THE OLYMPIA SCHOOLS

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RESEARCH PROPOSAL.

The influence of Social Media on teenagers Mental Health in high school

Student name: Le Thi Cam Tu

Teacher: Mai Thi Ngoc Yen

Subject: English
Class: 12E2.1
Institution: The Olympia Schools
Date: Oct, 2024
I - Introduction
Background and Context
Using social media has become one of the most pervasive aspects of high schoolers' lives.
They spend time with each other, talk to one another, and kill time on the sites-be it
chatting on Snapchat, going through TikTok, or simply mindlessly scrolling on Instagram.
Entertaining though they may be, there has been a growing concern about what might be
the potential negative effects of excessive use of the internet on mental health. This study
will further investigate the impact of social media on the mental health of a high school
student, in terms of anxiety, self-esteem, and general happiness.

Problem Statement
It is hard to imagine a day without social media because it has deeply ingrained itself into
our daily living. However, the constant urge to be at one's best, the need to connect with
others, and the threat of cyberbullying all bear adversely on mental health. This study,
therefore, tries to establish how much time high school kids spend using social media and
whether or not this usage causes stress, worry, or even poor academic achievement.

Research Questions
1. How frequently do teenagers at Olympia High School use social media?
2. What is the relationship between social media usage and reported levels of stress,
anxiety, or depression among students?
3. How does social media affect students' self-esteem and body image?

Objectives and Relevance of the Research

This study will identify both the positive and negative impacts that social media has on the
mental health of high school students. Through a deeper description of the part played by
these sites, we intend to make healthier recommendations regarding the use of social
media. This is important because such a study might show to what extent social media
affects academic achievements and mental health and give educators, parents, and students
some strategies for mitigating these effects.

II - Literature review
Key Concepts, Theories and Studies
Modern teenagers spend a lot of their time on different social media sites, such as
Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. These platforms enable students to learn and share their
experiences with their fellow mates globally; however, studies also pointed out their effects
as harmful to mental health. The common issue includes "social comparison" where children
compare themselves to other peoples' online posts, and therefore, due to that, they end up
feeling inferior. For instance, Stanley Hall's thesis is that adolescence is a period of "storm
and stress," and the demands placed through social media would seem to add to that stress
by imposing impossible standards on physical appearance and on expectations of success.

Key Debates and Controversies

Social networking has over the years carried both advantages and disadvantages. While it
on one hand provides ways of communication, education, and consuming news, it is on the
other hand affiliated with increased rates of anxiety, depression, and even sleeplessness.
While weighing both viewpoints, this paper shall discuss just how much the use of social
media affects the mental health of high school pupils.

Gaps in Existing Knowledge

There have been many studies done on teenagers with social media, but most of them focus
on teenagers outside of high school. Investigating how social media has impacted high
school students in this sensitive stage, particularly in striking a balance between mental
health and academic achievement, will bridge that gap.

III - Research design and methods

Research design
This research project will utilize both surveys and interviews. We will be administering a
questionnaire on the use of social media and its impacts on mental health to high school
students. We would also like to interview a smaller number of students to gain deeper
insight into ways in which social media impacts the students' lives.

Methods and Sources

We will be anonymously surveying data from students within the 14-18-year-old bracket.
This will include time spent on the sites, types of social media websites used, and how the
networks make them feel after using them.We will also get first-hand information on how
social media affects students in their daily life through interviews with a selected few. The
data will be analyzed in order to establish any correlation between the use of social media
and mental health issues, such as depression, stress, or anxiety.

Practical Considerations
We ensure that all participants remain anonymous since the study investigates sensitive
issues such as psychological problems. Students will not take part in the research without
their parents' consent, and the responses shall be kept confidential. We shall also ensure
that the phrasing of the questions is in an easily understandable way and that one can easily
respond to them given one potential problem-that students do not always respond to the
questionnaires with complete honesty.
IV – References
Lenhart, A., et al. (2010). Social media & mobile internet use among teens and young
adults. Pew Internet & American Life Project.
Al-Sabti, D.A., et al. (2017). Impact of social media on society, specifically teenagers.
IEEE Xplore.
Yaakup, H.S., & Kobiruzzaman, M.M. (2021). Impact of Social Media Towards Society:
A Case Study on Teenagers. ResearchGate.

V – Apendices

Research phase Objectives Deadline

Background research and Look at studies about social October 13th 2024

literature review media and mental health

Research design planning Create survey and interview March 3rd 2025

questions, recruit

participants

Data collection and Collect data through March 10th 2025

preparation surveys and interviews

Data analysis Analyze the data March 17th 2025

Writing Write up the research March 20th 2025

findings

Revision and final Revise and submit the March 25th 2025
submission paper