social media to communicate with loved ones, acquire information, and even conduct business has become a crucial part of our everyday lives. The extensive use of social media does, however, raise some ethical and privacy issues that must be resolved. The influence of social media use and data collecting on user rights, the accountability of social media businesses, and the need for improved regulation are all topics that will be covered in this article.

Effect on Individual Privacy:

Social networking sites gather tons of personal data from their users, including delicate information like search history, location data, and even health data. Each user's detailed profile may be created with this data and sold to advertising or used for other reasons. Concerns regarding the privacy of personal information might arise because social media businesses can use this data to target users with customized adverts.

Additionally, individuals might need to know how much their personal information is being gathered and exploited. Data breaches or the unauthorized sharing of personal information with other parties may result in instances where sensitive information is exposed. Users should be aware of the privacy rules of social media firms and take precautions to secure their data.

Responsibility of Social Media Companies:

Social media firms should ensure that they responsibly and ethically gather and use user information. This entails establishing strong security measures to safeguard sensitive information and ensuring users are informed of what information is being collected and how it is used.

Many social media businesses, nevertheless, have come under fire for not upholding these obligations. For instance, the Cambridge Analytica incident highlighted how Facebook users' personal information was exploited for political objectives without their knowledge. This demonstrates the necessity of social media corporations being held responsible for their deeds and ensuring that they are safeguarding the security and privacy of their users.

Better Regulation Is Needed

There is a need for tighter regulation in this field, given the effect, social media has on individual privacy as well as the obligations of social media firms. The creation of laws and regulations that ensure social media companies are gathering and using user information ethically and responsibly, as well as making sure users are aware of their rights and have the ability to control the information that is being collected about them, are all part of this.

Additionally, legislation should ensure that social media businesses are held responsible for their behavior, for example, by levying fines for data breaches or the unauthorized use of personal data. This will provide social media businesses with a significant incentive to prioritize their users' privacy and security and ensure they are upholding their obligations.

In conclusion, social media has fundamentally changed how we engage and communicate with one another, but this increased convenience also raises several ethical and privacy issues. Essential concerns that need to be addressed include the effect of social media on individual privacy, the accountability of social media businesses, and the requirement for greater regulation to safeguard user rights. We can make everyone's online experience safer and more secure by looking more closely at these issues.

In conclusion, social media is a complex and multifaceted topic that has recently captured the world's attention. With its ever-growing influence on our lives, it's no surprise that it has become a popular subject for students to explore in their writing. Whether you are writing an argumentative essay on the impact of social media on privacy, a persuasive essay on the role of social media in politics, or a descriptive essay on the changes social media has brought to the way we communicate, there are countless angles to approach this subject.

However, writing a comprehensive and well-researched essay on social media can be daunting. It requires a thorough understanding of the topic and the ability to articulate your ideas clearly and concisely. This is where Jenni.ai comes in. Our AI-powered tool is designed to help students like you save time and energy and focus on what truly matters - your education. With Jenni.ai , you'll have access to a wealth of examples and receive personalized writing suggestions and feedback.

Whether you're a student who's just starting your writing journey or looking to perfect your craft, Jenni.ai has everything you need to succeed. Our tool provides you with the necessary resources to write with confidence and clarity, no matter your experience level. You'll be able to experiment with different styles, explore new ideas , and refine your writing skills.

So why waste your time and energy struggling to write an essay on your own when you can have Jenni.ai by your side? Sign up for our free trial today and experience the difference for yourself! With Jenni.ai, you'll have the resources you need to write confidently, clearly, and creatively. Get started today and see just how easy and efficient writing can be!

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An Essay About Social Media: Definition, Outline and Examples

An essay about social media is a piece of writing that explores social media’s impact, influence, and consequences on various aspects of society, such as communication, relationships, politics, mental health, culture, and more.

The essay can take on different forms, such as an argumentative essay , a cause-and-effect essay, a critical analysis, or an exploratory essay.

A good essay about social media aims to provide a well-researched and thought-provoking examination of the topic and to help readers better understand the complex nature of social media and its role in our lives.

The essay may address questions such as:

• How has social media changed communication?
• What are the positive and negative effects of social media on mental health?
• How has social media impacted politics and public opinion?
• What is the future of social media, and how will it continue to shape our lives?

Why do college students write essays about social media

College students may write an essay about social media for several reasons:

• To fulfill an assignment: Many professors assign social media essays as part of a communication, media studies course, or sociology. Writing an essay on social media helps students understand the topic more deeply and grasp its impact on society.
• To demonstrate critical thinking skills: Writing an essay about social media requires students to analyze the topic and form an informed opinion critically. It provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate their critical thinking skills and shows that they can evaluate complex ideas and arguments.
• To develop research skills: Writing an essay about social media requires students to conduct thorough research and gather information from credible sources. This helps students develop important research skills and evaluate the reliability and relevance of different sources.
• To express personal views and opinions: Writing an essay about social media allows students to express their views and opinions on the topic. This can be a great opportunity for students to showcase their creativity and thoughtfulness and share their insights.
• To prepare for future careers: Social media is a rapidly growing field, and many careers in marketing, advertising, public relations, journalism, and other fields require a deep understanding of the role of social media in society. Writing an essay on social media can help students prepare for these careers by better understanding the topic and its impact on the world around them.

How to write an essay about social media

Step 1: Choose a Topic Before you start writing your essay, you must choose a topic you are interested in and clearly understand. This could be a specific aspect of social media, such as its impact on mental health, or a more general overview of the pros and cons of social media.

Step 2: Research To write an effective essay about social media, gather information and data on your topic from various sources, such as books, articles, websites, and interviews. Make sure to take notes and organize your research to make it easier to reference later.

Step 3: Create an Outline An outline is a roadmap for your essay about social media and will help you organize your thoughts and ideas. A standard essay outline includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Step 4: Write the Introduction In the introduction of your essay about social media, provide background information on social media and introduce your thesis statement. A thesis statement is a sentence that states your argument and sets the direction of your essay.

Step 5: Write the Body Paragraphs The body paragraphs are the main part of your essay, where you will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of social media, its impact on society, and other relevant topics. Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence, supporting evidence, and a conclusion.

Step 6: Write the Conclusion The conclusion should summarize your main points and restate your thesis. It should also provide a final thought or call to action, encouraging the reader to think critically about social media and its impact on society.

Step 7: Edit and Revise Once you have completed your first draft, take some time to revise and edit your essay. Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, and ensure your ideas are well-organized and presented.

Step 8: Proofread Proofread your essay one last time to catch any mistakes you may have missed in the previous steps. This will help to ensure that your essay is well-written and error-free.

