Medical Ethics and Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Medical Ethics and Law - Essay Example The courts consider the best interests of the patients, and this situation can be seen in cases where the interests of the mother and her unborn child are involved. In the Re A case, the court opposed the wishes of the parents and held that a surgical operation was to be performed, so as to separate the conjoined twins1.The English courts have made it very clear that every individual is at liberty, under the common law, to accept or reject any kind of medical intervention, including surgery. Medical practitioners are required by law, to comply with the ethics of the medical profession and to exercise considerable skill and competence in their work. If they fail to work in accordance with this legal duty, they will be deemed to have been negligent in their profession. Communication plays a central role in the medical profession. Therefore, medical practitioners should maintain adequate communication with other medical professionals2. This is essential in cases entailing medical complications. The absence of such communication would result in poor deliverance of medical care to the patients. Moreover, doctors would be subjected to the allegation of clinical negligence, if there were to be inadequate communication between them. Similarly, doctors who fail to inform the dangers, inherent in the illness to the patient, are considered by the law to be negligent3. Such physicians will be prosecuted for negligence by the courts, if the patient files a case in this regard. Blab performed an emergency operation upon Sophie, without her consent. She is a competent adult, and as she is vehemently opposed to any medical intervention, the question arises, as to whether Blab is liable for having provided the surgical intervention to her. Patients can refuse medical treatment or surgery under the concept of freedom. However, their decisions will be valid only if they have the required levels of competence. If the patient

Unconventional Warfare in the Southern Philippines Essay

Unconventional Warfare in the Southern Philippines - Essay Example Any effort to defeat terrorism must look at the underlying causes to be effective. This paper gives a brief background discussion on several causes which impel people to resort to terrorist methods in order to fully understand how some counter-terror operations are successful while others are not, despite massive logistical support given to these operations. It also gives an astounding example of tentative successes against terror groups such as the ones operating in the southern regions of the Philippines which is located in Southeast Asia. There are obvious lessons to be learned there which can hopefully be replicated elsewhere. Presently, there is no accepted international legal definition of terrorism. Countries may have their own laws against terrorism but a common feature of all these laws is that terrorism is considered as a criminal act. As such, it is punishable by the harshest sentence possible that can range from long prison terms, a life sentence or even capital punishmen t. The layman's definition of terrorism is that of an act or a series of acts designed to sow extreme fear in the population. It is actually a form of coercion backed up by the threat of physical violence. Discussion Most terror groups today belong to network-type of organization. This kind of set-up allows for each tiny group (a terror cell) composed of just a few people to operate in a manner independent of the main organization which makes it difficult to track down other terror cells. There are varied reasons why people resort to terrorism and among them are the following: a feeling or perception of being marginalized within the larger society, to fight against injustice, for political autonomy, religious freedom or ethnic recognition. With this list in mind, it is too easy to see that military means alone cannot defeat terrorism if the underlying causes that had caused it to rise in the first place are not adequately addressed by the government. This paper is a reflective essay on a military assessment article written by Sgt. Major William Eckert, an American military service member of the Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF) in the Philippines. His article described how the US military in cooperation with the security forces of the Philippines (the Philippine military and the police forces) have achieved a good measure of success in the fight against terrorism which could be used as the model for other forces operating elsewhere in the world's global hot spots. In his own words, the battle against terrorism in this Asian country is a war for peace and prosperity. It has also gained the attention of senior military leaders impressed by its decent gains (Eckert 1). In essence, Sgt. Major Eckert's position paper is a claim that the battle against these terrorists is a battle of ideas. In other words, the only effective way to defeat terrorism is fight its idea (which serves as its recruiting tool by exploiting real or imagined grievances) with a much better idea – that the way to prosperity is to maintain peace by addressing the perceived inequalities felt by the minority Muslim populace within much larger predominantly Catholic Philippine population. The most-telling result or achievement of

