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GRIGLIA VALUTAZIONE orale triennio - debate.docx

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useful language

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Social media: positive effects 4

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Social media: pros and cons 3

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Disclaimer: This work has been submitted by a student. This is not an example of the work produced by our essay writing service. You can view samples of our professional work here.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of UK Essays.

Abstract

Social networking has changed the way people interact with each other forever. Social networking first existed as an invention created in 1975 known as email, which is still used today (Email). However social networking has advanced in to using a profile to give information about a user and his or her interests, and has integrated the use of email. Now social networking involves sharing stories, photos, and involves the use of apps as well as messaging to communicate with others. This type of social networking did not become popular until the year 2003 when MySpace and Friendster were launched. Shortly after Facebook was launched but was not open to the general public until 2006, which has become the number one social networking site today. These networks have many positive effects such as remaining in contact with friends, meeting new people, providing educational benefits, as well as the convenience of mobilly accessing it. Also there are some negative effects which include identity theft, cyber bullying, decreased social interaction in real life, and social isolation. Increase in mobile social networking could possible cause future health problems.

The first type of social networking created was Email, which was invented in 1975 (Email). Since then social networking has advanced into a profile with numerous features that can be used and has integrated the use of email. Now social networking is changing the way the world interacts with people, and has provided many useful tools for the world to use. Still these social networks are continuing to advance to provide better features for users, and these popular sites will continue to grow in size. Even though social networks can have negative effects such as wasting time, it also affects people positively by allowing people to communicate and remain in contact with friends in a much easier way.

In the article "Are social networking sites good for our society?" (2009) social networking (or social media) is defined as "an online community that allow people to develop profiles of their backgrounds and interests, communicate with friends and strangers, and share thoughts, photos, Internet links, music, and more (p.1). Once a social network is joined users are prompted to identify others in the system with which they have a relationship known generally as "friends." Social networking sites vary greatly with the features they have to offer, and is what makes each site different from the other. Six Degrees was the first major social network, similar to social networking today, to be launched and was launched in 1997 (Bhutkar, 2009). Social networking as it is today did not become popular until 2003 when Friendster MySpace and LinkedIn were launched. Then in 2004 Facebook was launched but was only open to college students with a valid university email. Facebook remained a college only network for two years before it opened to the general public in 2006. Since then Facebook has become the number one social networking site (Bhutkar, 2009).

Positive Effects of Social Media

Social networking sites allow people to communicate and remain in contact with friends as well as meet new people. These sites allow people to find others with similar interests that they can create a relationship with and get to know one another. Groups can be joined or formed to meet people with similar interests, and views. Social networking allows for creative expression by using tools such as blogging and messaging to post ideas and stories (Are social networking sites good for our society, 2009). Users also share poems, interest in music, TV shows, hobbies, photos, and many other things (Jasson). Event invitations can be made and sent to friends rather than having to mail invitations and friends can also rsvp for an event on the site.

Not only is it used to talk to friends, but it is also used to discuss educational topics. Social networking is said to increase a person's quality of life, and can reduce health risks. Many people report that they have not had any negative experiences with social networking, and schools are starting to look at it as an educational tool (Thelwell, 2006). The use of social networking helps improve technological skills of students, and exposes them to many diverse views about things. It also has helped with communication skills, and allows the learning of cultures from users all over the world. Also students use social networking to discuss homework topics with peers online, and to get help on assignments (Reid, 2009). Sixty percent of students on social networks have said that they talk about education, and 50 percent specifically talk about school work assignments. These students seem to have an extraordinary set of traditional and 21st century skills including communication, creativity, collaboration, and leadership skills and technology proficiency. Parents are expecting schools to take advantage of using online social networking to educate children, but to do so in a safe way. Some public schools have created a secure social network for its student to be able to communicate with other students, and to do so in a more safe way (National School Board Association, 2007).

Social Networking does not just benefit individuals, but it also benefits businesses as well. These sites allow businesses to advertise and market services to a large audience, and a profile is free to set up (Gillin). Numerous businesses have created profiles that provide detailed information about the business to advertise in a low cost way (Roberts, 2008). Businesses will gain more attention on social networks because the business profile is available to for all users of the social network to see. Also businesses like to use social networks to learn what potential employees are like, and make decisions based on the information provided on the person's profile (Ellison, Steinfield, & Lampe, 2007).

Social networking has already completely changed the way people interact in the world, but also it is advancing more to make it easier to access. Now social networking is becoming mobile and can be accessed through the use of a cell phone. It is thought to be a great idea and would increase the use of social networking since a lot of people carry cell phones with them at all times. People can use mobile phones to update their status, post comments, upload photos, send messages, and update profile from just about anywhere (Kharif, 2006). This allows people to be able to get things done as well as take some time to log onto social networks. Making social networks accessible through cell phones is also expected to increase the number of users by a significant amount (Gillin). So far mobile social networking is being used more than social networking from pc computers. The top sites that are being visited using mobile phones are Facebook, MySpace, and Bebo. Being able to access social networks from the cell phone unlocks the full potential of social network, and makes it more convenient for people to use. Since it is more convenient to use the number of users has increased and the mobile social networking has increased significantly (Hamblen, 2008).

Negative Effects of Social Media

Social networking does have negative effects as well, but are nothing compared to the advantages of using it. These sites reduce the amount of face to face socializing and replace it with online interaction which is believed to result in low quality relationships with other people (Mikami, Szwedo, Allen, Evans, & Hare, 2010). Teens over share information to the public that can hurt them in the future when trying to get a job, and deleting the information is not good enough. Cyber bullying occurs as well, which is bullying people online in a public way, but occurs at a small percentage. People that frequently use online social networking are also prone to social isolation which can lead to depression and decreased social skills (Mikami, Szwedo, Allen, Evans, & Hare, 2010). A false sense of security leaves social networking site users vulnerable to security attacks such as hacking, leaking sensitive information, and sending viruses. Identity theft can occur when a cybercriminal uses the network to gather personal information posted about people (University of the Pacific). It also has been said that social networking sites endanger children by allowing pedophiles to seek out children (Are social networking sites good for our society?). Also since they are becoming mobile it might encourage people to use cell phone to access these sites while driving just like text messaging was a popular thing to do while driving.