Essay about social media: outline example

I. Introduction

Definition of social media A brief history of social media Importance of social media in today’s world II. Advantages of social media

Connectivity and communication Access to information Improved marketing and advertising Increased global exposure and reach Ability to participate in social movements and activism III. Disadvantages of social media

Cyberbullying and online harassment Addiction and decreased productivity Spread of misinformation and fake news Decreased privacy and security Impacts on mental health and self-esteem IV. Social media and its impact on society

Influence on politics and elections Changes in the way we interact and communicate Increase in consumerism and materialism Impact on journalism and news media Effects on personal relationships and communication skills V. Conclusion

Recap of the advantages and disadvantages of social media Final thoughts on the role and impact of social media in society Call to action for the responsible and mindful use of social media

Example 1: Short social media essay

Social media is a term that refers to the various platforms and websites that allow individuals to communicate, share information and content, and connect with others on the internet. With the rise of social media, the way people communicate, interact and consume information has dramatically changed. Overall, Social media has changed the way we communicate, access information, and interact with others, but its impact on society is both positive and negative, highlighting the need for responsible and mindful use. One of the most significant advantages of social media is the ease of connectivity and communication. Social media has brought people from all over the world together, making it possible to form online communities and interact with others who share similar interests (Lin et al., 2021). This has been especially beneficial for individuals who live in isolated areas or have mobility issues, as social media provides a way to stay connected and engaged with others. In addition, social media has provided unprecedented access to information. The internet has become a vast library of knowledge available to anyone with an internet connection. With the help of social media, people can access the latest news, events, and trends from around the world and learn about various topics and issues from diverse perspectives. However, social media also has its negative aspects. One of the most significant drawbacks is the spread of misinformation and fake news. The ease of creating and sharing content online has led to an increase in misleading information, which can have far-reaching consequences, particularly in politics and public opinion (Kuss & Griffiths, 2017). Additionally, social media can be addictive and can negatively impact productivity, as people spend hours browsing and scrolling through their feeds. Social media has also had a significant impact on the way we interact with one another. The anonymity provided by the internet has led to an increase in online harassment and cyberbullying, which can be particularly damaging to young people’s mental health ()Lin et al., 2021; Kuss & Grifffiths, 2017). Moreover, social media has decreased privacy and security, as personal information can be easily shared and spread online. In conclusion, social media has been both a blessing and a curse for society. On the one hand, it has revolutionized how people communicate, providing a platform for global connectivity and access to information. On the other hand, it has also led to an increase in misinformation, cyberbullying, and privacy concerns. As social media continues to evolve, it is important to find a balance between its benefits and drawbacks and to use it responsibly and mindfully. References

• Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2017). Social networking sites and addiction: Ten lessons learned. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(3), 311.
• Lin, L. Y., Sidani, J. E., Shensa, A., Radovic, A., Miller, E., Colditz, J. B., Hoffman, B. L., Giles, L. M., & Primack, B. A. (2021). Association between social media use and depression among US young adults. Depression and Anxiety, 33(4), 323–331.

P.S: Click here if you need help with your social media essay 

Example 2: 1000 + words Essay About Social Media

Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, connecting us to people and information from around the world. With the rise of platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok, social media has transformed the way we communicate, share information, and consume media (Statista, 2021). This essay, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of social media, as well as its impact on society. The overaching assertion is that by understanding the complex role that social media plays in our lives, we can begin to use these platforms in a more responsible and mindful way, ensuring that we are maximizing their benefits while minimizing their negative effects. Advantages of social media Connectivity and communication Social media has made access to information easier and more convenient than ever before. News, entertainment, and educational content are readily available through social media platforms, providing users with a wide range of perspectives and viewpoints. Social media has also made it easier for individuals to access information that would have previously been difficult to find or obtain (Gershon, 2019). For example, people can now easily find information about medical conditions, research studies, and government policies, all of which can be used to make informed decisions about their health, education, and politics. Improved marketing and advertising Social media has revolutionized the way companies market their products and services, enabling them to reach a wider audience and target specific demographics. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram have sophisticated advertising algorithms that allow companies to target users based on their interests, location, and behavior (Gershon, 2019). This has made advertising more effective and efficient, resulting in higher engagement and conversion rates. Social media has also enabled small businesses and entrepreneurs to reach customers without the need for expensive marketing campaigns, making it easier to compete with larger corporations. Increased global exposure and reach Social media has given individuals and organizations global exposure, allowing them to reach audiences they would not have been able to reach otherwise. Social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram have been used by celebrities and public figures to build their brands and reach a wider audience (Pew Research Center, 2021). Social media has also been used by activists and social movements to raise awareness about issues and mobilize support across the globe. For example, the #MeToo movement, which started as a hashtag on social media, has become a global movement that has led to significant changes in the way society views sexual harassment and assault. Ability to participate in social movements and activism Social media has given individuals the power to participate in social and political movements, making it easier for people to voice their opinions and take action on issues they care about (Mesch, 2018). Social media has been used to organize protests, raise awareness about issues, and mobilize support for causes. It has also given marginalized groups a platform to share their experiences and perspectives, enabling them to demand change and hold those in power accountable. Disadvantages of social media Cyberbullying and online harassment While social media has many benefits, it also has several disadvantages. One of the most significant drawbacks is cyberbullying and online harassment. Social media platforms have become breeding grounds for bullying and harassment, with individuals using anonymity to attack and intimidate others. This can have severe consequences for the victim, including depression, anxiety, and in extreme cases, suicide (Mesch ,2018). Cyberbullying has become a significant concern, with one study finding that 59% of U.S. teens have experienced some form of online harassment (Pew Reserach , 2021). Addiction and decreased productivity Social media can be highly addictive, with users spending hours scrolling through their feeds and engaging with content. This addiction can have detrimental effects on productivity, with individuals spending less time on work or other important activities. Studies have shown that social media addiction can lead to a decrease in academic performance, work productivity, and overall well-being. Spread of misinformation and fake news Another disadvantage of social media is the spread of misinformation and fake news. With the ease of sharing content on social media, it has become easy for false information to be disseminated to a wide audience quickly. This can have severe consequences, as false information can influence people’s beliefs and behaviors, leading to harmful outcomes. The spread of fake news has been a significant concern, with social media companies facing criticism for not doing enough to combat it. Decreased privacy and security Social media has also led to a decrease in privacy and security, with users’ personal information often being collected and shared without their consent. Social media platforms collect vast amounts of data about their users, including their location, interests, and online behavior. This information can be used for targeted advertising, but it can also be used for nefarious purposes, such as identity theft or cyber attacks. Impacts on mental health and self-esteem Social media has been linked to several negative impacts on mental health and self-esteem. Studies have shown that excessive social media use can lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Social media has also been linked to negative body image and low self-esteem, with individuals comparing themselves to unrealistic and idealized images presented on social media platforms (Pew Research Center, 2021). Social media and its impact on society Influence on politics and elections Social media has had a significant impact on politics and elections, with candidates and parties using social media to reach and engage with voters. Social media has enabled political campaigns to reach a wider audience, mobilize support, and fundraise (Tufekci, 2018). Social media has also been used to spread propaganda and false information, leading to concerns about its impact on the democratic process. Changes in the way we interact and communicate Social media has transformed the way we interact and communicate with others, with many individuals relying on social media platforms as their primary means of communication. Social media has enabled individuals to connect with people across the globe, but it has also led to a decrease in face-to-face interactions. This can have significant consequences, as face-to-face interactions are crucial for building strong relationships and developing social skills. Increase in consumerism and materialism Social media has contributed to an increase in consumerism and materialism, with individuals being exposed to a constant stream of advertisements and product promotions. Social media platforms have become virtual marketplaces, with individuals being bombarded with messages that encourage them to buy more and consume more. Impact on journalism and news media Social media has also had a significant impact on journalism and news media, with many individuals turning to social media platforms for their news and information. While social media has enabled citizen journalism and given a platform to marginalized voices, it has also led to the spread of misinformation and fake news. Social media has also led to a decrease in traditional news media outlets, with many newspapers and TV stations struggling to compete with social media platforms (Tandoc et al., 2018). Effects on personal relationships and communication skills Finally, social media has had significant effects on personal relationships and communication skills. While social media has enabled individuals to connect with people across the globe, it has also led to a decrease in the quality of interpersonal relationships (Pew Research Center, 2021). Many individuals rely on social media for their social interactions, leading to a decrease in face-to-face interactions and the development of social skills. Additionally, social media has enabled individuals to present a curated and idealized version of themselves, leading to a lack of authenticity and trust in personal relationships. Conclusion In conclusion, social media has become an integral part of our lives, with many individuals relying on social media platforms for communication, information, and entertainment. While social media has many advantages, it also has several significant disadvantages, including cyberbullying, addiction, spread of misinformation, decreased privacy, and negative impacts on mental health and self-esteem. Social media has also had a significant impact on society, influencing politics and elections, changing the way we interact and communicate, contributing to consumerism and materialism, and affecting journalism and news media. As we continue to navigate the complex world of social media, it is crucial to be mindful and responsible in our use of these platforms, ensuring that we are using them to their fullest potential while minimizing the negative impacts. By doing so, we can continue to enjoy the benefits of social media while mitigating its negative effects. References  Statista. (2021). Number of social media users worldwide from 2010 to 2026 (in billions). https://www.statista.com/statistics/278414/number-of-worldwide-social-network-users/ Pew Research Center. (2021). Social media fact sheet. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/social-media/ Tufekci, Z. (2018). Twitter and tear gas: The power and fragility of networked protest. Yale University Press. Mesch, G. S. (2018). Social media and social support. In J. Wright (Ed.), International encyclopedia of the social & behavioral sciences (pp. 28–33). Elsevier. Tandoc, E. C., Jr., Lim, Z. W., & Ling, R. (2018). Defining “fake news.” Digital Journalism, 6(2), 137–153. Gershon, I. (2019). Media ideologies: A comparative study of Russian and US journalism. Cambridge University Press.