Scienece Column Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Scienece Column - Article Example This is all about thermodynamics. In essence, thermodynamics involves the examination of the internal motions of various body mechanisms; or rather it’s a subfield of natural science that involves heat and its relationship to various forms of energy and work. Therefore, heat becomes an integral and essential component of thermodynamics. Virtually, most of the substances that people encounter with in their day to day life consist of body systems of one kind or the other, that is, they either fall under solids, liquids, gases or even light. It is therefore, unsurprising that thermodynamics is a field in physics that comprises exceptional wide variety of applicability. There are numerous thermodynamic experiments used to demonstrate the movement of energy from one substance to another as a result of varying of temperature. This column shall study two of the four forms of thermodynamic experiments discussed in the past few weeks. One of the study experiment that this column shall detail on is 'the meaning of heat and this shall be illustrated using the calorimeter experiment. The second form of thermodynamic experiment to be studied is the Statistical physics lab and this will be based on the concept of thermal energy of randomly moving molecules with heat used as the mode of transfer. Meaning of heat Heat is defined as a form of energy, sometimes referred as thermal energy capable of passing through an object of high temperature to an object with low temperature. The flow of heat is essentially measured using a device known as calorimeter. This device operates in such a way that it is insulated to minimize the loss of heat to the surrounding. Within some essential temperature variance, it is easy to understand the hotness or coldness of something by simply touching it. However, it is unreliable if you place one of your hands in cold water, and the other into hot water, then you plunge both into warm water. You will note the difference, one hand will detect that the water is hot, while the other will experience some cold. In other aspects, when something is too hot to hold or even touch, we usually get an impression of how hot the substance is by approaching it and detecting the radiant heat it emits. if there is an increase in temperature, the substance glows hot. The major problem with such subjective feelings of heat is that, they are different for various persons. If two hands transmit different messages pertaining the hotness or coldness of a substance, how about a group of people? Obviously, they will report varied responses. In illustrating the flow of heat, an experiment was set up, whereby a pan of water was placed on a hot glowing fire and the temperature observed over time. It was noted that, their was steady increase in time, reflecting the transfer of heat from the fire, up to the moment the water started boiling, whereby the temperature remained constant for a long period. The steam emitted had same temperatures as the bo iling water. So, what actually happened to the heat transferred from the fire to the pan of water? It was found out that, heat was needed to change the form of water from the liquid to the gaseous form/steam. In-fact, a high amount of heat is required to change the state of water to steam form, approximately 540 calories per gram. This is far much

