Why Facebook Should Be Banned: The Case of Indian Teenagers

Facebook is an American social network company with over 2.23 billion monthly active users as of December 31, 2018 with 1.15 billion mobile daily active users for December 2016 with an increase of 23% over a year. Teenagers make up 50% of all the Facebook users in India, which is significant when considering the topic of the effects of Facebook. Considering social globalization, Facebook has negatively affected Indian teenagers as seen through their education, relationships, and physical and mental health. We believe that Facebook should be banned and in this essay we will share some arguments for our statement. 

Facebook as Hidden Suffer of Indian Teenagers

Indian teenagers are at risk in terms of their mental health because of Facebook. A significant amount of teenagers in India, having access to Facebook is a way of achieving social approval. According to the survey shows that 64% of teenagers attempted to 'recreate their online profiles by making themselves seem older'. The survey shows that teenagers expect rewards, specifically likes on Facebook for a photo that they posted. Which is an issue as those teenagers that do not achieve the likes that they expect, it could result in depression as a common negative effect of Facebook would relate to Abnormal symptoms as it is present amongst teenagers due to the use of Facebook. These Abnormal symptoms include depression, excessive aggression and anxiety. Those teenagers suffering from social anxiety tend to go in to Facebook. Teenagers typically have emotional issues which can lead to their low self esteem and being conscious of their physical appearance or their body. Facebook, provides a virtual life to the indian teenagers, those teenagers who do not have confidence to communicate in front of anyone feel freedom in their virtual life as they're access to Facebook makes them feel satisfaction hover this addiction kills their inner self confidence. This goes to show that Indian teenagers are in danger as India is the country with the biggest internet and devices populations in the world, especially amongst teenagers. McAfee report tells us that 66% of teenagers in India feel that they are more accepted on social compared to who they are in real life and 72% of Indian teenagers feel important or popular when have achieved a large amount of likes when they have posted a picture. 

Another negative impact of Facebook on Indian teenagers is their education. An important aspect of an Indian student and teenager is education, in their country education is considered more crucial than anything. The research shows us that 85% of students in college and teenagers have access to social media. Social medias is one of the reasons Indian students and teenagers get distracted as it leads them to things that are not education or appropriate such as chatting and killing time by useless searches on internet. All of the social media that is being used by teenagers are accessed by screens which results in being in contact with the display screen for a long period of time which could result in high blood pressure. This is a problem because it could be dangerous for education. According to a survey on social media, students do not eat and sleep at a appropriate time which affects the students attitude with education. Facebook, provides a virtual life to the indian teenagers, those teenagers who do not have confidence to communicate in front of anyone feel freedom in their virtual life as they're access to Facebook makes them feel satisfaction however this addiction kills their inner self confidence. The addiction of Facebook changes the mind of indian teenage as it demolishes their thought on education thus students slowly begin to hate education life and studies. The increase of uses of Facebook shows a significant change in Indian teenagers in their life as social media in our generation has become a crucial part of our life which could affect the future of Indian teenagers as it negatively affect students education. Teenagers typically have a lot to do in terms of their work from school, home or outside of school. Which means that the use of Facebook could get in the way and distract them from their daily routines. 52% of Indian teenagers use their social media during school which emphasizes that Facebook has affected their education as they are distracted in school. However, if they are able to avoid distractions from Facebook, then Facebook could actually benefit their education. This is because they will be able to receive help online through chatting on Facebook. Another benefit would be the ability to join forums on Facebook that are educational for Indian teenagers. Approximately 21% of teenagers claimed they used Facebook's video chat to learn about their assignments from schools and the percentage of this is 20.5% and tutorial videos that are educational, the percentage of this is 15%

Facebook also impacts the physical health of Indian teenagers. A research-survey that was completed by random Indian social networking users in the age group of 16 to 22 years old students of teenagers. This was the chosen age group as it was a group that used social media the most. The results show that the main reason the internet is used in India is for mailing and surfing the internet as the percentage for emailing is 30% and the percentage for surfing is 25.8%. Considering the amount of time spent on social media in India, it is shown that the users using it for less than 1 house is 78.1%, 1-2 hours is 18.2% and 3-5 hours is 3.7%. This is an issue because the act of sitting down and using Facebook relates to health related effects as one may put on weight as a result of excess use of Facebook on their electronic devices as they will not move from what they are doing to move and eat which could cause them to suffer from obesity. A different perspective on this is that if they are using Facebook wisely they also have access to groups created on Facebook, specifically fitness groups as there are fitness groups specifically for teens in order to motivate them to be healthy

The friendships of Indian teenagers are affected through the use of Facebook. Teenagers who have access to Facebook have the ability to add their friends on Facebook. This means that they will be able to see what their friends are posting. Considering the real evidence to show that the issue is significant, approximately 50% of teenagers in India has had experience with cyberbullying with a third of it (36%) have suffered with cyberbullying. This results in friendships being destroyed because it could be a friend that is cyberbullying their own friend. However if the friendships are healthy then the ability to comment on their friends post will not be a significant issues as those friends could leave positive comment which could benefit the friendship of those teenagers. Looking at this from another perspective is that Facebook helps connect people together and help teenagers to create new friendships.

Conclusion

It is clear to say that the impacts of Facebook on Indian teenagers cannot be ignored. Facebook has significant negative effects on Indian teenagers relationships as seen in their education, relationships and physical and mental health. This is shown through the impacts such as self esteem issues, excessive use of Facebook causing distractions, negative changes on their physical health and their friendships. Considering the real evidence to show that the issue is significant, approximately 50% of teenagers in India has had experience with cyberbullying with a third of it (36%) have suffered with cyberbullying.