Social networking becoming mobile use will increase cell phone use and the problem with that is that cell phones have been found to emit electromagnetic radiation that is absorbed by the brain and body. This absorption disrupts the brain sites for memory and learning and can cause confusion and forgetfulness (Thomas, 2004). It is also been reported that cell phones can cause cancer from the electromagnetic exposure to other parts of the body, but little emphasis has been placed on it. The cause of cancer in the brain has been the main health concern with cell phones, which social networking by mobile phone is not exposing the brain to the waves. Also, cell phones give small amounts of radiation off and would require a lot of use and over a long period of time for it to start to cause cancer. Research is needed to provide evidence to determine that actual health risk of cell phones.

Social networking has its advantages and its disadvantages like everything else does. The sites are continuously advancing, and changing to fix the negative problems. One example would be accessing social networking sites using cell phones so that people can access the site on the go rather than sit at home on a computer. Most users have stated that they have had only positive experiences with social networking, and very few people experience cyber bullying. There are still problems that need to be fixed, but it seems that the positive effects outweigh the negative effects. Social networking is a very valuable tool that can be used to meet new people, and allow people to remain in contact with friends. Even though it can waste time, social networking positively affects the world by allowing people to communicate, and remain in contact with friends in an easy and convenient way.

References

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Positive and Negative Effects of Social Media

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Disclaimer: This work has been submitted by a student. This is not an example of the work produced by our essay writing service. You can view samples of our professional work here. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of UK Essays.

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social media 5

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Letting your child use social media is like giving them cocaine, alcohol and cigarettes - all at once, or so we're told. If you have been following recent press reports about the effects of social media on young people, you may well believe this. But there is no scientific evidence to support such extreme claims.

The Independent

The real story is far more complex. It is very difficult to predict how social media will affect any specific individual - the effect depends on things like their personality, type of social media use and social surroundings. In reality, social media can have both positive and negative outcomes.

Media reports that compare social media to drug use are ignoring evidence of positive effects, while exaggerating and generalising the evidence of negative effects. This is scaremongering - and it does not promote healthy social media use. We would not liken giving children sweets to giving children drugs, even though having sweets for every meal could have serious health consequences. We should therefore not liken social media to drugs either.

For a claim to be proved scientifically it needs to be thoroughly tested. To fully confirm The Independent's headline that: "Giving your child a smartphone is like giving them a gram of cocaine, says top addiction expert", you would need to give children both a gram of cocaine and a smartphone and then compare the effects. Similarly, you would need to provide millennials with social media, drugs and alcohol to test The Conversation's headline that: "Social media is as harmful as alcohol and drugs for millennials". But ethical guidelines at universities were put in place so that such studies will never be done.

The diversity of social media

But maybe news headlines should be discounted - as exaggerations are often used to grab the readers' attention. But even when ignoring these grand claims, the media coverage of social media is still misleading. For example, reports that talk about the effects of social media are often oversimplifying reality. Social media is incredibly diverse - different sites providing a host of different features. This makes it extremely difficult to generalise about social media's effects.

A recent review of past research concluded that the effect of Facebook depends on which of the platform's features you use. A dialog with friends over Facebook messenger can improve your mood, while comparing your life to other people's photos on the Newsfeed can do the opposite. By treating all social media sites and features as one concept, the media is oversimplifying something that is very complex.

Focusing on the negative

The Express Tribune

Past media coverage has not only oversimplified social media, but has often only focused on social media's negative aspects. But scientific research demonstrates that there are both positive and negative outcomes of social media use. Research has shown that Facebook increases self-esteem and promotes feeling connected to others. People's physiological reactions also indicate they react positively to Facebook use.

By contrast, it has also been found that social media can decrease well-being and increases social anxiety. An analysis of 57 scientific studies found that social media is associated with slightly higher levels of narcissism. This array of conflicting evidence suggests that social media has both negative and positive effects. Not just one or the other.

The amount matters

The effect of social media also depends on the amount of time you spend using it. In a recent study we conducted of more than 120,000 UK teenagers, we found that moderate social media use is not harmful to mental health.

We compared the relationship between screen time and well-being. We found that those who used screens a moderate amount - between one and three hours each day - reported higher well-being compared with those who didn't use social media at all and those who used it more than three hours a day. So, unlike drugs, those who practise abstinence do not appear to fare better.

Recent media reports may have made parents unnecessarily anxious about their child's use of social media. A flashy quote or headline can often distract from the real challenges of parenting. It's time the media covered not only the bad, but also the beneficial and complex sides of social media. The effects of social media cannot be summarised by comparing social media to drugs. It is just not that simple.

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Social media is nothing like drugs, despite all the horror stories

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Letting your child use social media is like giving them cocaine, alcohol and cigarettes - all at once, or so we're told. If you have been following recent press reports about the effects of social media on young people, you may well believe this.

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Social media 6

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Social media is a good thing or a bad thing? That is the most frequently asked question today. Well, there are always two sides of everything; it depends on your perspective on how you perceive it. The same goes for social media, most people admire it as a revolutionary invention and some seem to take it as a negative impact on the society.

We have complied some of the positive and negative opinions people express for social networks:

- Friends and Relations:

Social networks started as a place to connect with your friends in an easy an convenient way. Truly speaking, many of you might have found your old pals from school or college who were out of touch due to one reason or other, well I would say I have and I thank social networks for this. Social networks has provided us the opportunity to connect with people and build better relationships with friends with whom we are unable to meet personally, and let them know about our life and take input about their lives and events happening with them.

- Reducing Communication Barriers:

With social networks we are able to communicate our thoughts and perceptions over different topics with a large number of audiences, and raise our voice. The sharing feature available on the social networks makes your opinion about any topic reach huge number of people (even to those who are not on your friends list). We have the option to make groups with people who are like minded and share the related news with them and ask for their opinion or input about the topic. Simply there are a number of options available for us to communicate with others on these social networks.