Social media essay topic ideas

• Why social media has changed the way we communicate
• A critical analysis of the impact of social media on mental health
• How social media has affected politics and public opinion
• Where social media has made the biggest impact on society
• An examination of the benefits and drawbacks of social media
• The role of social media in the spread of misinformation
• How social media has changed the advertising industry
• The impact of social media on privacy and security
• Why social media can be addictive and what can be done to mitigate its negative effects
• An exploration of the use of social media in education and learning.
• The influence of social media on relationships and personal connections
• How social media has impacted the job market and employment opportunities
• The role of social media in promoting cultural exchange and understanding
• An analysis of the influence of social media on popular culture
• The impact of social media on traditional forms of media, such as television and print
• The potential of social media for social activism and social change
• How social media has changed the way we consume and share information
• The impact of social media on the way we perceive and experience events
• The role of social media in shaping the future of technology and communication
• An examination of the ethical considerations surrounding social media and its use.
• The influence of social media on fashion and beauty trends
• How social media has impacted the way we perceive and experience travel
• An analysis of the impact of social media on professional sports and athletics
• The influence of social media on the music industry and artist promotions
• The role of social media in fostering online communities and relationships
• How social media has changed the way we access and consume news
• An examination of the impact of social media on the way we shop and make purchasing decisions
• The influence of social media on the way we view and engage with art and creativity
• The impact of social media on personal branding and self-promotion
• An exploration of the use of social media in crisis management and emergency response.

Essays about social media additional tips

• Start with a strong thesis statement that clearly states your argument.
• Use reputable sources for your research and reference them properly in your essay.
• Avoid using overly technical language or overly casual language.
• Use specific examples to support your argument and make your essay more relatable.
• Be mindful of the tone of your essay and aim for a balanced, neutral perspective.
• Avoid making broad generalizations and instead focus on specific, well-supported claims.
• Consider both social media’s positive and negative aspects and provide a nuanced perspective.
• Use clear, concise, and well-structured sentences and paragraphs to make your essay easy to read and understand.
• Use a variety of sentence structures and avoid repeating the same sentence structure repeatedly.
• End your essay with a strong conclusion summarizing your main points and providing a final thought or calls to action.

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How to Study

Social Media Essay: A Full Guide

In an era where a single tweet can spark a global conversation and an Instagram post can redefine trends, it's fascinating to note that the average person spends approximately 2 hours and 31 minutes per day on social media platforms. That's more than 900 hours a year devoted to scrolling, liking, and sharing in the vast digital landscape. As we find ourselves deeply intertwined in the fabric of online communities, the significance of understanding and articulating the dynamics of social media through the written word, particularly in an essay on social media, becomes increasingly apparent. So, why embark on the journey of crafting an essay on this ubiquitous aspect of modern life? Join us as we unravel the layers of social media's impact, explore its nuances, and discover the art of conveying these insights through the written form.

Short Description

In this article, we'll explore how to write an essay on social media and the purpose behind these narratives while also delving into a myriad of engaging topics. From the heartbeat of online connections to the rhythm of effective storytelling, we'll guide you organically through the process, sharing insights on structure, approach, and the creative essence that makes each essay unique. And if you're seeking assistance, pondering - ' I wish I could find someone to write my essay ,' we'll also furnish example essays to empower you to tackle such tasks independently.

Why Write a Social Media Essay

In a world buzzing with hashtags, filters, and the constant hum of notifications, the idea of sitting down to craft an essay about social media might seem as out of place as a cassette tape in a streaming era. Yet, there's something oddly therapeutic, almost rebellious, about pausing in the midst of 280-character wisdom to delve deeper into the why behind our digital existence.

So, what is social media essay, and what's the purpose of writing it? Well, it's more than just an exercise in intellectual curiosity. It's a personal journey, a reflective pause in the ceaseless scroll. While writing the essay, we gain the power to articulate the intangible, to breathe life into the pixels that dance across our screens. It's an opportunity to make sense of the chaos, to find meaning in the memes, and perhaps, in the process, to uncover a bit more about ourselves in this digital wilderness.

Let's face it - our online lives are a fast-paced carousel of memes, viral challenges, and carefully curated selfies. So, why bother wrestling with words and paragraphs in a world where brevity is king? The answer lies in the art of unraveling the digital tapestry that envelops us.

There's a magic in articulating the dance between the profound and the mundane that occurs within the confines of our screens. An essay becomes a lens, focusing our attention on the subtleties of social media dynamics – the inside jokes that become global phenomena, the ripple effect of a well-timed retweet, and the silent conversations unfolding in the comment sections.

6 Key Tips for Crafting a Social Media Essay

Now that we've set sail into the realm of essays on the digital landscape, it's only fair to equip ourselves with a few trusty tools for the journey. Think of these tips as your compass, helping you navigate the sometimes choppy, often unpredictable waters of crafting an essay on social media.