St.Marks Gospel Essay Example for Free

St.Marks Gospel Essay Introduction Experts on the Bible do not agree bout St. Mark, his Gospel and his message. However, most of them accept that Marks Gospel was written first. Other question such as who Mark was, where he lived, when he wrote and what sources he used are given different answers by different scholars. My project is based on the research I have done. Part One Saint Mark The Man What do we know about St. Mark? St. Mark was the interpreter of Peter but was not an eyewitness to the Ministry of Jesus. What was his other name? St. Marks other name was John. His full name was John Mark. In what period did he live? Mark lived in the 1st century AD. His exact dates are unknown but most experts state that his gospel was written between 60 and 70AD. A lot depends on the interpretation of some passages in Marks Gospel. So other experts argue that the gospel may have been written up to 80AD. Experts believe that Jesus died about 33AD. Experts believe that in 64AD, the Emperor Neero started to persecute Christians in Rome. Experts believe that in 70 AD, Romans destroyed Jerusalem, capital of Catholics. Most experts say Marks Gospel was written for people or Catholics who were suffering. Mark seems to refer to the destruction of Jerusalem. Therefore, Marks Gospel must have been written between 70-72AD. Where did he live and work? It is complex. There is no real agreement to the answer of his question. 70% of writers of the Gospel say Mark got a lot of his information from Peter, the leading apostle. If Mark got his information from Peter, the Gospel is accurate. Mark was with Peter in Jerusalem at the start of the Gospel. Mark lived in Jerusalem. At the time, it was very easy to travel. Peter went form Jerusalem to Rome. Mark could have gone with him. Traditionally, Mark ended up in Egypt. What stories and traditions are there about him? We do not know much about him because we did not know much about people at that time. Mark was also a popular name. Some traditions are quite reliable. After Peter and Paul were executed in Rome, Mark probably left and went to Egypt. Afterwards, Marks new home was Alexandria. Mark started to develop a church and he became a bishop. The persecution for Christians also took place in Egypt. Mark was then arrested and to be tortured until he gave up his faith. Then he was killed. In the 9th Century AD, people from Venice were looking for a body of a Saint. They dug up Mark and took him to Venice and buried him there; they built a famous cathedral around it this was called St Marks Cathedral. A winged lion is the symbol of Venice. When is his feast day celebrated? Marks feast day is on 25th April. Of what is he the patron saint? Mark is the patron saint of the Italian cities Aquileia and Venice. What symbol is used to represent him? The lion is used to symbolise him. What famous city and cathedral is dedicated to him? The Egyptian church claims Mark as its founder, and from the 4th century AD, the see of Alexandria has been called cathedra Marci (the chair of Mark). Part Two Saint Marks Gospel In what language is the Gospel written? Marks Gospel was written in Greek. Everyone who studies Marks Gospel in Greek agrees that the language and vocabulary used is uneducated. Marks first language mightve been Aramaic, spoken in Palestine. Maybe it was written down. The Emperor spoke in Greek. Why did he write the Gospel? It is suggested that Mark wrote the Gospel to comfort the Christians in Rome who were facing all kinds of problems, including the death penalty, for practising an illegal religion. What does Gospel mean? Gospel means good news Where did he get the information for the Gospel? Most scholars say, it was all an oral tradition or a written tradition, which he then used for his Gospel; the written tradition is called à ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½r-Mark. Oral tradition may be from Peter or other Christians. What are the contents of the Gospel? Chapter/s Contents 1:1-13 Jesus baptism and temptation. 1:14-3:35 Initial opposition to Jesus teaching in Galilee. 4:1-34 Jesus teaches using parables. 4:35-8:26 Jesus performs miracles and healings amid growing opposition to his work. 8:27-38 Peters confession; the cost of discipleship. 9:1-13 The Transfiguration 19:14-10:52 Jesus teaches and prepares his disciples. 11:1-12:44 Jesus enters Jerusalem, cleanses the Temple, and engages in argument. 13 Jesus teaches of future events (the Markan apocalypse). 14-15 The Last Supper, Jesus arrest trials, and crucifixion. 16:1-18 Empty tomb (original ending). 16:9-20 Resurrection appearances. How long is the Gospel? The Gospel is 16 chapters long. It is 546 verses long. What is different about Marks Gospel from those written by Matthew and Luke? Marks Gospel is quite short. His Gospel begins with Jesus being baptised, aged about 30. In Matthew and Luke, Jesus is being born. There are lots of events, which happen in Matthew and Luke, which are not written in Marks Gospel. Mark, Matthew and Luke are all Synoptic. John isnt. What is the problem about the ending of Marks Gospel? It ends with 1:1 16:8. In Greek it ends with three dots; it was almost as though it finished with and. In 16:9-20, the vocabulary changes and the style of writing changes. 16:9-20 was added later on. Most experts say he mightve possibly died or the end of the parchment was torn off. Part Three The Message of Saint Marks Gospel What example did Jesus give of suffering for the sake of others? Mark 14:32-52 Jesus accepted the will of his Father in heaven even though it meant he would suffer and die. What did Jesus mean by the Kingdom of God and how do people get in the Kingdom? Mark 10:17-27 People have to follow the Commandments, give away all possessions to the poor and then to follow Christ. Trust in riches is misplaced. How easy or difficult is it to be a disciple of Jesus? Mark 8:34-38 It is very difficult because they had to leave everything, they could even lose their life. What did the 12 Apostles have to do in following Jesus, and how do Christians leaders carry on their work today? Mark 6:7-13 They were to go out and preach not taking anything with them and not to force their presence where they were not welcome. Why was Jesus opposed to some of the religious laws of his day? Mark 3:1-6 It was right to do good on the Sabbath. The laws believed that the Sabbath was a holy day and should be observed by not doing anything other than going to the Synagogue. Who did Mark believe Jesus to be? Why is this important for Christians today? Mark1:1 Mark believed Jesus to be Jesus Christ, Son of God. Faith is based on this belief.