- Opportunities for Businesses:

Social networks have become a crucial part of many of us. We don't even notice this but as soon as we open our desktops or laptops to access the web, we sub-consciously open our favorite social network just to see about the updates received. Businesses have noticed the value of social networks in our life, and they are using different techniques to promote their products. There are a number of customized applications being made on the social platforms, whose main purpose is to promote the product or brand. As social marketing is cost effective and brands have a huge audience, they are shifting more towards social marketing.

- Leads to Addiction:

Many studies have shown that the extensive use of social media can actually cause addiction to the users. Throughout their day, they feel to post something on their pages or check others posts as it has become an important part of our life.

- Lead to Isolation:

Extreme usage of social media has reduced the level of human interaction. Because of social networks the interaction with other people has become effortless and people have isolated their lives behind their online identities. Face to face communication and meetings has been reduced and many of us have lost the flavor and charm to be together under one roof.

- Affecting Productivity:

Mostly businesses use social media to find and communicate with clients. But it is a great distraction to employees, who may show more interest in what their friends are posting than in their work tasks. Wired.com posted two studies which demonstrated damage to productivity caused by social networking. Nucleus Research reported that Facebook shaves 1.5% off office productivity while Morse claimed that British companies lost 2.2 billion a year to the social phenomenon. New technology products have become available that allow social networks to be blocked, but their effectiveness remains spotty.
Conclusion:
We have mentioned a few positive and negative points of social media, but it doesn't explain that social media is good or a bad thing. It stands somewhere in between. You will remain wary in spite of these examples that either social media is a good or bad thing for society? We would live to hear about your thoughts and opinion about the question raised... Do you think Social Networks are good or bad?

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Social Media - A Good Thing or a Bad Thing?

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This article has been updated. Please read it here: Is Social Media a Good Thing or a Bad Thing?

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Social media and drugs 2

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How Does Social Media Influence Teen Drug Abuse? | 12 Keys Rehab

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Are you wondering how social media influences teen drug abuse? Well, if you're the parent of an adolescent, you need to not only ask that question - you need to find the answer as well. What you discover will help you preserve your child's health and protect him or her from addiction.

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Social media and drugs 1

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Today's teens are connected more than ever, thanks to the trend of social media. With a constant stream of statuses, photos and videos, these teens have access to information that they never would of had years ago. While this does a lot of good, there seems to be some very negative consequences as well.

According to a 2011 study done by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, around 70 percent of teen social media users admitted to using illegal drugs. The percent tripled when the teens were asked if they had abused alcohol.

So, what is causing this connection between social media use and substance abuse? Why does it ony seem to affect teens? After all, several members of older age groups are also avid social media users.

According to The Fix, a newer study attempted to understand the impact that social media left on these teens. Project Know began the 'Young And Using' study that questioned 2,000 social media users, both young and old. The study uncovered some interesting opinions on teens, social media use and substance abuse.

While the newer study did back up the 2011 findings that teens using social media were twice as likely to use marijuana. However, the 'Young and Using' study discovered that older generations have misconstrued views of teen drug use. In fact, about 64 percent of baby boomers believed that teens were under immense temptation to abuse drugs. However, the younger crowd disagreed, claiming that there was not that much temptation on social media.

Older generations also overestimated rate that teens were imbibing in alcohol. The Fix reported, "62% of those surveyed overestimated underage drinking rates, estimating them to be between 45% and 55%. But the survey found that just 35% of high school students drank alcohol in the past year.

There is one comforting finding from these studies are that teen drinking rates have steadily been on the decline in the United States in recent years. That is quickly overshadowed from the fact that drug overdoses in teens and young adults is rising steadily, due to the widespread epidemic of opioid abuse.

While social media could play a role in this negative actions, it could also be a helpful tool in fighting drug and alcohol abuse. In the 'Young and Using' study, eighty-two percent of people felt that social media could be used as a tool to educate teens about the dangers of drug use.

Many organizations have begun online campaigns and aim to connect to teens on social media. Addiction treatment facilities, such as Coventry Health drug rehab centers, have started programs to help young adults overcome the fear of seeking help for theor substance abuse issues. Health professionals hope that these outreach programs will help lower the negative influence that social media has on these teens.

If you believe you or a loved one is suffering with addiction, the first step is asking for help. Call an addiction hotline, such as Coventry's addiction hotline at (866) 578-7471.

You might also enjoy:

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Social Media's Influence On Teen Drug Use

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Today's teens are connected more than ever, thanks to the trend of social media. With a constant stream of statuses, photos and videos, these teens have access to information that they never would of had years ago. While this does a lot of good, there seems to be some very negative consequences as well.

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drugs 4

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drugs 2

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FOR Legalising Cannabis

AGAINST Legalising Cannabis

1 - TOKING FOR FREEDOM

The government just has no right restricting the relatively harmless pleasures of consenting adults. Even if marijuana is harmful - and that is by no means clear - it is the right of every individual to decide whether to take it. Smoking weed is a "victimless crime" where only the user is taking any risk. It is immoral to tell people how they can, or cannot enjoy themselves.

1 - IT'S BAD FOR YOU IN ALL SORTS OF WAYS

Although cannabis may have some medical uses in strictly controlled circumstances, smoking it or munching on space cakes is simply not good for you. Opium poppy derivatives have medical uses - but that doesn't make heroin healthy. Dope is called that for a reason - it makes you stupid. As well as being bad for your brain, it's bad for your lungs, bad for your heart and a terrible risk if you plan to do anything like drive or operate machinery. Pot smokers also run higher risks of developing mental health problems like schizophrenia and depression.

2. BETTER THAN BOOZE

Weed is less harmful than legal drugs like alcohol or tobacco, so keeping it banned is pure hypocrisy. In fact, cannabis has proven health benefits, from treating glaucoma to preventing epilepsy or easing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. There are no health grounds to keep it illegal, it's purely a cultural hangover from the days when pot was considered a dangerous, exotic import. Tobacco is more addictive than cocaine, but there is no sign that marijuana causes physiological addiction. If you ban pot, you may as well ban burger eating, bungee jumping or any other moderately risky pastime.

