Social Media, Youth, and the Global South

Book excerpt: Zusammenfassung: This book illuminates the complex relationship between social media, identity, and youth in the Global South. By examining the profound impact on the psychosocial well-being and economic prospects of young people across diverse regions, the collection present empirical evidence from scholars spanning Asia, Africa, North America, Central, and South America. Contributors show how young people experience adverse side-effects online, such as social withdrawal, or animosity to others, and how good social health and social media use can help young people develop economic resources, become independent, and socially responsible. Additionally, the book explores the role of social media channels, such as Facebook and Instagram, in the rise of cyberbullying, sexting, and online radicalization; how these platforms re-negotiate identity in developing countries and compromise productivity; and how the behaviour of celebrities on said platforms influence youth behaviour. Structured into five thematic sections, this book presents a nuanced understanding of the well-being implications arising from social media use among young people hailing from diverse socio-cultural and economic backgrounds and political exigencies. Emmanuel Ngwainmbi is a Professor of International Communication, former Chair & Graduate School Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Jackson State University, MS., and a member of the International Association for Media, Communication, and Research, the International Association of Intercultural Communication Studies, the National Communication Association, International Conference on Social Sciences. He has authored 23 books; serves on the Editorial boards of 15 peer-review journals worldwide