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Once we spoke with eyes, not screens,

In places where presence reigned supreme.

Laughter echoed, voices true,

A bond so deep, it grew and grew.

Now filtered lives and hearts confined,

Chase fleeting likes, leave trust behind.

In digital halls, we seek our place,

Yet loneliness hides behind each face.

But hope remains, a quiet light,

To guide us back through shadowed night.

Choose presence now, let screens be few,

And build the bonds that once we knew.

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Today, I found myself reflecting on how much social media has changed the way we connect. It’s strange to think that something designed to bring people closer often leaves us feeling more isolated. I scroll through my feed and see curated snapshots of everyone’s lives—perfect vacations, flawless selfies—but it feels so distant, so unreal. I miss the days when conversations were face-to-face, when laughter wasn’t captured for likes but shared in the moment. Now, it’s all about validation: who liked your post, who commented. Sometimes, I catch myself caring too much about it, even though I know it doesn’t really matter. It makes me wonder what we’re losing. Are we forgetting how to have real, meaningful relationships? When was the last time I had a deep conversation without checking my phone?

I think I need to make a change. Maybe I’ll start small—less time online, and more time with the people right in front of me. I don’t want to lose the art of connection completely. I want to hold on to it, even in this digital world.

Let’s see if tomorrow can be a little more real.

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Once upon a time, in a small town, people used to spend their days talking, laughing, and playing together. They didn’t need phones or computers to connect—they just enjoyed being with each other. One day, a shiny new thing called “Social Media” appeared. It let people talk to others far away, share pictures, and stay connected. At first, everyone loved it, but soon, they started spending more time on their screens than with their friends. The town became quieter, and people felt lonely, even though they were surrounded by others. One girl, Emma, missed the old days. She decided to invite her friends over without their phones. They spent the evening talking, laughing, and playing games, just like they used to. Emma realized that while social media was fun, the best moments came when they were truly together in person. From then on, Emma made sure to balance time online with time spent with her friends, remembering that real connections happen when we’re truly present.

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In a small town, there was a group of friends who loved playing basketball. Every afternoon, they’d gather at the local court, laughing and having fun. They didn’t need phones or social media to enjoy each other’s company just a ball, some space, and a lot of energy. One day, a new game arrived: “Social Media Basketball.” Instead of playing outside, everyone started posting about their games online. They shared photos of shots and celebrated wins with likes and comments. But something changed. The real game the one they used to play together felt less exciting. They spent more time taking pictures than actually playing, and it wasn’t as fun as it used to be. One afternoon, as they gathered again, one of the friends, Jake, put his phone down and said, “Let’s play the old way. No phones, no pictures, just us and the game.” They agreed, and soon they were back on the court, focused on nothing but the game. There were no likes, no comments—just the sound of the ball bouncing, the swish of the net, and their laughter filling the air. That day, they remembered what made the game so special: the connection they had with each other, face-to-face, not through a screen. From then on, they played both ways. They shared their wins online but never forgot the true joy of playing together, in person, without distractions. And the game, once again, was as fun as it had ever been.

The end.

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1.  Negative Psychological Impacts

2. Counterintuitive Socialization Effects

3.Over reliance on Virtual Validation

4.Altered Communication Skills

5.Mental Health Concerns for Adolescents

6.Social Comparison

7.Blurred Boundaries Between Reality and Virtuality

8. Cyberbullying and Its Long-term Effects

9.The Duality of Connectivity

10.Opportunities for Responsible Use

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Social media has become a major part of modern life, especially for teenagers. While it provides opportunities for communication and connection, it also has significant effects on how teens socialize and interact. Research shows that social media often has surprising and negative impacts on socialization, influencing mental health, communication skills, and relationships.

https://gmcccga-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/egripper1121_bulldog_gmc_edu/EWJCpOOqoYVGjJG7yB9d7jIBr5J3-bXeLF-6YVHDHy5QMw?e=GWqVWM

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Dear Reader,

I hope you are ready to see my multi genre, I will be discussing with you today on the influence of social media on socializing. This topic really stuck with me through this whole process because I myself really relate to this.

As you will see in my padlet today you will see me use different genres and a plethora of creative expressions. I want to show that this topic I choose is happening right this moment .

In the following you will see factual and creative works that explore the influence of social media on socializing. Each piece has been made by me for you to see with your own eyes on how social media influenced socializing.

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This multi genre research project challenged me in many different ways. My main challenge was staying on topic and connecting my creative expressions to the influence of social media on socializing. I found that having sources still where not much help.

The most successful thing for myself would have been connecting to my fact based genres. But moving forward I should have connected both my facts based and creative to bring the project more full circle.

This project taught me from all my research that society has been greatly influenced by social media in the way people socialize in today’s world.

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1.    El-Khalil, Ali. “The Negative Implications of Socializing through Social Media.” El-Khalil Law, www.elkhalillaw.com/blog/the-negative-implications-of-socializing-through-social-media.

2.    “Social Media Has a Counterintuitive Effect on Teen Socialization, Study Suggests.” PsyPost, www.psypost.org/social-media-has-a-counterintuitive-effect-on-teen-socialization-study-suggests/.

3.    Title of the Thesis. Master’s thesis, Western Kentucky University, year. WKU Digital Commons, https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/theses/3693/.