2. MORE PEOPLE WILL USE IT

Cannabis is highly addictive. Studies show up to one-in10 users develop dependence over time. Stopping marijuana use can lead to withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and irritability. Over half the 7.3 million people classified with illicit drug dependence or abuse in the United States are hooked on weed. Making it legal will mean more people will use it - including youngsters - and more people will become addicted.

3. FOCUS ON THE REAL BAD STUFF

Legalising cannabis would take the trade out of the hands of criminal gangs. That would reduce their nefarious influence in both cannabis importing countries and the places where it's produced. Legalized, pot could be properly regulated to ensure quality and safety - just like any other product. When it's sold illegally on the street, nobody controls what dangerous substances could be mixed in with it. Freed from chasing hapless dope-smokers, law enforcement agencies could focus on dealing with hard drug pushers who do real harm.

3. PUSHERS WILL KEEP PUSHING

Legalizing cannabis won't stop the drug gangs, they'll just see profits boosted as it leads to more users and more addicts. Just look at Amsterdam where the liberal pot culture has spawned social problems from muggings to prostitution and hard drug use. The authorities there have been tightening restrictions. Research shows that heavy pot-smokers are several times more likely than non-users to commit violent crime.

4. GIVE THE TAX MAN A HIGH

Estimates in the United States suggest legalising marijuana would make the country about $18 billion better of every year. The gains would come from tax revenues on pot sales and savings to the justice system - including the cost of keeping smokers in jail. Since prohibition is never going to stop people smoking dope, the state may as well make money out of it. Colorado raked in more than $5 million in the first week after legalizing retail sales. It could also be a major boom to the economies of producing countries. One Jamaican company recently struck a $100 million deal to supply Colorado with medicinal ganja.

4. WEED LEADS TO WORSE

The use of soft drugs, such as marijuana, leads to the use of hard drugs. Addiction experts regard weed as a gateway drug that potentially introduces users to more serious substance abuse. Research in New Zealand found regular cannabis users were 60 times more likely to try other illicit drugs than young people who had never smoked cannabis. Cannabis itself is getting stronger. The stuff puffed by hippies in the 1960s had around 1% of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for most of marijuana's psychological effects. Today's THC levels can run to over 30%.

Want to debate this question with others? Join our debate "Should cannabis be legalised across Europe?" and add your thoughts in the comment section!

IMAGE CREDITS: CC / Flickr - Unai Mateo

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Arguments for and against legalising cannabis - Debating Europe

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FOR Legalising Cannabis AGAINST Legalising Cannabis The government just has no right restricting the relatively harmless pleasures of consenting adults. Even if marijuana is harmful - and that is by no means clear - it is the right of every individual to decide whether to take it.

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drugs 1

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According to a 2017 poll, 52% percent of American adults have tried marijuana at some point in their lives.﻿﻿ The dried blossom of cannabis sativa and cannabis indica plants, marijuana has been used for centuries as an herb, a medicine, hemp for rope-making, and as a recreational drug.

Did You Know?

Before the 20th century, cannabis plants in the U.S. were relatively unregulated, and marijuana was a common ingredient in medicines.

As of 2018, the U.S. government claims the right to-and does-criminalize the growing, selling, and possession of marijuana in all states. This right is not given to them by the Constitution but by the U.S. Supreme Court, most notably in their 2005 ruling in Gonzales v. Raich. This case upheld the right of the federal government to ban marijuana use in all states in spite of the dissenting voice of Justice Clarence Thomas, who stated: "By holding that Congress may regulate activity that is neither interstate nor commerce under the Interstate Commerce Clause, the Court abandons any attempt to enforce the Constitution's limits on federal power."

Brief History

Recreational use of marijuana was thought to have been introduced in the U.S. early in the 20th century by immigrants from Mexico. In the 1930s, marijuana was linked publicly in several research studies, and via a famed 1936 film named Reefer Madness, to crime, violence, and anti-social behavior.

Many believe that objections to marijuana first rose sharply as part of the U.S. temperance movement against alcohol. Others claim that marijuana was initially demonized partly due to fears of the Mexican immigrants associated with the drug.

In the 21st century, marijuana is illegal in the U.S. ostensibly due to moral and public health reasons and because of continuing concern over violence and crime associated with the production and distribution of the drug.

Pros and Cons of Legalization

Primary reasons in support of legalizing marijuana include:

Social Reasons

Prohibition of marijuana is unwarranted government intrusion into individual freedom of choice.

Marijuana is no more harmful to a person's health than alcohol or tobacco, which are both legal and widely used as well as regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Marijuana has proven medical benefits for patients suffering from a host of ailments and diseases, including cancer, AIDS, and glaucoma.﻿﻿

Crime and violence, both within the U.S. and at the U.S.-Mexico border, are greatly increased due to illegal selling and buying of marijuana. Legalization would logically end the need for such criminal behavior.

Law Enforcement Reasons

According to the FBI Unified Crime Statistics, marijuana accounted for 3.3% of sale/manufacturing drug crime arrests and 36.8% of possession and use drug crime arrests in 2018.﻿﻿ As a result, marijuana arrests place a significant burden on our judicial system.

Drug busts of youth for marijuana offenses often carry harsh penalties that can cause undue social harm with lifelong consequences.

Fiscal Reasons

Marijuana is one of America's top-selling agricultural products. According to the Colorado Department of Revenue, combined four-year sales of marijuana for that state since it legalized cannabis in 2014 has now topped $7.6 billion.﻿﻿

"... mainstream pundits like The Blaze's Glenn Beck and political commentator Jack Cafferty have publicly questioned the billions spent each year fighting the endless war against drugs," per the San Francisco Chronicle in 2009.

