Western Sydney University Essay: Anti-Social Youth and the Internet

This essay examines the impact of online technologies on young people, responding to the statement that the internet is creating an anti-social generation. The introduction provides background information, defines 'anti-social,' and states the thesis: that the internet and social networking sites offer benefits to youth. The essay outlines arguments supporting this thesis, including the educational benefits of social networking sites and their role in connecting people. The essay then addresses counterarguments, such as the potential for distraction and cyberbullying, and refutes them. The conclusion restates the thesis and summarizes the arguments, emphasizing the benefits of social networking when used responsibly. References are provided to support the claims made in the essay.

The Benefits of Social Networking Services
9/2/2019

Essay Question – The internet is creating a generation of anti-social youth’. In your response,
critically analyse how young people use online technologies.
Introduction In-text citation
Provide background information and context.
Include a definition of the term ‘anti-social’
In the society it is perceived that social
networking sites are making youth anti-social,
but, it is not so. This is because these sites are
providing increased number of benefits to youth
if used in a proper manner such as education,
entertainment, news, etc. Generally, the term is
used for the youth being involve in social-
networking sites is Anti-social. This term
describes people and behaviour that are not
welcoming to others or shunning contact with
others.
(Collin, Rahilly,
Richardson and Third,
2011)
(Curtis, 2015)
State your thesis (your overall position) using
complete sentence
Is Internet and social networking sites are
beneficial for the youth?
Outline the arguments you will use to support
your thesis
1. Use of Social-Networking Sites helps
youngsters in education and increasing
knowledge.
2. Social Networking Sites are making Anti-social
Youth
3.
4. (optional)
(Collin, Rahilly,
Richardson and Third,
2011)
Issue 1
Argument: Write the topic sentence using
a complete sentence
(Collin, Rahilly,
Richardson and Third,
2011)

Use of Social-Networking Sites helps youngsters
in education and increasing knowledge
Supporting sentences (explanations, examples,
evidence):
It has been believed that social networking sites
increase the interest of the student in comparison
to the normal class sessions. E-learning sites and
the strategies that they use for educating people
allow extended discussions of learning outside
the normal classroom, hence offering detailed
learning because young generation not just get
involve with the material but also relate it and
incorporate it in their real life.
(Collin, Rahilly,
Richardson and Third,
2011)
Counter argument:
Access use results in distracting from education
and cyber bulling
Refutation of counter argument:
On the other hand, due to free access to different
ill sites results in distracting youth from their
education and dragging towards pornography.
Besides this, many times people interact with
people whom they do not know and share their
personal stuff with them, which results in
increasing cyber bulling.
(Collin, Rahilly,
Richardson and Third,
2011)
Issue 2 Sources

Argument: Write the topic sentence using
a complete sentence
Social Networking Sites are making Anti-social
Youth
Supporting sentences (explanations, examples,
evidence)
Today, 90% of the 16-29 years old Australians are
using social networking sites with an average of
22 hours daily. This results in distancing the
youth from their personal goals and affecting at
larger scale.
(Collin, Rahilly,
Richardson and Third,
2011)
Counter argument:
Connecting with the entire world through social networking
sites
Refutation of counter argument:
The above presented statement is not true; in
fact, the motive of the social networking sites is
to offer a platform to people to get in touch with
their friends, families, and other people living at
distinct places. Besides this, it helps in posting
public messages to increase knowledge and
awareness.
(Collin, Rahilly,
Richardson and Third,
2011)
Conclusion
Re-state the thesis in a different way:
Internet and social networking sites are offering different benefits to
youth.
Re-state the arguments supporting your thesis:
The above discussion has presented the argument that
internet and social networking sites are beneficial for the

youth as it support them in gaining knowledge and getting
education. However, the article also raised a discussion
that social networking sites are making anti-social youth.
But, this is not true, because the motive of the social
media is to help people in connecting with the entire
world.
A concluding statement (e.g. refer to future implications,
suggestions or recommendations):
In the conclusion, it could be raised that social networking
sites offer increasing number of benefits to people if it is
used in a proper manner as described by the ethical
authorities of the country.
References
Collin, P., Rahilly, K., Richardson, I., and Third, A 2011, The Benefits of Social Networking
Services, viewed 2 September 2019, <
https://www.uws.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/476337/The-Benefits-of-Social-Networking-
Services.pdf>
Curtis, C. 2015, Anti-Social Behaviour: A multi-national perspective of the everyday to the
extreme, SAGE, U.K.