The Social Media: Top 20 Research Paper Topic Ideas

Everyone uses social media for various purposes. Some people look for information, some users try to find new friends, some individuals learn the news, and others try to develop their business on social media platforms.  Speaking about academic writing, one should mention that it’s very important to find catching topics for research paper writing on social media. Topics like “what is social media” won’t surprise anyone. By the way, such a topic doesn’t lead to discussions and cannot raise provocative arguments.

Why Choose Social Media as a Research Topic?

Social media is a digital landscape where users interact and engage through various platforms. The social media define the way people interact with each other in the 21st century. Social media users range from individuals to businesses. People on social media use different social media types of platforms. They include social networking sites, microblogging platforms, and video-sharing platforms. To understand the nature of social media issue analyze diverse social media content. 

The use of social media as an essay and research paper topic is an excellent choice for several reasons. Social media has transformed the way we communicate, interact, and access information. Why delving into the use of social media can contribute to social media research paper topic?

• Societal Relevance. Social media has become an integral part of modern society with variety of features. Social media features encompass a wide range of functionalities. They include user profiles, news feeds, likes, comments, direct messaging. Its influence extends to diverse domains. For instance, it can be politics, business, education, and personal relationships. Studying the use of social media allows you to examine its effects on these areas. It also allows you to understand the profound societal implications.
• Evolving Landscape. Social media platforms are evolving. They introduce new features, algorithms, and policies. Examples of social media platforms include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Snapchat. They have become prominent channels for online communication and networking. Exploring the use of social media allows you to analyze these changes. You can also observe their implications and the responses they elicit from users and society at large.
• Cultural Impact. Social media platforms have played a significant role in shaping contemporary culture. Each user’s social media post reflects nationality’s culture. They influence language, trends, and popular discourse. It allows for a deeper understanding of its impact on societal norms.
• Communication Dynamics. Social media has transformed the way we communicate and share information. You can study here the use of social media. And also explore its effects on interpersonal communication and language use. It also opens avenues to analyze the challenges and opportunities.
• Psychological Implications. The use of social media can have profound psychological effects on individuals. It affects self-esteem, body image, social comparison, and mental health. Examining the psychological implications of social media use provides insights into human behavior.
• Ethical Considerations. Social media raises complex ethical media research questions. Privacy concerns and data mining are a few ethical dilemmas. You may also include questions like this. “Should social media be present in our lives with address privacy concerns?” By exploring these ethical considerations you can reflect on the responsible use of technology. You can also reflect on the ethical responsibilities of individuals, organizations, and policymakers.
• User Behavior and Motivations. Analyzing user behavior on social media platforms provides valuable insights into motivations. It also reveals patterns of usage, and the factors that drive engagement. Understanding user behavior can benefit marketing strategies and user experience design. It can also aid in the development of effective interventions to address potential issues related to social media use.
• Social Activism and Mobilization. Social media has become a powerful tool for activism and social mobilization. Investigate the use of social media in social movements. Analysis of collective action is useful to discover the following. You can investigate its potential for societal change.
• Impacts on Education. How people use social media in educational contexts has become very prevalent. Researching its impact on teaching and learning can uncover its benefits. You can also discover challenges and potential risks. It offers insights into how people can integrate social media into educational settings.
• Technological Advancements. Social media types of platforms are at the forefront of technological innovations. Researching social media in your social media essay allows you to explore emerging technologies. They include artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and augmented reality. You can discover their integration into social media platforms.

The ambiguous nature of social media creates a vast array of research avenues. It will allow you to explore its benefits and implications in your essays on social media. You can engage in a relevant, dynamic, and stimulating academic pursuit. It will contribute to our understanding of this influential phenomenon.

20 Topics to Consider When Choosing a Social Media Research Theme

Writing an essay on social media provides various opportunities. You can analyze its impact on society. Media essays encompass a wide range of topics. They also include the analysis of mass media and digital media consumption. Social media essays may delve into the complexities of online platforms. If you have to write a research paper on social media, you may choose one of the following topics.