• Embrace Your Authentic Voice: Just like your favorite Instagram filter can't hide the real you, your essay should reflect your genuine thoughts and feelings. Don't be afraid to let your unique voice shine through – whether it's witty, contemplative, or a delightful blend of both.
• Dive into the Details: Social media isn't just about the grand gestures; it's the small, often unnoticed details that weave the most compelling narratives. Explore the minutiae of your online experiences – the peculiar hashtags, the quirky bios, and the unexpected connections that leave a lasting imprint.
• Craft Your Hashtag Haiku: Much like poetry, brevity can be your ally in social media essays. Think of hashtags as haikus – succinct, impactful, and capable of conveying a universe of meaning in just a few characters. Choose them wisely.
• Engage with the Comments Section: The comments section is the lively pub where digital conversations unfold. Dive in, clink glasses, and engage with the diverse perspectives swirling around. It's in these interactions that the real magic happens – where ideas collide, evolve, and sometimes, transform.
• Navigate the Memescape: Memes are the folklore of the digital age, carrying tales of humor, irony, and cultural resonance. Don't shy away from exploring the memescape in your essay. Unravel the layers, decipher the symbolism, and appreciate the humor that often holds up a mirror to society.
• Be Mindful of the Clickbait Pitfalls: While clickbait might be the flashy neon sign on the digital highway, it's essential to tread carefully. Ensure your essay isn't just a sensational headline but a thoughtful exploration that goes beyond the surface.

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Social Media Essay Structure

In the age of viral tweets and digital conversations, tackling the essay format is more than just stringing words together—it's about creating a roadmap. As we navigate this landscape of likes and retweets, understanding the structural foundations becomes key. So, let's cut through the noise and explore the practical aspects of how to write a social media essay that mirrors the rhythm of our online experiences.

Form an Outline

Now that we've acknowledged the importance of structure in your essay, the next step is to build a solid roadmap. Think of it like planning a road trip; you wouldn't hit the highway without a map or GPS, right? Similarly, creating an outline for your essay gives you a clear direction and ensures your thoughts flow smoothly.

So, whether you decide to order an essay online or tackle it yourself, here's a simple way to go about it:

Introduction (Where You Start):

• Briefly introduce the topic.
• State your social media essay thesis or main idea.
• Example: 'Let's begin by introducing the impact of social media on modern communication, focusing on its role in shaping opinions and fostering connections.'

Body Paragraphs (The Journey):

• Each paragraph should cover a specific social media essay argument and point.
• Use examples or evidence to support your ideas.
• Example: 'The first aspect we'll explore is how social media amplifies voices. For instance, hashtags like #ClimateAction mobilize a global audience around environmental issues.'

Transitions (Smooth Turns):

• Guide your readers from one point to the next.
• Ensure a logical flow between paragraphs.
• Example: 'Having discussed the amplification of voices, let's now shift our focus to the influence of social media in spreading information.'

Counter Arguments (Addressing Detours):

• Acknowledge different perspectives.
• Counter Arguments with evidence or reasoning.
• Example: 'While social media can be a powerful tool for connectivity, critics argue that it also contributes to the spread of misinformation. Let's explore this counterargument and analyze its validity.'

Conclusion (The Destination):

• Summarize your main points.
• Restate your thesis and leave a lasting impression.
• Example: 'In conclusion, social media serves as both a bridge and a battleground of ideas. Understanding its nuances is crucial in navigating this digital landscape.'

Creating an outline for your essay not only streamlines the writing process but also ensures your readers embark on a clear and organized journey through your insights on social media. If you're exploring more options, you might even want to buy thesis for more convenience.

Make a Social Media Essay Introduction

Begin your introduction by presenting a concise overview of the key theme or topic you're addressing. Clearly state the main purpose or argument of your essay, giving readers a roadmap for what to expect. Integrate social media essay hooks like a relevant statistic, quote, or provocative question to capture attention.

For instance, if your essay is about the impact of social media on personal relationships, you might start by mentioning a statistic on the percentage of couples who met online.

Social Media Essay Body Paragraph

Structure each social media essay body paragraph around a specific aspect of your chosen topic. Start with a clear topic sentence that encapsulates the main idea of the paragraph. Provide concrete examples, data, or case studies to support your points and strengthen your argument. Maintain a logical flow between paragraphs by using effective transitions.

If your essay focuses on the positive effects of social media on business marketing, dedicate a paragraph to showcasing successful campaigns and how they leveraged different platforms.

Social Media Essay Conclusion

In your conclusion, succinctly recap the main points discussed in the body paragraphs. Reinforce your thesis statement and emphasize its broader implications. Rather than introducing new information, use the conclusion to leave a lasting impression on your readers. Consider prompting further thought or suggesting practical applications of your findings.

For instance, if your essay examined the impact of social media on political discourse, conclude by encouraging readers to critically evaluate the information they encounter online and actively engage in constructive conversations.

Proofread and Revise

In the process of writing social media essay, proofreading and revising are indispensable steps that can significantly enhance the overall quality of your work. Begin by meticulously checking for grammatical errors, ensuring that your sentences are clear and concise. Pay attention to the flow of your ideas, confirming that each paragraph seamlessly transitions into the next.

During the proofreading phase, keep an eye out for any inconsistencies in tone or style. This is an opportunity to refine your language and ensure that it aligns with the intended voice of your essay. Look for repetitive phrases or unnecessary words that might detract from the clarity of your message.

As you revise, consider the effectiveness of your hook. Does it still resonate as strongly as you intended? Can it be tweaked to better captivate your audience? A compelling hook sets the tone for your entire essay, so invest time in perfecting this crucial element.

Furthermore, don't hesitate to seek feedback from peers or mentors. Another perspective can provide valuable insights into areas that may need improvement. Fresh eyes often catch nuances that the writer might overlook. Alternatively, you might also explore the option to buy coursework for additional support.

Social Media Essay Topics

In the vast realm of social media, where every like and share contributes to the digital narrative, choosing the right essay topic becomes a crucial compass for exploration. Let's explore thought-provoking topics that not only capture attention but also invite insightful discussions on the intricacies of our interconnected world.

Impact on Society:

• The Role of Social Media in Redefining Friendship and Social Bonds
• How Has TikTok Influenced Global Pop Culture Trends?
• The Impact of Social Media on Political Polarization
• Social Media and Mental Health: Exploring the Connection
• The Evolution of Language on Social Media Platforms
• Examining the Influence of Social Media on Body Image
• Fake News and Its Proliferation on Social Media
• Social Media and the Rise of Influencer Marketing
• The Intersection of Social Media and Dating Apps
• Has Social Media Narrowed or Expanded Cultural Perspectives?
• The Role of Social Media in Fostering Global Communities
• The Influence of Social Media on Consumer Behavior
• Analyzing the Impact of Social Media on News Consumption
• The Rise of 'Cancel Culture' on Social Media Platforms
• Social Media and Its Role in Spreading Disinformation
• The Impact of Social Media on Language and Communication Skills
• Social Media and its Influence on Political Movements
• The Relationship Between Social Media Use and Sleep Patterns
• Social Media and the Accessibility of Educational Resources
• The Cultural Significance of Memes on Social Media

Individual and Identity:

