USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA BY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
BY JIN YOUNG HAN
Today many people use social media such as Facebook,
Instagram, WeChat, and Kakao-Talk. These applications
and websites are used worldwide, and allow people to
communicate and share their thoughts and opinions with
people in different places. So, not only do people share
their own experiences, but they also discuss news or
issues around the world. Unfortunately, there are
difficulties when people try to access social media in
China.
associated with products from companies, which causes
the users to develop familiarity and desire to purchase
those goods. However, in order to restrict and control the
use of social media by Chinese citizens, the Chinese
government controls access to many social media
platforms within the country. The access is limited to social
media such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Kakaostory,
YouTube, Snapchat, and Google+. These restrictions
forced both the local Chinese population and foreigners
residing or visiting China to turn to Weibo, QQ, and
“I use WeChat, Kakao-talk, Instagram, and YouTube,” said WeChat. Although some social media sites are banned,
Hannah (Seo-Jung) Yeo, a ninth grade student at many people in China continue their use them by getting
Shanghai American School. She also added, “I post access through a VPN.
moments or pictures along with comments every day.”
“I chat with my friends, and some of them are in other
There are numerous types of social media, and one of the countries. It is good, because we keep in touch and share
most popular kinds of social media is Facebook. Facebook our days,” said Grace Gao, a junior at Shanghai Livingston
is a free social networking website where registered American School. In addition, she commented, “For some
members can create profiles, upload pictures and videos. social media, we need to use VPN to connect, but
They can also view others’ posts and thoughts, and send sometimes it does not work well.”
messages using a messenger application. According to
an article titled, “How Social Media Influences People,” Social media is an important source of communication. It
more than one billion people have Facebook accounts, helps people to share their experiences and to keep in
and 58% of them check their accounts daily. So, how can touch with friends and families. The use of social media
social media influence people? First of all, social media is has greatly influenced our generation today. Even though
ubiquitous. Following Facebook, YouTube has the the Chinese government has limited access to various
second highest number of users: 800 million. Secondly, social media, many Chinese and foreigners in China still
it is time consuming. Many people will spend hours find ways to get access to them. However, the relatively
viewing the posts of their friends and chatting with them. slow internet and required of VPN make the use of social
Thirdly, it is habit forming. Many social media users check media even more difficult in China.
their accounts day and night; some even bring their
electronic devices to use in the bathroom. Lastly, it helps
business. These applications often have advertisements
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