If marijuana were legalized and regulated, the industry could generate up to $106.7 billion annually for local, state, and federal governments. Some estimates say that the government spends $29 billion annually on drug prohibition alone and that this too could be saved by legalizing marijuana.﻿﻿

Primary reasons against legalizing marijuana include:

Social Reasons

In much the same way that pro-life advocates seek to make abortion illegal for all based on moral grounds, so too do some Americans wish to make marijuana illegal because they believe its use is immoral.

Long-term or abusive use of marijuana can be harmful to a person's health and well-being.﻿﻿

Second-hand smoke from marijuana can be harmful to others.

Many allege that regular marijuana use can lead to the use of harder, more harmful drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

Law Enforcement Reasons

Some opponents of legalizing marijuana believe that individuals involved in illegal buying and selling of the drug are more likely than average to be involved in other crimes and that society is safer with marijuana offenders incarcerated.

Law enforcement agencies don't want to be construed as supporting drug use.

There are no significant fiscal reasons against the U.S. legalizing marijuana.

Legal Background

The following are milestones of federal marijuana enforcement in U.S. history:

Prohibition, 1919 to 1933:As the use of marijuana became popular in response to alcohol prohibition, conservative anti-drug campaigners railed against the "Marijuana Menace," linking the drug to crime, violence, and other bad behaviors.

1930, Federal Bureau of Narcotics established:By 1931, 29 states had criminalized marijuana.﻿﻿

Uniform State Narcotic Act of 1932: This act pushed the states, rather than federal authorities, to regulate narcotics.

Marijuana Tax Act of 1937: People who sought certain medical benefits of marijuana could now do so freely, provided they paid an excise tax.

1944, New York Academy of Medicine: The esteemed institution bucked current thinking by putting out a report finding that marijuana does not "induce violence, insanity or sex crimes."

Narcotics Control Act of 1956:This piece of legislation set mandatory prison sentences and fines for drug offenses, including for marijuana.

1960s Counter-Culture Movement: U.S. marijuana use grew rapidly during this time. Studies commissioned by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson concluded that "marijuana use did not induce violence."

1970: Congress repealed mandatory penalties for drug offenses. Marijuana was differentiated from other drugs. Per PBS, "It was widely acknowledged that the mandatory minimum sentences of the 1950s had done nothing to eliminate the drug culture that embraced marijuana use throughout the 60s..."

1973, Drug Enforcement Agency:President Nixon created the DEA to enforce the controlled substances regulations and laws of the United States.

Oregon Decriminalization Bill of 1973: In spite of federal regulations, Oregon became the first state to decriminalize marijuana.

1976, Conservative Christian Groups:Led by Rev. Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority, rising conservative groups lobbied for stricter marijuana laws. The coalition grew powerful, leading to the 1980s "War on Drugs."

The Controlled Substances Therapeutic Research Act of 1978: By passing this act in its legislature, New Mexico became the first state in the Union to legally recognize the medical value of marijuana.

Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986:Pushed for and signed by President Reagan, the act raised penalties for marijuana offenses and established harsh mandatory "three strikes" sentencing laws.

1989, New "War on Drugs":In his Presidential Address of September 5, George H.W. Bush outlined a new strategy to combat the evils of drug use and trafficking, led by Bill Benett, the nation's first-ever drug policy director.

1996 in California: Voters legalized marijuana use for cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, and other patients, via a doctor's prescription.

1996 to 2018, nationwide: The war on drugs continued, yet marijuana was either legalized for consumption, legalized for medical use, or decriminalized in 42 states.

February 25, 2009: Attorney General Eric Holder announced that "federal agents will now target marijuana distributors only when they violate both federal and state laws," which effectively meant that if a state had legalized marijuana, the Obama administration would not override state law.

Cole Memorandum of 2013: US Attorney General James M. Cole conveys to federal prosecutors that they should not expend resources prosecuting state-legal marijuana businesses, except in the case of one of eight law enforcement priorities, such as distributing pot to minors or across state lines.

2018: Vermont became the first state to legalize recreational cannabis by way of the state legislature.

January 4, 2018: Attorney Jeff Sessions rescinds a trio of Obama-era rules, including the Holder and Cole memorandums, which had adopted a policy of non-intervention in marijuana-friendly states.

Moves to Legalize

On June 23, 2011, a federal bill to fully legalize marijuana was introduced in the House by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) and Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA.) Said Congressman Frank to the Christian Science Monitor of the bill:

"Criminally prosecuting adults for making the choice to smoke marijuana is a waste of law enforcement resources and an intrusion on personal freedom. I do not advocate urging people to smoke marijuana, neither do I urge them to drink alcoholic beverages or smoke tobacco, but in none of these cases do I think prohibition enforced by criminal sanctions is good public policy."

Another bill to decriminalize marijuana across the country was introduced on February 5, 2013, by Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). Neither of the two bills made it out of the House.

The states, on the other hand, have taken matters into their own hands. By 2018, nine states and Washington, D.C. had legalized recreational use of marijuana by adults. Thirteen additional states have decriminalized marijuana, and a full 33 allow its use in medical treatment.﻿﻿ By January 1, 2018, legalization was on the docket for another 12 states; now, the total is 11 states and Washington, D.C.

Federal Push Back

"I don't know what this says about the online audience." He then continued, "But, no, I don't think that is a good strategy to grow our economy." This in spite of the fact that Obama told the crowd at his 2004 appearance at Northwestern University, "I think the war on drugs has been a failure, and I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws."

Almost one year into Donald Trump's presidency, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in a January 4, 2018 memo to United States Attorneys, rescinded the Obama-era policies discouraging federal prosecution of marijuana cases in those states where the drug was legal. This move outraged many pro-legalization advocates on both sides of the aisle, including conservative political activists Charles and David Koch, whose general counsel, Mark Holden, blasted both Trump and Sessions for the move. Roger Stone, President Trump's former campaign adviser, called the move by Sessions a " cataclysmic mistake."

If any president were to publicly support the nationwide decriminalization of marijuana, he or she would likely do so by granting states the jurisdiction to decide this issue, just as states decide marriage laws for their residents.

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What Are the Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana in the U.S.?