• The Impact of Social Media Addiction on Personal Relationships and Intimacy
• Self-Expression and Authenticity on Social Networking Sites
• Social Media and Its Influence on Teenage Identity Formation
• The Role of Social Media in Shaping Beauty Standards
• Navigating Online Dating and Relationships in the Social Media Age
• The Impact of Social Media on Parenting Styles
• Social Media and Its Influence on Body Positivity Movements
• The Perception of Success: Social Media's Role in Achievement Culture
• Social Media and the Construction of Online Persona vs. Real Self
• Social Media and Its Influence on Lifestyle Choices
• The Role of Social Media in Shaping Career Aspirations
• The Intersection of Mental Health Narratives and Social Media
• The Impact of Social Media on Self-Esteem and Well-Being
• How Social Media Influences Gender Identity and Expression
• Exploring the Concept of Digital Detox in the Social Media Era
• The Role of Social Media in Shaping Cultural Identity
• The Connection Between Social Media and Impulse Buying
• Social Media and Its Influence on Dietary Choices
• Balancing Privacy and Self-Disclosure on Social Media
• The Impact of Social Media on Friendships Over Time

Digital Activism and Advocacy:

• The Effectiveness of Hashtag Movements in Promoting Social Change
• Social Media and Its Role in Amplifying Underrepresented Voices
• The Impact of Social Media on Global Environmental Activism
• Online Activism: The Evolution from Clicktivism to Concrete Action
• The Role of Social Media in Advancing LGBTQ+ Rights
• Social Media and Its Impact on Anti-Racism Movements
• Analyzing the Challenges of Digital Advocacy in Authoritarian Regimes
• Social Media and the Global Fight Against Cyberbullying
• The Intersection of Social Media and Mental Health Advocacy
• Examining the Role of Social Media in Humanitarian Campaigns
• Crowdsourcing for Change: How Social Media Fuels Fundraising
• The Challenges of Digital Activism in the Age of Information Overload
• Social Media and Its Impact on Disability Advocacy
• The Role of Social Media in Combating Gender-Based Violence
• Online Petitions and Their Influence on Policy Change
• Exploring the Intersection of Social Media and Animal Rights Activism
• The Impact of Social Media on Indigenous Rights Advocacy
• Digital Advocacy and Its Role in Healthcare Reform
• Social Media's Influence on Youth Activism
• Navigating Challenges in Allyship on Social Media Platforms

Privacy and Ethics:

• The Implications of Facial Recognition Technology on Social Media
• Social Media Platforms and the Ethics of User Data Collection
• The Role of Social Media in Combating Deepfakes
• Balancing Freedom of Speech and Moderation on Social Media
• Social Media and the Challenges of Regulating Disinformation
• Ethical Considerations in Targeted Advertising on Social Media
• The Impact of Social Media Algorithms on User Behavior
• Social Media and the Right to Privacy: Where to Draw the Line?
• The Influence of Social Media on Political Manipulation and Propaganda
• Data Security Concerns in the Era of Social Media
• The Ethics of Social Media Influencer Marketing
• Social Media and Its Role in Combating Cyberbullying
• The Impact of Social Media on Juror Bias in Legal Cases
• Exploring the Ethics of Incorporating Social Media Usage in Hiring Decisions by Employers
• Social Media and Its Role in Combating Hate Speech
• Balancing Personalization with Privacy in Social Media Websites
• The Influence of Social Media on Public Perceptions of Law Enforcement
• Social Media and the Challenges of Content Moderation
• Addressing Online Harassment: Ethical Considerations for Platforms
• The Responsibility of Social Media Platforms in Protecting User Privacy

Future Trends and Innovations:

• The Future of Social Media: Emerging Platforms and Trends
• The Role of Augmented Reality (AR) in Shaping the Future of Social Media
• Virtual Reality (VR) and Its Potential Impact on Social Media Engagement
• The Rise of NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) and Social Media
• Social Media and the Evolution of Live Streaming Culture
• The Impact of Voice Search and Voice Assistants on Social Media
• Social Commerce: The Future of E-Commerce Through Social Media
• Exploring the Influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Social Media
• The Role of Blockchain Technology in Enhancing Social Media Security
• Social Media and the Integration of Virtual Influencers
• The Future of Social Media Content: Short-Form vs. Long-Form
• The Influence of User-Generated Content on Future Social Media Trends
• Social Media and the Adoption of 5G Technology
• The Potential of Gamification in Shaping Social Media Engagement
• The Impact of Social Media on the Future of Work and Remote Collaboration
• Exploring the Relationship Between Social Media and Mental Health Apps
• The Influence of User Privacy Concerns on Future Social Media Developments
• Social Media and the Role of Ephemeral Content in Communication
• The Intersection of Social Media and Virtual Events
• Predicting the Next Wave of Social Media Influencer Trends

If these topics piqued your interest, you'll likely find persuasive essay topics equally fascinating! Dive into our article for a variety of options that might just spark your curiosity and inspire your next writing venture.

Social Media Essay Example

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Impact — The Five Principles Of Social Impact

The Five Principles of Social Impact

• Categories: Impact Personal Beliefs Society

About this sample

Words: 871 |

Published: Jun 20, 2019

Words: 871 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Works Cited

• Chell, E., & Spence, L. J. (2021). Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise: Concepts in Context. Routledge.
• Mair, J., & Marti, I. (2006). Social entrepreneurship research: A source of explanation, prediction, and delight. Journal of World Business, 41(1), 36-44.
• Peredo, A. M., & McLean, M. (2006). Social entrepreneurship: A critical review of the concept. Journal of World Business, 41(1), 56-65.
• Perez-Batres, L. A., Suarez, E., & Dickinson, M. (2012). Social entrepreneurship in Latin America: An exploratory study. Journal of Business Ethics, 111(3), 325-340.
• Perrini, F., Vurro, C., & Costanzo, L. A. (2010). Cluster and social innovation: The challenge of the social economy in Italy. Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, 22(6), 625-647.
• Spier, M. (2019). TEDxAmsterdamED - Marian Spier - Social Impact.
• Spier, M. (2021). The Impact Project: Build Your Social Impact. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
• Thompson, J. L., Alvy, G., & Lees, A. (2000). Social entrepreneurship: A new look at the people and the potential. Management Decision, 38(5), 328-338.
• Weerawardena, J., McDonald, R. E., & Mort, G. S. (2010). Sustainability of nonprofit organizations: An empirical investigation. Journal of World Business, 45(4), 346-356.

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On this site, we've put together a directory of free paper samples regarding Social Impact. The intention is to provide you with a sample close to your Social Impact essay topic so that you could have a closer look at it in order to get a clear idea of what a top-notch academic work should look like. You are also advised to employ the best Social Impact writing practices revealed by competent authors and, eventually, develop a top-notch paper of your own.

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Chikungunya term paper sample.

Analysis of Diseases

Overview Chikungunya (CHIK) refers to a re-emerging arboviral disease transmitted by the mosquitos Aedes aegypty and Aedes albopictus (Pialoux 318). The virus belongs to the genus Alphavirus and family Togaviridae. The word chikungunya derives from Makonde language (spoken in Tanzania and northern Mozambique), where it means “to walk bent over” (Halstead 557). This name refers to the main feature of both chronic and acute phase of the disease a change in posture causes by the arthritis and arthralgia (Charrel, Lamballerie and Raoult 769).