1. Social Media: a Perfect Platform to Develop Private Business
2. Social Media or It Cuts Both Ways
3. How Social Networks Make People to Commit a Suicide: Manipulating Games, Cyberbullying, and Virtual Games Leading to Cruelty
4. How Schools Benefit and Lose when Letting Their Schoolchildren Use Social Media
5. How do Social Networks Make a Person Addicted to Social Media and Can a Person Treat That Addiction?
6. Should Parents Control Their Children’s Activity on Social Networks? Pros and Cons of Parents’ Hyperprotection
7. Facebook and Twitter Save Lives: How Social Media Helps When Natural Disasters Occur
8. The Danger behind the Profile: How Social Media “Assists” in Kidnapping and Assaults
9. Social Media: Connecting and Disconnecting People
10. Celebrities on Social Media or We Need Good PR
11. Is Personal Data Protected on Social Media Platforms? Is It Possible to Avoid Government’s Monitoring?
12. Looking for the Job on Facebook: Is It Safe or Not?
13. Social Media Helps People Who Suffer from Various Diseases: How to Save a Person and Not to Become a Victim of Cheaters
14. Human Values Before and After Social Media Creation
15. I’m on Facebook Since My Birthday: Should the Government Impose Age Limitation Concerning Social Media Activity
16. “Momo” and “Blue Whale Challenge”: What Games Should People Avoid When Browsing Social Media
17. Does Social Media Spread or Kill Stereotyping?
18. Can Social Media Help to Stop Racism and Nationalism?
19. Social Media Fashion: Programs Which Help to Educate and Make Us Look and Feel Better
20. Advertising and Spams: How to Recognize the Lie and Reality

Trending Topics on Social Media in 2023

Here’s the list of trending social media research paper topics. You can choose the most suitable social media research topic here.

1. The Influence of Social Media on Political Discourse. Analyze the role of social media in shaping public opinion and political campaigns. You can also include definition of social media. The term “social media defined” indicates the understanding of the various online platforms. 
2. Online Personal Branding. Investigate how social media platforms help personal branding and self-presentation.  Examine the impact on individuals’ identities and careers.
3. Social Media Marketing Strategies. Explore the effectiveness of different marketing approaches on social media platforms. Discover their implications for businesses and consumer behavior.
4. Social Media and Mental Health. Examine the relationship between social media usage and mental health outcomes. They include anxiety, depression, and body image dissatisfaction.
5. The Impact of Influencers. Investigate the impact of social media site influencers on consumer behavior. Observe also its influence on brand perception and the authenticity of online content. This topic about social media can be more extended. 
6. Social Media and Disinformation. Analyze the spread of false information and its consequences on social media platforms. Also include the role of algorithms and the responsibility of tech companies. You can discover here the issue of using social media.
7. Social Media and Civic Engagement. Explore how people use the social media platforms for political activism. Discover also social movements and community mobilization.
8. Privacy Concerns in Social Media. Examine the ethical implications of data collection. Observe also surveillance and privacy breaches on social media sites. 
9. Social Media and Intercultural Communication. Investigate the impact of types of social media on cross-cultural interactions. Observe also intercultural understanding and cultural preservation.
10. Social Media and Youth Culture. Explore how each popular social media platform shapes the values, attitudes, and behaviors of young people. Include here their socialization patterns and peer relationships.
11. Exploring the Impact of Social Media Communication on Different Social Media Platforms. You can examine the diverse landscape of social media platforms and what social media is. Explore the various ways people on social media interact, share information, and engage with one another. 

Social media is a developing theme. By selecting a topic from the lists above, you can embark on an engaging journey into the diverse landscape of social media. Social media are the extended topics to write about in essay. Remember to consider your own interests in the essays. Align them with your academic goals for a fruitful and rewarding research on social media experience. 

