Impact and modes of use of social networks: A systematic review of literature 2017-2021

Abstract

The arrival of the pandemic brought with it an exponential increase in the use of social networks by young people, since it was the main means of interaction and communication. However, research in relation to the subject has been limited and, in turn, no studies are reported in relation to the systematization of the scientific literature on the subject. In this sense, the objective of this research is to analyze the impact and modes of use of social networks by young people between 2017-2021. A systematic review was carried out from four stages: planning, selection, extraction and execution. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the analysis was performed with a sample of 20 documents. The methodology was qualitative in nature through eclectic coding and recoding. The results show that the impact of the use of social networks was concentrated in risks associated with the phenomena phubbing, fitspiration and phishing. Similarly, the effect of the influencers, the diversity of content of interest, the preference in the hours of use, the type of device they use to connect, the most used social networks, the type of skills they have developed with the use, benefits, purposes and fears faced by young people within social networks. In relation to the modes of use of social networks, the following were found: positive, negative, educational, motivating, characteristic and alternative uses.