| |
| author |
Ianto Porter
| | title |
Social Media Use and Impacts on Mental Health: An Examination and Close Look at Tumblr
| | abstract |
Extensive research exists on social media use and mental health. This thesis focuses on
their connection and the direction of influence on each other. The influence is not one-sided, but
one can primarily find evidence of how social media use has been harmful on its users and
indication of its potential to cause mental and physical harm. This discussion is furthered in the
details of the social media platform known as Tumblr, allowing a deeper understanding of the
multi-faceted impacts that one website can have and how content can cause harm to mental
health. Of high importance is attempting to further this discussion and research by interviewing a
few of Tumblr's users, revealing keen insight into the changes the site has gone through. This
research reveals the personal impacts of Tumblr in individuals' lives as well as the importance of
continuing to investigate this topic with the changes of COVID-19 in mind. Content analysis of
specific tags on Tumblr adds to an understanding of the interviews. Social media platforms and
the individuals using them are exposed to a plethora of content that can have positive and
negative impacts on mental health. This thesis illuminates and explores the complexities of
studying social media in an effort to better understand these impacts and advance the work of
digital anthropology.
| | school |
The College of Liberal Arts, Drew University
| | degree |
B.A. (2022)
|
| advisor |
Marc Boglioli
|
| full text | IPorter.pdf |
| |