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Stanford Impact Labs is applying insights gleaned from the social and data sciences to address real-world problems. (Image credit: Getty Images)

A carefully worded letter to help a youth reentering school from the justice system. A text message reminding a released defendant about an upcoming court appearance. A publicly available SMS course showing people how to spot misleading information online.

These are some of the promising interventions Stanford scholars, working in collaboration with local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and community groups, are testing to address social problems such as recidivism, incarceration, and misinformation in new and innovative ways.

These projects – along with dozens of others – have been funded and supported by Stanford Impact Labs (SIL), an initiative that launched in the 2019-20 academic year as part of the university’s Long-range Vision to help researchers who want their scholarships to serve the public good by using data-driven, social science research to develop actionable ways to address pernicious and pervasive social problems.

“The mission of Stanford Impact Labs is to put social science to work for society through deep and engaged partnerships with leaders in government, nonprofits, and business,” said Jeremy Weinstein , SIL’s founder and faculty director.

Since launching, SIL has provided dozens of fellowships , hosted workshops and forums – including one with the White House – and co-launched a new major to prepare students with the technical skills and practical know-how to tackle these challenges. Another major component of SIL’s work has been investing in a wide range of collaborative research projects at key stages to develop evidence-based solutions that realize individual and social potential. Over four years, SIL has already allocated $20.2M to 32 impact labs working with partners at the local, state, national, and international levels.

“What SIL represents is an ecosystem that supports the path from science to impact beyond the university,” said Weinstein, a professor of political science in the School of Humanities and Sciences. “What we, and a set of our peer institutions, are trying to figure out is what it means to support innovations around social problems with the same intentionality we bring to R&D in life sciences and engineering.”

Working closely with the problem solvers

At the center of SIL’s mission is collaboration: Scholars work closely with practitioners from the public, private, or social sectors who deal with problems firsthand yet may lack the necessary time, resources, or research tools to generate evidence and insights that could help a potential solution gain traction.

SIL recognizes that tangible solutions to stubborn social problems require collaboration across sectors and thus commits to funding and supporting projects that bridge research and practice.

For example, one collaboration SIL first funded in 2020 was between the Computational Policy Lab (CPL) and the Santa Clara County Office of the Public Defender (SCCPDO). The SCCPDO connected with CPL after hearing Sharad Goel speak about how technology can be used to address social problems.

Goel, along with his colleagues at Stanford and the nonprofit group The Bail Project , were developing a tool the SCCPDO wanted to implement: a mobile app that could send reminder messages to public defender clients about their court hearing dates.

Missing a court hearing can come with devastating consequences for a defendant: In some cases, it can lead judges to issue a warrant for the defendant’s arrest, which can lead to added jail time.

If court appearances could be increased, would incarcerations decrease?

SCCPDO and researchers from Stanford and Harvard, where Goel is now a professor of public policy, put the question to the test in a randomized control trial. They discovered that a simple text reminder does make a difference: They were able to reduce arrest warrants for missed court dates by approximately 20% and incarceration resulting from missed hearings dropped from 6.2% in the control group to 4.8% in the treatment condition. Across the roughly 20,000 clients that SCCPDO serves every year, this would translate to several hundred fewer people in jail each year.

In addition, their intervention was a cost-effective way to prevent incarceration: Each text message they sent cost less than a penny; and across the many reminders and responses they received from clients, it cost about 60¢ per case to send reminders.

These findings, which have not yet been peer-reviewed, are detailed in a working paper available on the pre-publication print website, ArXiv .

By collaborating with scholars, the SCCPDO was able to rigorously test one way to lower incarceration rates, measuring impact in a way a technology vendor would likely not provide, said Alex Chohlas-Wood , PhD ’22, the executive director of CPL.

For Chohlas-Wood, whose own research focuses on using technology and data science to support criminal justice reform, working with SCCPDO is an opportunity to make tangible change.

“To be able to connect the dots between the work that we’re doing and seeing actual improvement in outcomes really matters to me,” Chohlas-Wood said.

Realities of implementation

Sometimes, the biggest challenges facing problem-solvers are practical ones. Elegantly designed solutions to a problem might exist but there are obstacles that make them difficult, if not near impossible, to implement.

Scalability is something Carey Courtney, the re-entry coordinator for Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS), carefully considers in her work helping students transition out of the juvenile justice system and to school.

Some interventions to help the students Courtney works with can take weeks, if not months, to complete. For example, the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy program that MPS offers to some students has around 30 sessions to it. While effective, solutions like these take a lot of time, as well as lengthy training, to implement.

Moreover, many of the children Courtney works with have lives that are sometimes unstable and often unpredictable, making it hard to deliver consistent care.

Having something widely accessible to implement appealed to Courtney, who was eager to work with Stanford psychologist Greg Walton and his team after learning about his Lifting the Bar (LTB) work through a colleague.

“Sometimes, when we get a new intervention, they are very time-consuming,” Courtney said. “Then we saw this, I thought, ‘Oh! We could actually do this.’”

Unlike some school programs which need to be administered by a licensed professional, the intervention developed by the LBT team requires no special training or skills to implement.

The premise is straightforward: Over one hour, reentering students read and answer questions about what it is like to transition from detention to school, sharing advice for future students. Then they identify a teacher who could be an important source of support for them, and what they would like that person to know about them, their values and goals and schools and challenges they face the teacher might help with. Their responses are then populated into a personalized letter that is sent to that teacher.

As the result of a Stage 2 SIL investment in the LTB team and their partnership with MPS, Courtney has been able to roll out the intervention in her school district. What also appealed to Courtney was how the intervention focuses on the student-teacher relationship.

“It sets up this relationship early on,” Courtney said. “When [a] student feels connected to school and safe adults, they’re less likely to make negative choices, which can lead them back into the juvenile justice system – or at a minimum, keep them out longer.”

Different approaches to have impact

Also central to SIL’s vision is cultivating a community for both scholars and problem solvers to share issues they encounter while implementing solutions-oriented research.

Having a purpose-driven mission towards research is what led Susan Athey , the Economics of Technology Professor at the Graduate Business School (GSB) and founder of the Golub Capital Social Impact Lab to want to become involved with SIL.

Athey recently received Stage 2 funding to build out a project her students helped get off the ground at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to better understand the spread of health-related misinformation. Athey hopes her team’s findings can be expanded into a tool that can be used across different contexts and settings.

“There’s a lot of different ways to have an impact as an academic,” said Athey. “For me, one form of impact is to create case studies that establish the potential for a novel intervention to have meaningful effect.”

Athey has found that her colleagues involved at SIL also share an orientation towards developing research-informed tools that are both scalable and generalizable.

“SIL is a community of people who are really thinking about how to combine research with impact so that you get this multiple-level impact – not just the impact on the people you’re helping, but also the thought leadership and broader impact on how people are approaching these problems,” said Athey.

Small steps leading to big changes

While there have been major advancements across health, science, and policy that have made the world a better place, there are still many issues facing society. Solving social problems is undoubtedly complex, and scholars recognize there is no single, technical fix. Issues are multifaceted and different approaches are needed.

“We have to figure out how to take these complex problems and break them down into tractable pieces and figure out where and how we can make progress and help inspire people that progress is possible,” Weinstein said.

