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Social media affects teens brains in a way that has never been explored before, paving the way for a new yet unconventional concept of communication. This is brought about by the evolving face of human communication in the world of social media.
Social media affects teens brains through the brain’s reward sectors
A recent study by the University of California Los Angeles brain mapping center conducted MRI scanner images from the brains of 32 teenagers. The researchers, using a mobile app program similar to Instagram, let the participants use the app and discovered that parts of the brain especially the reward center activates when they see a ‘like’ and increases activity levels.
“When teens learn that their own pictures have supposedly received a lot of likes, they show significantly greater activation in parts of the brain’s reward circuitry,” says lead author Lauren Sherman. “This is the same group of regions responding when we see pictures of a person we love or when we win money.”
Pictures painting words and emotions
The test participants were shown over 140 uploaded photos where researchers secretly placed ‘like’ responses, making it appear that it came from the volunteers’ peers.
Researchers suggest that the increase activity in the brain can be found on the nucleus accumbens that form part of the brain’s reward network and where they were able to see the increased activity based on the MRI scan results. This also leads to them using getting more attracted to use social media apps more.
One other finding that the researchers point out were the seemingly apparent peer influence from those within their inner circle where they were more likely to appreciate or negatively react to images that are more popular among friends, regardless of the images. The more likes or comments from friends, the more they are inclined to follow the trend.
Developing online cultures
Experts believe that it during the adolescence stage that teens are starting to develop their social skills online as they continue to tune in and wait for baited breath every time they spend their time on social media sites.
“Before, if you were having a face to face interaction everything is qualitative. You use someone’s gestures or facial expressions, that sort of thing, to see how effective your message is,” Sherman says.”Now if you go online, one of the ways that you gauge the effectiveness of your message is in the number of likes, favourites or retweets, and this is something that’s really different and unique about online interaction.”
Today, more than 1 billion people are subscribing to Facebook and other mobile app that could someday hinge the way people maintain
The post Social Media Affects Teens Brains In A New Way appeared first on NUTRITION CLUB CANADA.
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