Critiquing A Research Article Qualitative Nursing Essay

Critiquing A Research Article Qualitative Nursing Essay The problem being researched in the article is significant in nursing since it identifies the process, stressors and adjustment strategies of a novice nurse transforming into an expert nurse. This research could assist in developing new policies on institutional level to allow new graduates adjustment in their roles. The author has linked the significance of the research to increased turnover of new graduates in the hospitals in the general world. No specific turnover rates have been mentioned, however, the author has linked the transition difficulty faced by the novice nurses as the main idea behind the research. The author of this article has explicitly explained the purpose of the study as the transitional experiences from a student to a staff nurseà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦..and generate theory. The problem statement or the research statement is written as the study established the needs of the new graduates and identified strategies to facilitate the process of the role transition (pg E1) . The theory which has been generated from this research could be used as a framework by institutes to plan out strategies of retention and growth of their new employees. The limitations have been stated in the discussion part last paragraph as forgotten experiences of the participants and feeling of social constraints. The assumptions have not been listed however, it could be inferred that all the participants were present throughout the study and data saturation was also achieved. Review of the Literature The literature review is significant and relevant to the study been conducted. An extensive literature search has been done for categories that have been formulated during the research. The citations documented in the literature review are clear, complete and current as greater part of the references have been taken between the years 1974 2001. It can be deduced that the literature review is not within the last five years, however, it can be considered that there was a long time gap between the year of research conduction and the publication of the article. On the contrary, no literature review of previous researches of the same topic and gap analysis has been mentioned in the article. The literature is logical, relevant but the comprehensiveness is lacking. The author has, on many instances, linked the study categories with the previous literature categories, for example, the author has linked the first theme of Getting on Board with the a previous research theme by Evans (2001) of period of uncertainty. The literature has been paraphrased and no quotes have been mentioned. The literature review has posed many research questions: what are the coping strategies employed by novice nurses to deal with the transition phase; the strategies are employed by institutions to help new recruits adjustment. Along with this, the author has also mentioned a research aspect of impact of nurse spirituality on patient care in the article. Theoretical/Conceptual framework The article does not mention any usage of a theoretical framework for the research. Theory and research have a reciprocal role towards each other, theory forms the baseline to conduct a research and research is useful to test a theory in different contexts (Polit Beck, 2001 pg 145). Multiple nursing theoretical frameworks are available; however, the most suitable for this research is the theory of Patricia Benner which identifies the qualities of nurse undergoing the stages from novice to competent (article). It also recognizes the difficulties that a nurse has to undergo in order to progress from one stage to another; this theory would have been helpful in analyzing the data and identifying the core categories and themes. Population and Sampling The target population has been described as the recent graduates from the diploma program of the private hospital with a job experience between 6 12 months working in ICU, medical and surgical ward (pg E1). The sampling size has not been mentioned explicitly mentioned in the article, however, in one of the quotes the author mentions Six of the seven staff nurses (pg E3), it can be deduced that the study sample size was seven. According to Polit Beck, a sample size of 20 to 30 participants is required to conduct a grounded theory (pg 358). The author does not significantly mentions the variations in the participants such as age, biological gender, and it does not mention the number of participants selected from each area of the hospital. No method of sample selection has been mentioned but according to Polit and Beck (2001), Glaser (1976) has identified theoretical sampling as a suitable method specifically for grounded theory (pg 356). This sampling technique selects participants o n an ongoing basis as the researcher understands the area of interest and develops categories and themes (pg 356 -357). The sampling size could have been increased by including participants from emergency department, oncology ward and clinic areas. The demand characteristics of participants namely good participant, the negative participant, faithful participant and apprehensive participant have not been mentioned. Along with this no information of Hawthorne effect which defines the effect on dependant variables due to the participants knowledge of being under study has not been mentioned (Polit Beck pg 755). The article does not specify the negative or discrepant participant of the study. Research Design A grounded theory approach has been used as a research design for this study. A grounded theory is the evolution of a theory from the data collected and analyzed (polit beck, 2001). It has indeed played a significant role in developing many nursing theories which are nowadays acting as a framework for many researches. It was developed by Glasser and Strauss in 1960 and functions with the development of categories and themes which are substantive from the original data collected (Polit Beck, pg 230). The grounded theory approach is appropriate for this study design, however, phenomenological approach could also be used as this study explores the human life experiences and their relation to the environment (Polit Beck, pg 227). The author has provided immense information in the form of categories and themes for the study replication but no specific permission has been provided. Data Collection Formal unstructured interviews of 50 to 90 minutes have been tape recorded and transcribed as a method of data collection. Moreover, separate notes have also been used to record the expressions and behavioral changes of the participants. No rationale have been provided for data collection strategies but in grounded theory, according to Polit Beck (2001) in depth interviews and observation are important data collection strategies (pg 230) along with documents and other data sources. These methods are congruent with the research question. Protection of Human Rights There is no mention of the study undergoing a ethical review board or committee, however, the article signifies the usage of informed consent (Polit Beck, pg 176) from the participants. The participation has been based on voluntary basis which denotes the use of the principle of self determination (Polit Beck pg 171). The author also fails to provide evidence of deception from the participation. Furthermore, there is no mention of appropriate time given by participants for the study data collection. The researcher has provided codes to maintain confidentiality and privacy (Polit Beck, pg 174) of the participants. The article does not explicitly mentions the implementation of the principal of beneficence (Polit Beck, pg 170) but it could be assumed that has been minimum risk to the participants. Analysis Data according to the article has been analyzed using comparative analysis which denotes the comparison of one interview with other interviews to identify commonalities (Polit Beck, pg 523). The researcher has utilized the Glasserian grounded theory approach where the data is conceptualized in substantive codes which are interlinked via theoretical codes (Polit Beck, pg 523). The author via open coding (Polit Beck, pg 523) has identified the core category of sailing forward as the central concept which has dominated all the themes. Selective coding is the second step where the researcher establishes relationships between the main core category and the sub-categories (Polit Beck, pg 527). Theoretical codes as per Polit Beck are very powerful because they provide a lot of abstract meaning necessary for grounded theory approach (pg 523). According to the article, the separate notes were verified from the participants for the clarification of the meaning. The data analysis strategy utilized by the researcher fits the research problem as it develops a core category which is surrounded by themes or sub-categories. The categories established have been supported by raw data which has been written in the form of quotations in the article further emphasizing the themes formulated. The explanations provided are reasonable and coherent with the quotes thus increasing the authenticity of the study. Rigor The data collected in the research has been audio taped and individual codes have been provided to each interview. Moreover, separate notes were also used as a strategy for the data collection strategy. Rigor in a qualitative research is based on 4 criterias: credibility, transferability, dependability and neutrality (Krefting, 1990). Though the researcher does not mention that a prolonged time has been spent with the participants but the study participants were re-approached for verification of observation notes and transcribed material indicating that the author has spent a lot of time with the participants increasing the credibility (Krefting, 1990) of the study. The article has two authors but there has been no mention of the method of division of the data analysis; which denotes that a combined effort was made without any interruptions. The article does not specify authors efforts to control the discrepant material and participant thus it could be assumed that the study has the element of neutrality and does not have biasness or socially affected perspectives of the participants and researcher (Krefting, 1990). The researcher does not mention her own perspective which can be taken positively as an aspect to reduce biasness and increase the trustworthiness of the study. The consistency of the study has been strengthened by the narration of quotes and literature support of the emerging themes which clearly shows that if the study is replicated then similar themes would appear. Conclusion and Recommendations The author has identified the state of confusion, anxiety and happiness as initial emotions of the new graduates; guidance as the need of the new recruits and use of senior observations, CNI facilitation and peer aid as the major support systems in their initial adjustment phase. Thus the author has been able to analyze the data in accordance to the research question. The conclusions drawn from the study themes are in connection with the results of the study but the conclusion paragraph of the article mostly includes future recommendations for the nursing practice. The recommendations include increasing post conference timings of the students, ongoing assessments of employees via CBOs and ongoing classes for the employees. The results assist these recommendations as they indicate increased need for a strong support system for the preparation of new recruits. This study is transferable is all settings of Pakistan where new graduates are been hired as new recruits in the institution th us this study has increase transferability.

