PHL Module 7 FINAL
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Introduction to Critical Thinking
Module Seven Final Project
Anthony Calabrese
Southern New Hampshire University PH-111:
Introduction to Critical Thinking
Tracy Samperino
October 10, 2023
I chose the topic of whether social media is beneficial or harmful.
The Subtopic I chose
was about social media having an impact on one’s mental health.
Most people nowadays are
connected to some sort of social media and it has been known to cause depression, restlessness,
and possible suicide.
Most people rely on social media too much and with the connection of the
internet everywhere we connect to it from homes, work, or even the ballpark.
Having social
media could never be better than person-to-person contact. Ortiz-Ospina conducted research in
2019
which discovered that out of the worldwide population of 7.7 billion, 3.5 billion are
attached to the world wide web.
(Ortiz-Ospina, 2019)
As a stepfather to a daughter who was influenced via social media to attempt to commit
suicide via taking pills, I feel this assignment is more from the heart and personal experience to
me.
I have first-hand knowledge of this subject and what I have learned. I think that finding out
more about this subject will be beneficial to me.
Reading the article they are speaking about people who have limitless social media would
cause a dangerous risk to their emotional health.
The article shows examples of the non-
existence of face-to-face social connections is a serious risk to a person’s success which is real
data that makes the main argument.
Looking for some core research to verify the main argument
I found an example of a significant influence that social media is causing on a person’s mental
stability.
“10 percent of teens report being bullied on social media and many other users are
subjected to offensive comments.” (Robinson & Smith, 2022).
That number of 10% is absurd in
my opinion.
How in the world is that even possible?
Why are we letting our kids on social
media so much?
“A 2018 study found that reducing social media use to 30 minutes a day resulted in a significant
reduction in levels of anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems, and FOMO.” (Robinson &
Smith, 2022) Finally, “When you receive a like, a share, or a favorable reaction, it can trigger the
release of dopamine in the brain, the same “reward” chemical that follows winning on a slot
machine, taking a bite of chocolate, or lighting up a cigarette.” (Robinson & Smith, 2022)
I do not feel the article is criticizing social media or having people keep away from
looking at it.
What it is saying is that we have many positive parts of social media which the
articles discuss.
The authors of these articles want people to realize what harms social media
could cause.
Watching too much social media could pose possible dangers to both the mental
and emotional well-being of people.
Whether social media is beneficial or harmful.
Primary Argument: My primary argument that I’m looking to analyze is that a redundant habit of
using social media presents a problem to mental and emotional health.
In the article, the authors
go into detail about the need of people for face-to-face contact is necessary for healthy mental
health.
They also say that doing do would reduce the risk of depression or anxiety due to
excessive use of social media.
Bias: I went over this article numerous times and I found that I cannot find bias made by the
authors.
I did not find language indicating any bias and did not notice any subjective language in
the article.
What I did notice was a few traces of evidence that would be classified as open-
minded-minded by the authors.
An example I found was that “Online interaction can only go so
far in reducing social isolation and does not provide a replacement for the need for face-to-face
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contact.” (Attard & Coulson, 2012; Caron & Light, 2015).
The statement the authors are
speaking about does not intensify the notion of the authors pointing to the details in order to hold
a reader’s attention, which would promote a weakening perception of bias.
Credibility:
Looking at my finding that I couldn’t find bias in the article, It would ass to the
credibility of the argument in general.
Due to the lack of bias and using the CRAAP test to determine the credibility of the source is as
follows.
C. Yes it is the current article.
R. Shows evidence to support the conclusion
A. I feel the authors are skilled in writing about this subject.
A. They to be unbiased
P.
They show a strong and concise factor.
Counterargument:.
The counterargument I chose is For my counterargument
“Social Media
Comes With Good and Bad Sides, Doesn’t It? A Balancing Act of the Benefits and Risks of
Social Media Use by Young Adults with Long-Term Conditions” by Ceri Wilson and Jennifer
Stock.
The counterargument that I am constructing for the main argument of
“an unnecessary use of
social media platforms presents a liability to one’s mental and emotional health” would be that
social media networking sites can help young people that want to keep the friendships they have
created and not have to rely on face to face interaction.
My first premise:
Networking sites provide a chance for people to communicate with family
and friends about anything happening in their lives such as the birth of a child or a milestone.
The 2
nd
premise:
Allowing the social groups for individuals that are living with LTCs would
reinforce the capability from bonds similar to other peers.
Conclusion:
I believe that social media sites allow a certain model that allows privacy and a
space for people with long-term conditions to open up and share the experiences they are having
.
Logic and Reasoning:
When I was drafting my counterargument towards this, I had to look at
what my primary argument was
”
Social media having an impact on one’s mental health
,” I
revised the additional articles previously going back on the article I selected intended for my
counterargument.
Then, I removed possible clashes with the
ideas of what my primary
argument was and then selected the one that I felt worked for me with the main argument
My argument in my opinion is inductive for the following reasons.
the conclusion that “social
networking sites provide a form of anonymity and a safe space for people who have long-term
conditions to be open and honest about their experiences” (Wilson & Stock, 2021)
It doesn’t
inevitably result from the premises.
I think they are thinking the premises are in fact true.
Counterargument Bias:
I chose the specific article that I did for my counterargument because
my stepdaughter was a “victim” of these social media influences.
I think they created some bias
for me personally because of her.
I also think that since I don’t like being near my family and
some of my longtime friends, having social media allows us to keep in touch via Facebook or
Instagram. There is some rationale for having social media, I don’t always agree with social
media.
To Examine what I was saying in the primary argument about the disadvantages of the use of
various social media, I asked a few points in the critical thinking method. What is the assertion
they are presenting?
Do these statements set up what is being examined?
What if any are the
essential principles?
Is there any proof demonstrated that is being presented to prove any
statements?
I resolved the inquiries, by evaluating the strength of the contention and
establishing if it was thoroughly debated or not.
The value of the depth of the claim, you need to
see is the details completed to warrant it had a reasonable tie with the other information and did
make sure the assertions were truthfully illustrated.
In our everyday lives, the development of critical thinking is vital in making a decision
about the issue at hand.
It can be an opinion made on a certain event happening in the world
today or a choice you have to make in your own life.
Utilizing this approach, it would help me
get the information based on perspective and form a more evaluated conclusion.
For an example
of this, If you are reading about politics in the United States online you need to understand a few
things about the statements that are being made, and how do they stand up to the scrutiny you are
about to give it.
Another question you may be asking yourself would be are there any inherent
expectations?
By doing so you gain a better value of mutually sides of the problem and make a
judgment centered on the facts and not your views.
Employing the method in your daily use
would help you become interested in the altered views and get an enhanced perception of why
most of society oppose one another on several subjects dividing evidence from the belief
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References:
Robinson, L., & Smith, M. (2021, October 21). Social media and mental health. HelpGuide.
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm
Stock, J., & Wilson, C. (2021). ‘Social media comes with good and bad sides, doesn’t it?’ A
balancing act of the benefits and risks of social media use by young adults with longterm
conditions. Sage Journals.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13634593211023130
Boss, J. (2021). Think: Critical Thinking and Logic Skills for Everyday Life (5th ed.). McGraw
Hill.
Robinson, L., & Smith, M. (2022). Social Media and Mental Health. HelpGuide.org.
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm
Ortiz-Ospina, E. (2019, September 18). The rise of social media. Our World in Data.
https://ourworldindata.org/rise-of-social-media