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According to a 2017 poll, 52% percent of American adults have tried marijuana at some point in their lives.﻿﻿ The dried blossom of cannabis sativa and cannabis indica plants, marijuana has been used for centuries as an herb, a medicine, hemp for rope-making, and as a recreational drug.

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drugs 3

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Speak your mind about the legalization of marijuana. Discover how others feel about the decriminalization of pot in America.

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Eating disorders 5

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The World of Psychology describes body image as the way a person perceives herself when she looks in the mirror. In today's media culture, there are more types of "mirrors" than ever before.

Young people see thousands of images on a daily basis through social media sites and use them as personal benchmarks. Unable to differentiate between the realities an actual mirror shows and the perceived reality of celebrities and sports stars, those with a negative body image look for ways to feel accepted and in control. Eating disorders are born from this intense desire to achieve an impossible standard. ¹ Consider Kira O.'s story that she shared on the Heroes in Recovery website:

"I experienced a lot of illness as a child, resulting in dietary changes that impacted my view of food and my body. I attended a rigorous high school and excelled in athletics, including soccer and cross country, adding to pressure and body awareness. I remember a guy telling me, 'If you keep eating this much, you will get fat!,' while my soccer coach told me that I needed to gain more muscle. At a nutrition class in school, the teacher taught us how to eat healthier and count calories, which is where my awareness of portions and calories began. I also started comparing with peers, attempting to fit in, and struggling with identity. My self-esteem plummeted. In ninth grade, my problems manifested internally and externally through anorexia... becoming someone even I didn't recognize" ²

Like most people who struggle with an eating disorder, Kira's problems started at a young age. Early and consistent exposure to social media sites can do more damage than ever thought possible during these formative years and beyond. Wanting to look thinner, more muscular or more developed is no longer reserved for a few minutes in the locker room or at the swimming pool. Social media is causing body image distortions that are so deep, the result can be a lifelong struggle with an eating disorder.

Social Media Statistics

In early 2016, scientists reported evidence linking the use of social media with body image issues in young people. This included dieting, body surveillance, a strong desire for thinness and self-objectification. Although social media sites are not the cause of eating disorders, they are a factor in the development of body image issues. One reason is the amount of time teens spend on social media sites. ³ In 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported the following:

According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted during 2014 and 2015, 94 percent of teens who go online using a mobile device do so daily.

Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat are the most popular, and 71 percent of teens say they use more than one social media site.

Boys report going on Facebook most often, while girls are more likely than boys to use visually-oriented platforms such as Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram.⁴

Social Media and Body Image

Sites like Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram offer adolescents a continual stream of pictures and video that depict the people in them at their best, living the perfect life that teenagers desire. Without the ability to consistently make good choices or have appropriate judgment- from the part of the teenage brain that is not fully developed until age 25- young people perceive what they see as reality. They are unable to tell the difference between everyday life, a moment in time or an image that has been altered. Teens look to social media sites to find approval for their appearance, choice of clothing and even their significant others. "Likes" drive the desire for acceptance, and young people, especially young women, openly compare themselves to pictures of celebrities, reality stars or "wellness" enthusiasts.

According to the Child Mind Institute, these unrealistic expectations reach dangerous levels in college, when the standards for achievement become even higher and many young people seek acceptance wherever they can find it. ⁵

To help address unhealthy body images in the media, the BBC reports countries like France have set standards for a healthy body weight for all models in the fashion industry. A long-time barometer of what is considered the acceptable woman's body, France is taking the lead by requiring a doctor's certificate attesting to the overall health of the model based on her body mass index(BMI ). The doctor's certification will take into account the model's age, body type and weight. The law also requires that all digitally-altered photographs be labeled.

In a recent statement, Marisol Touraine, France's Minister of Social Affairs and Health said, "Exposing young people to normative and unrealistic images of bodies leads to a sense of self-depreciation and poor self-esteem that can impact health-related behavior."

Israel, Italy and Spain have similar laws banning underweight models. ⁶

Help for Eating Disorders

Extreme portion control, over exercising, skipping meals, weighing daily, binging and purging are all symptoms of eating disorders. Eating disorders affect both men and women, but women are 2½ times more likely to struggle with a disorder. There is no definitive cause of eating disorders, but researchers have found genetic, biological, behavioral, psychological and social factors all play a role in the development of the disease. ⁷

If you or a loved one struggle with an eating disorder, Center for Change is here for you. Call our toll-free helpline 24 hours a day to speak to an admissions coordinator about available treatment options at 888-224-8250

¹ Polk, Whitney. " How the Media Affects Body Image." World of Psychology. N.p., 09 June 2016. Web. 28 July 2017.

² O., Kira. " Moment by Moment - Heroes in Recovery - Celebrating Recovery and the Heroic Journey." Heroes in Recovery. N.p., 4 Mar. 2017. Web. 28 July 2017.

³ Simmons, Rachel. " How Social Media Is a Toxic Mirror." Time. 19 Apr. 2016. Web. 28 July 2017.

⁴ Health, Office Of Adolescent. " February 2016: Teens' Social Media Use." HHS.gov. US Department of Health and Human Services, 13 May 2016. Web. 28 July 2017.

⁵ Rae Jacobson. " Social Media and Self-Esteem | Impact of Social Media on Youth." Child Mind Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 July 2017.

⁶ " France bans extremely thin models." BBC News. BBC, 06 May 2017. Web. 28 July 2017.

⁷ " Eating Disorders ." National Institute of Mental Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Feb. 2016. Web. 28 July 2017.

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How Does Media Impact Body Image and Eating Disorder Rates? | Center for Change

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By Patti Richards The World of Psychology describes body image as the way a person perceives herself when she looks in the mirror. In today's media culture, there are more types of "mirrors" than ever before.

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Eating disorders 4

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Psychologists found robust cross-cultural evidence linking social media use to body image concerns.

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Eating disorders 3

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Eating disorders 2

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Social media has effectively made its way into every classroom, dinner table, and workplace. Whether it is used by children, teenagers, or adults, everyone seems to have a huge presence in the social media world. With a wide range of social media platforms used among all age groups including Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter, it can be increasingly difficult to escape the pressures and influences of social media.

