Page 95 - Social Norms Survey

and Martin Luther King whom they described as “black activists.”

The Influence of Social Media

Everyone in every student group seemed to have a mobile phone or, for the very few who
did not, access to one. Fifty per cent also had tablets. Access to the Internet was available

for the majority all or most of the time. How many hours did they spend on social media
on weekdays? For two groups of girls they calculated between three to six hours, except

for one girl who said one hour in the evenings, and two who said 24/7—until the facilitator
pointed out that they were at school for some of those 24 hours... Spanish Town High is

a shift school so these girls said they had more time. And, as one commented: “Some
people no go dem bed until 5 o’clock!” As for weekends, the focus was clear: “Straight

throughout the day.” “All day!” “24/7.”

The boys also spent hours on social media but generally less than girls. On weekdays it
was one to five hours for some, but, said others, “Boys normally go out and ride bicycle.”

On weekends for the Kingston boys it was used for playing games with their friends—they
reckoned for about two hours a day, but that was perhaps an underestimation. Oddly, the

rural boys who went to the river and to the beach gave some long hours for weekends:
seven to 15 hours (whether per day or overall is not clear). Whatever the accuracy of

these figures, the conclusion is clear: young Jamaican teenagers spend a lot of time on
social media.

Young adults entertain themselves by going to parties, listening to music, having sex,

coming home to “drink and build two spliff” and going on social media. If one were to
judge the influence that these activities had on young people by the time spent on each

of these activities, social media would easily come out in the lead. How many hours are
spent on social media? Answers range from two hours a day, half a day, 16 hours (with

eight hours for sleep), 24/7, and every second—in other words, a great deal of time.

Social Media Choices
The most popular social media for students of both genders are Instagram and WhatsApp.

Instagram is used to follow others and to get followers, “new friends.” It is a form of
validation and fulfils the youthful need for acknowledgement and attention. One boy

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