Page 99 - Social Norms Survey

say sometimes the protagonists pass each other without a

word on the street. They do it for likes on social media, to
entertain people. Some of the young women in Whitehall

and Gayle feel the social media war does not affect the
rivals but others in the groups feel it is in fact very hurtful: “It’s

very hurtful on social media because it tarnishes the person; you are putting it out in the
public.” (Young woman, Gayle)

The Influence of Social Media on Behaviour

It is a widely held view in these communities that one sure way of reaching youth is through
social media. Is it a medium for not only contacting and sharing but also for influencing?

The students were asked whether they thought social media could influence behaviour.
The girls generally thought so but the only examples given had to do with influencing hair

or dress styles. One girl was adamant that social media did not influence behaviour but
she could not explain her position. The boys generally felt that it could and gave negative

and positive examples. One boy shared that what he watched on YouTube about other
people’s lives made him more resilient: “Like wha yuh see people guh through and still

alive now and thing. It show yuh seh yuh muss push on.”

There is unanimity among the young adults that social
media do affect behaviour. People want to become

like some of the stars they see on social media, like Kim
Kardashian and Kanye West. They want to reinvent

themselves; they try to keep up with the trends and to
take on the challenges. All the Corner Reasonings exposed the view that social media

were influential and should be one way to get messages out to youth.

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