Results from a study published in the journal Psychological Science revealed the
effects of social media ‘likes’ on the teenage brain.
The research suggests that likes have a very impressive effect
on teenagers. During adolescence, it’s believed that the brain’s reward
circuitry is very sensitive – and throughout the study, this circuitry was
particularly active. If a participant got a high number of likes on his or her
own photo, the same circuits that could be activated by winning money or eating
a sweet dessert were affected.
The study, which was led by Lauren Sherman, a researcher at
the University of California, Los Angeles’ Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping
Center, included 32 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 18. The teens were
presented with photos on social media – their own photos – while having MRI
scans.
In addition to the reward circuitry, other brain regions
referred to as the ‘social brain’ were also activated.
Another part of the study prompted the participants to
review and like photos that were not their own. Results showed that a
participant was more inclined to like a photo if it already had a high number
of likes. According to Sherman, if something has been endorsed by an
adolescent’s peers, he or she is more likely to jump on the bandwagon, and in
this case, like a photo. Surprisingly, this rings true even if the teen doesn’t
know his or her peers who liked the photo. In essence, they could be complete
strangers. Overall, the teens showed a very high willingness to conform.
According to Mirella Depretto, professor of psychiatry and
biobehavioral sciences at UCLA’s Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human
Behavior, the impact of peers on adolescents is likely to be more substantial
in real life, more so than on social media. When endorsed by people important
to them, and by people they know personally, teens are even more likely to
follow the pack.
The study brings to light some safety concerns many parents
may have in regards to their children using social media to connect to others.
Patricia Greenfield, director of UCLA’s Children’s Digital Media Center, Los
Angeles, explained how impossible it is to know who kids are connected with
these days. While parents used to know their kids friends -- by seeing them in
person – today’s parents are left with little hints as to the hundreds of
friends their children have on social media.
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