Exploring Adolescent Perspectives on Social Media Impact
A qualitative design was utilised to facilitate the exploratory character of the study. The purpose of the project was to build the limited data on the perspectives of adolescents on the potential impact of social media upon mental health and wellbeing. We used a macrosocial constructionist perspective, because this promotes a broader and interpretive layer to analysis. This was considered appropriate because this perspective has formed a basis for many studies exploring young people’s experiences and views (Fraser, Lewis, Ding, Kellett, & Robinson, 2004) and reflects the position that children and childhood are constructed phenomena that subject to change (Greig, Taylor, & MacKay, 2007). Specifically, this underpinning theoretical foundation allows for an exploration of the how societal and media discourses of social media are reified through the adolescent accounts.
Data collection and recruitment
Focus groups were conducted as they are particularly useful for exploring topics considered sensing nature and are especially well suited for younger participants (Hoppe, Wells, Morrison, Gillmore, & Wilsdon, 1995). Focus groups also mobilise participants to respond to and comment on other’s contributions, meaning that issues can be developed and considered in depth (Willig, 2008). Participants were recruited from schools in two cities in the United Kingdom, Leicester and London, reflecting a broad diversity of socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. Six focus groups were conducted across 3 months in 2016 with adolescents aged 11–18 years old (N = 54). The question schedule for the focus groups was kept relatively broad so that it could be participant-driven and child centered. Overall, students were asked about their understandings of mental health, defining concepts and drawing on their personal experiences. They were also asked about their use of social media, extent of usage, which social media channels were favoured and their opinions on the different mediums. In addition, students were asked to comment on the potential of social media to promote mental wellbeing and the benefits and challenges of doing so.
Sampling adequacy was assured through the process of data saturation, which is tied to both the number of focus groups and the number of participants within them (Hancock, Amankwaa, Revell, & Mueller, 2016) and was appropriate for the approach taken (see O’Reilly & Parker, 2013).