DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS

Several inferences were made based on the findings of this research. Firstly, it

was seen that Facebook is the most dominant social networking sites used by teenagers in

this research project. Similarly, it was found by Johnny Ringo that Facebook and Twitter

are both used mostly by Caribbean teenagers. This similarity is noted because research

was done in San Juan while Ringos research was done throughout the Caribbean.

Additionally, Rick Nauert and Alison Trinidad emphasized the fact that

these sites encourage peer pressure, cyber bullying and online predation. This conclusion

made by them is supported by my findings that of the teenagers in sample size

experienced peer pressure, cyber bullying and online predation. These negative effects

may be caused by the vast amount of time spent on these websites and lack of parental

supervision. These findings therefore show how social networks affect teenagers

negatively.

Johnny Ringo found that professionals can prevent the effect of social media on

teenagers while Julian Neaves found that education can be utilised to prevent it.

Similarly, in my findings it was seen that the government, especially the Ministry of

Education, and parents could be used to prevent this situation. Therefore the results of

this project matched that of Rigs and Neaves while answering the research objective on

how the negative impact of social media in teenagers lives could be controlled.

However, it was observed by Johnny Ringo that most of a teens free time is spent

on social networking sites. In contrast, my researchs findings stated that majority of

teenagers spend only one to two hours on social networking sites per day while one to

two hours are also spent studying by a significant number of teenagers. The difference in

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these findings may account for the cause of the large influence that social networks have

on teenagers due the amount of time spent on them making them an important part of

their routine.

Furthermore, Rick Nauert stated that sexual behaviour and violence are also

discussed by teens on social networks which are a negative impact of them. He also

found that profiles associated with religious involvement portray decreased involvement

with risky behaviours. Therefore religion can be used as a way to control the negative

effects of social networks. Another way to control the negative impacts of social

networks was reported by Nauert which was the use of professional to email teens to

decrease and eliminate their use of sexual references.

Moreover, new findings by Julian Neaves included aggressiveness, narcissism

and anxiety are common among teens who use social websites frequently and this is a

negative effect of social networks on teen behaviour. He also answered another research

objective which include the negative impact of social networks have on ethical values of

teenagers.

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