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The following is social media essay example from our writing services which you can look through:

Sample Paper on Social Media: Generation Gap or What Parents Should Know about Social Media

It’s not a secret that there are people who prefer staying aside from social media. They either want to keep in secret their private life or just have no time to live active life online. As a result, parents often are not aware of what their children do on social networks and what danger is hidden behind the person’s profile. They also don’t know how a person can benefit from using social media platforms.

Children, especially, teenagers hate when their parents control their social accounts. Kids like to behave like adults and social networks help them feel independent. They post their photos, videos, comment things, get their likes, and choose people they want to communicate with. Parents’ mission is to protect their children. That’s why they often try to impose their points of view concerning the choice of friends. Consequently, parents quarrel with children and children apply various passwords trying to protect their virtual life.

There are things which parents should know about social networking. First, it’s necessary to learn its positive nature. Social media lets children find new people, learn languages, improve knowledge, solve their problems, enrich their outlook, and keep in touch with time requirements. Children can exchange personal experience. Students can warn their mates and tutors in case they feel unwell or need to miss classes. There are many social communities letting their users study, progress, and even earn money.

On the other hand, there are negative aspects of social networking. A great number of people use Facebook to kidnap and commit crimes. The problem of the Internet is that it lacks lucidity. One can upload pictures and videos which don’t belong to the owner and give false information about a person. For example, a senior man can pretend to be a teenager and try to date young girls. First, he “interviews” a girl. Then, he cozies up to the victim and, finally, asks her to spend some time with him tête-a-tête.

Burglars also like studying profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and other social platforms on the Internet. They try to learn the information about possible victims. They learn their address, personal data, and follow their accounts to see when they plan traveling. Due to that, they can penetrate into the apartments and steal valuable things. Some criminals try to find prosperous families who have kids. They either kidnap kids and hold to ransom or leave them holding the bag making parents redeem them.

That’s why parents have to explain to their kids that it’s very dangerous to share personal information on social networks. Children should avoid publishing their intimate photos and meeting unknown people in private. By the way, they must not inform the Internet audience about plans for holidays. It’s better to post data afterward unless the apartments are not empty (for example, children went somewhere with their mother or teacher and their father stayed at home).

There is one more danger. Kids like doing online shopping or taking part in various drawings and games. Such things require investments and even take children’s lives. Parents should know how their children spend their pocket money. They should also explain that there are many frauds on the Internet. That’s why parents are recommended to control online purchases performed by their children in order to save money and reduce the risk of getting debts in case their kids decide to participate in drawings.

So, we may say that social media has its positive and negative aspects. Parents’ task is to be fair with their children and just tell them to be careful while posting something. They should also warn them about dangerous online games like “Blue Whale Challenge” and “Momo”. No doubt, there is no need to deprive their children of the right to use social networks. Otherwise, kids will try to do the opposite.

References:

1. G. Fernando (2018).  ‘Momo’ is the Latest Terrifying Game to Sweep the Web. https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/social/momo-is-the-latest-terrifying-game-to-sweep-the-web/news-story/619a8c4c7b93a273f4e2ab4481aacbed
2. G. Mullin (2018). CHILLING CHALLENGE What is the Blue Whale suicide game, how Many Deaths are Linked to the Challenge and is it in the UK? https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/worldnews/3003805/blue-whale-suicide-game-challenge-deaths-uk/
3. J. Weaver. Social Media Sites Can’t Decide How to Handle ‘Non-Offending’ Pedophiles. https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/zmwn43/social-media-sites-cant-decide-how-to-handle-non-offending-pedophiles
4. G. Khoury (2017). 5 Common Types of Social Media Crime. https://blogs.findlaw.com/blotter/2017/02/5-common-types-of-social-media-crime.html
5. Reach Out. Benefits of internet and social media. https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/benefits-of-internet-and-social-media
6. Blue Fountain Media. 10 Advantages of Social Media Marketing for Your Business. https://www.bluefountainmedia.com/blog/advantages-of-social-media-marketing/
7. E. Moreau (2018). The Pros and Cons of Social Networking. https://www.lifewire.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-social-networking-3486020