SIL continues to grow. A new set of Stage 2 labs has just been funded, and it is launching a fellowship this year for nonprofit leaders and for local policymakers to come to Stanford and learn new ways to gather data and insights that can be used to meet their social change goals.

Earlier this month, SIL announced the first of two Stage 3 investments it will make this year, the initiative’s biggest and boldest grants yet.

“Social problems exist for many different reasons, and often because there are powerful interests aligned behind the status quo. But I’m unwilling to accept, as are most of my colleagues, the status quo. We believe research can help us find actionable solutions,” Weinstein said.

Stanford Impact Labs is a university-wide initiative established in the School of Humanities and Sciences.

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Abdelghani Maddi

May 16th, 2024, the best peer review reports are at least 947 words.

0 comments | 2 shares

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Based on an analysis of the relationship between peer review reports and subsequent citations, Abdelghani Maddi argues that longer and hence more constructive and engaged peer review reports are closely associated with papers that are more cited.

Peer review continues to be the focus of considerable debate across academic fields as diverse as the sociology of science, economics and biology. This focus reflects a divide within the scientific community regarding its efficacy and role in identifying errors, and instances of scientific misconduct. In recent years it has been fueled by a proliferation of notable cases of errors and misconduct detected in articles published in prestigious international journals, including those published by Elsevier and Springer Nature. The rise of generative AI has again only heightened concerns due to its overt and covert use in peer review .

Nonetheless, there exists a consensus within the scientific community regarding the pivotal role of peer review in knowledge generation and dissemination. Despite uncertainties surrounding its ability to detect fraud and questionable practices, reviewers’ comments typically aim to provide constructive feedback aimed at enhancing the quality of papers, encompassing both structural and substantive aspects, including methodological validation and alignment to recognised publication standards.

However, as we found in a recent paper , quantifying the added value and tangible impact conferred by peer review on scientific publications remains challenging. The approach we opted for was to focus on the length of peer review reports. Our theory being that there is a direct correlation between the length of reports and the extent of revisions and modifications requested from authors. Hence, longer reports are, generally, associated with a higher likelihood of authors making revisions and enhancements to their papers, thereby bolstering their quality, visibility, and citation metrics.

We used data from Publons to extract information regarding the length of reviewers’ reports for a corpus of 57,482 publications. To ensure generalisability, the structure of the Publons database was adjusted with that of the Web of Science database using the Raking Ratio method, employing a control group comprising 12.3 million articles. Consequently, the weighted sample faithfully mirrors the overall database structure across disciplinary distribution, collaborative patterns, open access practices, among other variables.

papers garnering the highest citation counts tended to be associated with longer reviewer reports, exceeding the average length.

Our analyses revealed a statistically significant impact of reviewers’ report length on citations received, with reports surpassing approximately one and a half pages (947 words) marking a critical threshold. Notably, papers garnering the highest citation counts tended to be associated with longer reviewer reports, exceeding the average length. Beyond this threshold, citation counts exhibited an increasing trend with longer report lengths, corroborating the initial hypothesis positing the synonymous relationship between the length of referees’ reports and the extent of revisions solicited, thereby enhancing manuscript “quality”.

This finding highlights the role of reviewers in enhancing the quality of scientific publications. Their contribution extends far beyond mere minor revisions including spelling or grammatical corrections. Reviewers, who can be aptly termed the “unsung heroes” of scientific research, significantly contribute to improving publication quality by providing detailed and constructive reports, even within shrinking deadlines. Yet, their contribution remains largely unrecognised and underestimated.

Another salient aspect raised by the study is the importance of time for conducting thorough peer review. Journal editors need to acknowledge that furnishing useful, comprehensive reports entails a considerable investment of time and effort from reviewers. Soliciting evaluations within extremely short time frames, such as a week for reading the publication and drafting the report, as practiced by certain “gray” publishers, can compromise the quality of assessments and consequently diminish the value added by peer review to manuscripts. This points to the need to reconsider the emphasis on speed in response times for peer review.

Journal editors need to acknowledge that furnishing useful, comprehensive reports entails a considerable investment of time and effort from reviewers.

A third implication is related to the current saturation of the scientific publishing system , where the increasing number of submitted articles strains journals, reviewers, and the scientific community as a whole. This workload overload risks compromising the focus of reviewers, who must assess a large number of articles within short deadlines. This could lead to a risk of disseminating “bad science” if certain important aspects of an articles are not properly evaluated due to time constraints. Especially so in a context where the speed of peer review has become a sort of “advertising” argument wielded by some publishers to attract authors. Even though post-publication peer review allows for partial “correction” of errors and questionable practices, the volume of annual publications far exceeds the capacities of the active community to scrutinise all publications. The scientific community requires a pre-publication evaluation system that functions properly.

Finally, open peer review offers promising prospects for enhancing transparency and vigilance. According to one recent study the peer review model adopted by a journal has a direct influence on the behaviour of both researchers and reviewers. The study highlights that journals implementing open peer review protocols incentivise heightened engagement from researchers and reviewers, as their actions directly impact their reputations. In addition, by allowing access to reviewer reports and promoting the reuse of evaluation data, this approach could facilitate deeper and more quantitative analyses of the impact of peer review on the quality of scientific publications and the advancement of science in general. Thus, open peer review represents an opportunity to rethink and improve peer review practices in a context where the increasing quantity of publications necessitates a more efficient and transparent approach.

This post draws on the authors article, On the peer review reports: does size matter? , published in Scientometrics.

The content generated on this blog is for information purposes only. This Article gives the views and opinions of the authors and does not reflect the views and opinions of the Impact of Social Science blog (the blog), nor of the London School of Economics and Political Science. Please review our  comments policy  if you have any concerns on posting a comment below.

Image Credit:  nampix  on Shutterstock . 

About the author

Abdelghani Maddi is a research engineer at GEMASS (CNRS/Sorbonne University). Economist by training specializing in Scientometrics. He is passionate about understanding scientific knowledge production, promoting open science, and improving research evaluation.

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Navigating Economic Strife: the Impact of the Townshend Acts on Colonial America

This essay about the Townshend Acts outlines their economic and ideological impact on Colonial America. It details how these 1767 taxes on imports like glass, lead, and tea heightened economic hardships and unified the colonies against British policies. Highlighting the resultant boycotts and ideological debates, the essay emphasizes the Acts’ role in fostering a collective colonial identity and accelerating movements towards independence, culminating in events like the Boston Tea Party and the American Revolution.

How it works

Navigating economic strife significantly shaped the political and social landscape of Colonial America, particularly through the implementation of the Townshend Acts. This legislation not only intensified economic burdens but also spurred a cascade of revolutionary sentiments that ultimately contributed to the American Revolution.

The Townshend Acts, named after Charles Townshend, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, were introduced in 1767. These acts imposed duties on a variety of essential goods, including glass, lead, paints, paper, and tea imported into the colonies. The rationale behind these duties was twofold: to assert Britain’s right to tax the colonies and to raise revenue for the administration of the colonies, including the salaries of governors and judges.

However, the economic impact and the ideological challenges it provoked among the colonists were profound and far-reaching.