Social media may have a strong influence on a person's relationship with food and fear of gaining weight. Many individuals in the social media world are chronicling their fit bodies, food choices, and exercise regimes. For individuals struggling with an eating disorder, the constant streams of body and food conscious posts may cause heightened levels of stress and anxiety surrounding the 'perfect body image'.

Understanding how social media can play a huge role in the development and influence of eating disorders can help you or someone you love seek effective treatment.

Causes of Eating Disorders

Eating disorders are caused by a multitude of factors that influence someone to engage in destructive eating habits. These factors include biological, psychological, and environmental components that increase a person's likelihood that they will be diagnosed with an eating disorder.

For people suffering with anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder, obsessions over self-image and feelings of shame over eating food consume a person's daily thoughts and actions. Individuals become consumed in counting calories, purging after a binge eating episode, excessively exercising, or binge eating until they feel uncomfortably full. Struggling individuals may be stressed from the demands of their jobs, expectations from their family, and pressures from their peers.

With the multitude of environmental stressors already influencing disordered eating habits, social media has now been added to the list. Now more than ever, since social media is used by individuals of all ages and backgrounds, it has begun to play a larger role in the influence and development of eating disorders.

Social Media's Effect on Eating Disorders

Although social media itself is not the sole cause of an eating disorder, it has fueled individuals to engage in disordered patterns of eating. According to research, "media is a causal risk factor for the development of eating disorders" and has a strong influence on a person's body dissatisfaction, eating patterns, and poor self-concept." Individuals begin to constantly compare themselves to thin models, their peers, as well as famous social media users and begin to feel inadequate about their own self-image.

With the increased use of social media among peers, it has been increasingly difficult to avoid the constant peer pressure surrounding the 'ideal body type'. Social media's presence in everyday life is so large that individuals now care about the opinions of people that they have never met before. Body shamers use social media as a platform to talk negatively about someone's image and it strongly affects the emotional well-being of individuals who already struggle with their relationship with food.

Cyberbullying

The social media platform has also made it easier for bullying to infiltrate an individual's daily life, beyond the parameters of the school day. According to the National Eating Disorders Association "as many as 65% of people with eating disorders say bullying contributed to their condition." According to the National Institute of Mental Health, "about 3 percent of U.S. adolescents are affected by an eating disorder, but most do not receive treatment for their specific eating condition." The obsession over self-image and fitting peer and societal expectations in the social media world has also opened the door for body shamers and bullying to occur more frequently.

Bullying has tremendous influences on a young person's self-concept and behaviors. For instance, individuals who experience bullying often times show signs of skipping meals more often or binge eating to cope with the pain.[1] The different types of social media channels have increasingly made it difficult to escape the stressors that make young people feel unworthy and inadequate. It is time to start the conversation about social media and use it as a tool for empowerment instead of discouragement and shame.

Becoming informed on the effects that social media can have on all ages can help you or someone you love begin the conversation and take action against the negativity on social media.

Use Social Media for Empowerment

The following are useful ways to escape the negative effects of social media and use it as a tool for self-empowerment.

1. Go outside, call a friend, or practice meditation. Whatever you want to do, make sure you put your phone or computer away. Engage in activities that allow you to be free from the digital world. Sign off from your accounts, deactivate them, or put them away when you are experiencing a moment of difficulty or stress. Instead, do something enjoyable with supportive friends and family, and then you will forget the digital world ever existed.

2. If you are following individuals who are obsessed over posting their food, image, and exercise regimes, unfollow them and be free. Block unfriendly social media users and body shamers and only use the digital world to celebrate friends and family. Escape from the constant images of thin models and diet fads by not engaging in those accounts. You should only follow the accounts that are inspiring and motivational and encourage you to love and respect yourself for who you are.

3. Live in the present moment and release yourself from the stress caused by the digital world. Put away your phone and engage in mindful eating behaviors. Focus on your food and the loved ones you are surrounded by during meal times. Replace time on social media with mindfulness techniques such as yoga, meditation, or cooking healthy meals. When you unwind from the day's events without always checking social media, it will allow you to be present in the moment.

Use social media as a platform for self-empowerment. Surround yourself with supportive friends and family in your digital world and do not be afraid to celebrate who you are. You will find that if you unplug sometimes and unfollow the social media stressors, you will become a much happier and healthier individual.

If you or someone you love is experiencing body shaming, seek help and report the user. You will not only help yourself recover from your eating disorder, but you will gain the confidence needed in living a healthy life again.

Begin the Healing Process

Beginning the healing process is essential for individuals struggling with an eating disorder. The only way to defeat the online trolls is to take charge of your online account and not allow people to make you or someone you love feel inferior or unworthy. To help establish mindfulness and self-confidence, seeking treatment for an eating disorder that specializes in whole person care will help you gain the strength needed to battle the body shamers and defeat your disorder.

Eating Disorder Recovery Specialists are highly trained professionals who are equipped to help individuals establish self-soothing techniques, meal plans, and personalized coping mechanisms learned through methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to best treat any eating disorder. Specialists empathize with each patient and create a personalized recovery plan that fits the needs of every individual. With an emphasis on cultivating self-compassion and feeding the mind, body, and spirit with healthful nutrients, individuals will build the resiliency needed to fully recover from their eating disorder.
Greta Gleissner is the Founder of Eating Disorder Recovery Specialists, a nationwide network of eating disorder treatment specialists that provide meal coaching and recovery skills such as CBT, DBT, ACT, MI, etc. EDRS works alongside treatment programs, teams and families to provide transitional aftercare support for post-residential treatment clients.
[1] https://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/warning-signs/index.html

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Social Media and its Effect on Eating Disorders

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Social media has effectively made its way into every classroom, dinner table, and workplace. Whether it is used by children, teenagers, or adults, everyone seems to have a huge presence in the social media world.

