Social Networking Sites Influence

Presently, in India, 28.4 percent of the population (375 million) is using internet, out of which 10.3 percent are active on social media (136 million). Five years ago, 2.5 percent of the population was active on Facebook. This number is expected to increase to 15 percent by the end of 2016, with Facebook proactively targeting emerging economies with the Facebook site for slow internet speed in these regions. As per the Yral report, increased mobile web penetration is also seen as a key contributor to increased growth in active social media usage. Statistic presents the social network penetration in India. As of the fourth quarter of 2016, the most popular social networks was YouTube and Facebook with 33 percent penetration rate each. WhatsApp was ranked third with 28 percent reach. India ranks second among countries with the most Facebook users, a counting for 11 percent of global Facebook audiences in April 2017. January 2017 data puts the active social networking penetration in India at only 14 percent of the population - one of the lowest rates worldwide.

Social networking sites (SNSs) are Web-based platforms on which individuals connect with other users to generate and maintain social connections. Considerable disagreement exists as to associations that SNS use may have with depression and anxiety. On the one hand, SNSs may protect from mental illness, as they support and enable social interaction and connection and allow users to reflect aspects of their identity and express emotion that may be relevant to their lived experience. On the other hand, there are many opportunities for miscommunications and mismanaged expectations, and maladaptive tendencies can be exaggerated, leaving individuals feeling a greater sense of isolation. As a whole, the SNS environment may be just as complex as face-to-face interactions. As SNS membership continues to rise, it is becoming increasingly important to address the possible benefits and detriments the use of SNSs may have on mental health.

Affective disorders such as depression and anxiety have been shown to have bidirectional interactions with the social environment that influence the path of illness onset and maintenance. Depression and anxiety have an approximate prevalence of 4.7% and 7.3%, respectively, in the global population. These disorders have high levels of comorbidity and impact the quality of social relationships. Depression and anxiety may be implicated in determining the size and structure of an individual’s social network, the quality of interactions within these networks, and how effectively social capital may be leveraged or developed to provide an individual with social support.

Social Networking Sites can provide all the ways and means to develop personal and social aspects, the young people have to explore the potentialities of these sites. Even though it creates a few negative impacts on youth, we cannot think of a world without these sites today. So, corrective and preventive measures should be taken towards these negative effects and the young people should be well educated and must have proper awareness regarding such problems of Social media. Social Networking Sites influence the lifestyle of youth so that the brands and companies can exploit the space of Social Networking Sites to create loyalty among youth. If the Social Networking Sites promote a healthy lifestyle through its posts, videos and messages, that will help to develop a healthy young generation.