Economically, the Townshend Acts disrupted colonial commerce and industry significantly. By taxing imported goods, the Acts raised prices, which in turn decreased the affordability of these essential items. Many colonial businesses, reliant on these goods for manufacturing and resale, faced increased operational costs, which often led to reduced profits. The colonial response to this economic hardship was swift and strategic, marked by a resurgence of non-importation agreements and boycotts of British goods. These boycotts were not only a direct response to the Townshend Acts but also a form of economic retaliation that aimed to pressure Britain into repealing the legislation.

The social impact of the Townshend Acts was equally significant. The Acts exacerbated tensions between Britain and the colonies, fostering a sense of unity among the colonists against a common enemy. This unity was manifest in the widespread participation in boycotts and protests, which were often organized by newly formed political groups such as the Sons of Liberty. These groups played a crucial role in mobilizing public opinion against the Townshend Acts and British colonial policy more broadly.

Ideologically, the Townshend Acts challenged the legal and political frameworks that had previously governed the relationship between Britain and the colonies. The principle of “no taxation without representation,” which had been loudly proclaimed in response to the earlier Stamp Act, was once again invoked. Many colonists argued that as they had no elected representatives in the British Parliament, they should not be taxed by it. This argument was not merely a protest against economic hardship but a challenge to the legitimacy of British legislative authority over the colonies.

The resistance to the Townshend Acts also had significant legal and intellectual underpinnings. Legal arguments posited by colonial leaders like John Dickinson, who penned the influential “Letters from a Farmer in Pennsylvania,” articulated a constitutional theory that distinguished between internal and external taxes. Dickinson’s arguments provided a legal rationale for colonial opposition, suggesting that while external taxes (such as customs duties) were acceptable, internal taxes (like those imposed by the Townshend Acts) were not, unless levied by the colonial assemblies.

Ultimately, the economic strife and ideological battles sparked by the Townshend Acts fueled a growing desire for independence among the colonists. The Acts were partially repealed in 1770, eliminating duties on all but tea, reflecting the economic pressure exerted by the colonial boycotts. However, the partial repeal did little to dampen the revolutionary fervor that had been ignited. The continued taxation of tea led to the infamous Boston Tea Party in 1773, a direct protest against British taxation policy and a pivotal event leading up to the American Revolution.

In conclusion, the Townshend Acts were more than just a series of duties on colonial imports. They represented a significant economic and ideological challenge that galvanized colonial opposition to British rule. The economic strife caused by these Acts fostered a sense of shared identity and purpose among the colonies, paving the way for the unity required to challenge British authority and ultimately seek independence. The legacy of the Townshend Acts thus lies in their profound impact on the economic, social, and political evolution of Colonial America, marking them as a catalyst for change in the tumultuous years leading to the Revolution.

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PapersOwl.com. (2024). Navigating Economic Strife: The Impact of the Townshend Acts on Colonial America . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/navigating-economic-strife-the-impact-of-the-townshend-acts-on-colonial-america/ [Accessed: 16 May. 2024]

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PapersOwl.com. (2024). Navigating Economic Strife: The Impact of the Townshend Acts on Colonial America . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/navigating-economic-strife-the-impact-of-the-townshend-acts-on-colonial-america/ [Accessed: 16-May-2024]

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Essay on Social Media for School Students and Children

500+ words essay on social media.

Social media is a tool that is becoming quite popular these days because of its user-friendly features. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and more are giving people a chance to connect with each other across distances. In other words, the whole world is at our fingertips all thanks to social media. The youth is especially one of the most dominant users of social media. All this makes you wonder that something so powerful and with such a massive reach cannot be all good. Like how there are always two sides to a coin, the same goes for social media. Subsequently, different people have different opinions on this debatable topic. So, in this essay on Social Media, we will see the advantages and disadvantages of social media.

Advantages of Social Media

When we look at the positive aspect of social media, we find numerous advantages. The most important being a great device for education . All the information one requires is just a click away. Students can educate themselves on various topics using social media.

Moreover, live lectures are now possible because of social media. You can attend a lecture happening in America while sitting in India.

Furthermore, as more and more people are distancing themselves from newspapers, they are depending on social media for news. You are always updated on the latest happenings of the world through it. A person becomes more socially aware of the issues of the world.

In addition, it strengthens bonds with your loved ones. Distance is not a barrier anymore because of social media. For instance, you can easily communicate with your friends and relatives overseas.

Most importantly, it also provides a great platform for young budding artists to showcase their talent for free. You can get great opportunities for employment through social media too.

Another advantage definitely benefits companies who wish to promote their brands. Social media has become a hub for advertising and offers you great opportunities for connecting with the customer.

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Disadvantages of Social Media

Despite having such unique advantages, social media is considered to be one of the most harmful elements of society. If the use of social media is not monitored, it can lead to grave consequences.

Thus, the sharing on social media especially by children must be monitored at all times. Next up is the addition of social media which is quite common amongst the youth.

This addiction hampers with the academic performance of a student as they waste their time on social media instead of studying. Social media also creates communal rifts. Fake news is spread with the use of it, which poisons the mind of peace-loving citizens.

In short, surely social media has both advantages and disadvantages. But, it all depends on the user at the end. The youth must particularly create a balance between their academic performances, physical activities, and social media. Excess use of anything is harmful and the same thing applies to social media. Therefore, we must strive to live a satisfying life with the right balance.

FAQs on Social Media

Q.1 Is social media beneficial? If yes, then how?

A.1 Social media is quite beneficial. Social Media offers information, news, educational material, a platform for talented youth and brands.

Q.2 What is a disadvantage of Social Media?

A.2 Social media invades your privacy. It makes you addicted and causes health problems. It also results in cyberbullying and scams as well as communal hatred.

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Balancing supply diversification and environmental impacts: A system dynamics approach to de-risk rare earths supply chain

• Hamed, Mosaab M.
• Turan, Hasan Hüseyin
• Elsawah, Sondoss

We introduce a System Dynamics (SD) model to examine policy measures aimed at diversifying the global supply chain of rare earth elements (REEs) and reducing reliance on China. Through meticulous simulation experiments, the paper evaluates the effectiveness of individual policies and their combinations (strategies) on enhancing the Rest of the World's (RoW) market share, minimizing environmental impacts, and meeting the burgeoning demand for Neodymium—essential for green technologies such as electric vehicles and wind turbines. Our findings reveal that direct governmental interventions, particularly those focused on expanding mining and recycling capacities, significantly bolster the RoW's market share and decrease unmet Neodymium demand. The study also underscores the importance of environmental regulations in promoting sustainable mining practices, which, while slightly constraining market share growth, result in considerable environmental benefits. Among the evaluated strategies, one combining capacity expansion, recycling, and international cooperation emerges as the most effective, marking a substantial increase in RoW market share and a notable reduction in unmet demand. Furthermore, the paper discusses the complex trade-offs between economic development, environmental stewardship, and supply security in policy-making. It calls for a comprehensive approach that considers economic, environmental, and social factors, including public perception and regulation, in REEs mining. In conclusion, our research provides vital insights for policymakers, illustrating how simulated policy interventions can facilitate informed decision-making in the REEs market. By advocating for a balanced consideration of multiple factors, this study contributes to the discourse on sustainable supply chain management for critical minerals.

• Rare Earth Elements (REEs);
• Mining environmental impacts;
• Supply Chain Management (SCM);
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
• System Dynamics (SD)