PYC4805: DEVELOPMENTAL
PSYCHOLOGY
Name: *** Student Number: ***
ASSIGNMENT 02: 10 July 2023 | UNIQUE NUMBER: 791149
,Table of Contents
PLAGIARISM DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................... 2
1. THE QUESTION ...................................................................................................................................... 3
2. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 3
3. BACKGROUND....................................................................................................................................... 4
4. BENEFITS OF ELECTRONIC AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ELECTRONIC AND
SOCIAL MEDIA TO CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS. ......................................................................................... 5
4.1 IMPROVED COMMUNICATION AND SOCIALIZATION SKILLS .................................................................................. 6
4.2 INCREASED ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................. 7
4.3 IMPROVED COGNITIVE SKILLS ....................................................................................................................... 7
4.4 CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES ........................................................................................................................... 8
5. RISKS OF ELECTRONIC AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ................................... 10
5.1 SEDENTARY BEHAVIOUR AND PHYSICAL HEALTH ............................................................................................. 11
5.2 SLEEP PATTERNS AND OVERALL HEALTH ........................................................................................................ 11
5.3 COGNITIVE OVERLOAD AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE .................................................................................... 12
5.4 CYBERBULLYING AND SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS ................................................................................................. 12
6. INFLUENCE OF ELECTRONIC AND SOCIAL MEDIA ON EATING DISORDERS IN ADOLESCENTS ................. 13
6.1 POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE AND EATING BEHAVIOURS ............................... 13
7. BALANCING RISKS AND BENEFITS OF DIGITAL MEDIA USE FOR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT .................... 14
7.1 MONITORING DIGITAL MEDIA USE FOR SAFE AND HEALTHY USE ......................................................................... 14
8. CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................... 16
9. REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 17
1
, PLAGIARISM DECLARATION
1. I know that plagiarism means taking and using the ideas, writings, works or
inventions of another as if they were one’s own. I know that plagiarism not only
includes verbatim copying, but also the extensive use of another person’s ideas
without proper acknowledgement (which includes the proper use of quotation
marks). I know that plagiarism covers the use of material found in textual sources
and from the Internet.
2. I acknowledge and understand that plagiarism is wrong.
3. I understand that my assignment must be accurately referenced.
4. This research proposal is my own work. I acknowledge that copying someone else’s
research, or part of it, is wrong, and that submitting identical work to others
constitutes a form of plagiarism.
5. I have not allowed, nor will I in the future allow, anyone to copy my work with the
intention of passing it off as their own work.
6. I confirm that I have read and understood UNISA’s Policy for Copyright and
Plagiarism - https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-
admission/Master%27s-&-doctoral-degrees/Policies,-procedures-&-forms
Name……………………………………………… Student No: ............................................
Signed ……………………………………………. Date………………………………………..
2
PSYCHOLOGY
Name: *** Student Number: ***
ASSIGNMENT 02: 10 July 2023 | UNIQUE NUMBER: 791149
,Table of Contents
PLAGIARISM DECLARATION ........................................................................................................................... 2
1. THE QUESTION ...................................................................................................................................... 3
2. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................... 3
3. BACKGROUND....................................................................................................................................... 4
4. BENEFITS OF ELECTRONIC AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ELECTRONIC AND
SOCIAL MEDIA TO CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS. ......................................................................................... 5
4.1 IMPROVED COMMUNICATION AND SOCIALIZATION SKILLS .................................................................................. 6
4.2 INCREASED ACCESS TO EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES ............................................................................................. 7
4.3 IMPROVED COGNITIVE SKILLS ....................................................................................................................... 7
4.4 CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES ........................................................................................................................... 8
5. RISKS OF ELECTRONIC AND SOCIAL MEDIA FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS ................................... 10
5.1 SEDENTARY BEHAVIOUR AND PHYSICAL HEALTH ............................................................................................. 11
5.2 SLEEP PATTERNS AND OVERALL HEALTH ........................................................................................................ 11
5.3 COGNITIVE OVERLOAD AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE .................................................................................... 12
5.4 CYBERBULLYING AND SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS ................................................................................................. 12
6. INFLUENCE OF ELECTRONIC AND SOCIAL MEDIA ON EATING DISORDERS IN ADOLESCENTS ................. 13
6.1 POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON BODY IMAGE AND EATING BEHAVIOURS ............................... 13
7. BALANCING RISKS AND BENEFITS OF DIGITAL MEDIA USE FOR HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT .................... 14
7.1 MONITORING DIGITAL MEDIA USE FOR SAFE AND HEALTHY USE ......................................................................... 14
8. CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................................... 16
9. REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................ 17
1
, PLAGIARISM DECLARATION
1. I know that plagiarism means taking and using the ideas, writings, works or
inventions of another as if they were one’s own. I know that plagiarism not only
includes verbatim copying, but also the extensive use of another person’s ideas
without proper acknowledgement (which includes the proper use of quotation
marks). I know that plagiarism covers the use of material found in textual sources
and from the Internet.
2. I acknowledge and understand that plagiarism is wrong.
3. I understand that my assignment must be accurately referenced.
4. This research proposal is my own work. I acknowledge that copying someone else’s
research, or part of it, is wrong, and that submitting identical work to others
constitutes a form of plagiarism.
5. I have not allowed, nor will I in the future allow, anyone to copy my work with the
intention of passing it off as their own work.
6. I confirm that I have read and understood UNISA’s Policy for Copyright and
Plagiarism - https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-
admission/Master%27s-&-doctoral-degrees/Policies,-procedures-&-forms
Name……………………………………………… Student No: ............................................
Signed ……………………………………………. Date………………………………………..
2