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Eating disorders 1

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The presence of social media is impossible to escape these days. Keeping up with multiple accounts can become exhausting. For some, reflections fed back from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (to name just a few channels) can often reinforce existing feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness as well as lead to increased isolation. On the other end of the spectrum, online interaction can allow sufferers of all mental health difficulties to develop a voice and feel supported. Social media can be of great comfort to some people with eating disorders by giving them a connection to others who understand and can relate to their struggles.

In 2014, a research team from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine analyzed 1,765 American adults aged 19 and 32 years old. They asked the participants to answer a series of questionnaires to describe their social media usage and also to determine their risk of developing eating disordered symptoms. Their findings revealed that the subjects who spent the most time engaged with social media each day had 2.2 times the risk of developing eating disorders. Additionally, those who most frequently checked their social media feeds weekly carried 2.6 times the risk.

For someone with an eating disorder, comparisons with others are common, with a tendency to compare with those perceived to be thinner or more fit. Eating disorder sufferers may berate themselves for not being as thin or sick as others they know with eating disorders, those they have met in treatment or online communities, or even friends or acquaintances. Social media can warp reality if you surround yourself with individuals struggling with the same condition as your sense of what is normal can be swallowed up.

Sufferers of eating disorders may also measure their own achievements and accomplishments against their peers and as a result, may feel they are lagging behind. A constant stream of acquaintances that constantly share news of their work advances, family and relationship statuses can lead to an influx of self-hate and the thought that any personal successes are lacking. This may be especially relevant if someone has missed out on chances to pursue milestones due to illness and/or treatment. Focusing on your own endeavors, however small they may seem, is crucial.

This can be challenging in the context of social media, in which a fixation on image is at the heart. Pictures are everywhere, perhaps airbrushed, filtered, and set at flattering angles. You can use tools to make yourself appear thinner, make your nose smaller or your waist slightly tighter. It is so important to keep reminding yourself that profiles are tailored and presented in a certain way. Everyone has the means to create a facade of themselves and often any cracks underneath are concealed from view. Australian Instagram star Essena O'Neil quit the website, with the parting message that social media is full of "contrived perfection to get attention." Of this Jo Hemmings, dating coach and behavioral psychologist said: "social media has a way of making most of us feel inadequate, I take it with a pinch of salt - often their need to brag about their fabulous life is to convince themselves."

In addition to being a general source of distress due to comparisons, social media outlets can also be home for toxic communities that may advocate unhealthy eating disordered eating behavior. Pro-anorexia ("pro-ana") and pro-bulimia websites and online forums are publicly available; they are interactive and promote starvation. Users can swap "thinspiration" ("inspirational" pictures of extremely thin bodies) and compare body measurements and stats. It is all too easy for pick up 'tips and tricks' and additional harmful ideas, while making connections with people that share the same unhealthy obsessions and behaviors. While social media outlets, or even pro-ana sites and content do not directly cause eating disorders, they may normalize disordered eating behaviors and discourage recovery. Another concern is that such online communities can be a hotbed for bullying as hurtful words are far easier to spout from behind a laptop screen and veil of anonymity.

Despite the downsides, for people suffering from mental health problems generally and eating disorders specifically, appropriate online connections can be hugely helpful and valuable. I know this from personal experience. My involvement in online communities has given me a lifeline and the crutch I need to survive. I now have a handful of truly amazing and supportive friends I met through online forums that I now see on a regular basis, and they truly mean the world to me. Balance and vigilance is paramount. Becoming too fixated on your laptop screen whereby you avoid real life interactions is not healthy but this is not to mean that you cannot find sources of help and support that enable you to challenge yourself in real life situations and develop skills to battle social unease and anxiety.

This concept was also explored with case studies by Paola Tubaro, an expert on pro-ana sites who published 'Social media: Feeding eating disorders? (2015)'. Tubaro states, 'Small groups of peers, especially online, provide a welcoming and non-judgmental environment where persons with eating disorders can share their concerns." Tubaro offers examples of several women who have benefited from blogging their experiences of battling anorexia and found a way to connect with people supportive of their recovery efforts. The author quotes Bella from London, from the recovery blog, bellabirdie.blogspot.com, who stated, "When you connect with people who are similarly affected by eating disorders, you can receive comments of encouragement from people all over the world. It's almost like getting a virtual hug."

There are also many ways social media can be used in an affirmative way. Online campaigns and twitter backlashes against sexism and body shaming are becoming more and more common. In addition, targeted criticism over the use of unrealistic model images in our everyday sources of media occurs more frequently. Recovery-orientated blogs and message boards can also be extremely beneficial, as well as publicized National and International Eating Disorder Awareness weeks. In these ways, social media can promote recovery and create a sense of community that can make someone in the grip of an eating disorder feel less alone. It also makes it easier for people to stand up and lobby against injustices and challenge stigma.

So what can we do to protect ourselves online and use the Internet in a safe and beneficial way? The most important rule is to be mindful and aware of the composed nature of social media. Try to view those perfect yet posed and edited Instagram selfies as what they are and limit your usage of certain websites when they feel overwhelming or all-consuming. Be mindful of the fact that the content you see is often a façade and that underlying fragilities are easily concealed behind smoke and mirrors. You can block people or accounts, report inappropriate content, or tailor your feed on social media sites to filter particular users or groups. Ultimately, there is always the deactivate button and putting all social media on blackout, even for temporary periods, can be empowering. Recognize the warning signs, take back control of the mouse pad and press the shut down key. Try to protect yourself as much as you can, and reach out for appropriate support when necessary.
Return To Society And Eating Disorders Return To Home Page Additional Reading:
Body Comparisons and Eating Disorders
Body Image in the Media
Self-Esteem and Eating Disorders
Weight-Related Bullying and Eating Disorders
About The Author:
This article was written by Claire Kearns. Claire is a journalism and creative writing graduate and freelance writer based in Surrey, England.
Written - 2017

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Social Media And Eating Disorders ..........Helpful or Harmful?

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The presence of social media is impossible to escape these days. Keeping up with multiple accounts can become exhausting. For some, reflections fed back from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (to name just a few channels) can often reinforce existing feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness as well as lead to increased isolation.

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