How Nadine Gordimer Ends Her Stories Essay -- Nadine Gordimer An Intru

How Nadine Gordimer Ends Her Stories Nadine Gordimers stories make enormous demands upon the reader. Mostly on the first reading it’s even hard to know what’s actually going on. But gradually a densely concentrated image or an idea will develop after reading over the story again and concentrating on some particular parts, like for example the endings. Indeed you should pay much attention to them. Even through nearly every of them are slightly different, they indicate what you should think about and leave you with a curious eagerness to find out more, to get to know what happens next. In fact I am sure that Nadine Gordimer just wants us to make our mind work and mull over the main meaning of the story, to uncover what she wants to express with it. In many cases, the conclusion of the story is what impresses you most. Some writers don’t realise this fact and they destroy the whole piece of work by an unsuitable ending. But Nadine Gordimer’s conclusions are marvelous. If you would miss it you won’t be able to get the point of the story because it encompasses much very important information. For example in the story â€Å"An Intruder† one of the main characters goes through a drastic change in last four lines. â€Å"She stood there wan, almost ugly, really like some wretched pet monkey shivering in a cold climate† (p. 374) This is a big contrary because throughout the whole story she was the described like a â€Å"frail little marmoset† (p. 367) and as â€Å"beautiful† (p.369). However she changes in the end â€Å"... she was grown-up, now, suddenly, as some people are said to turn white-haired overnight.† If the reader would miss this significant change in her life, he probably would not find out what the story is actually about... ... try to argue that the story ends in a fortunate way for Ella because she goes to Europe, and that’s what she was dreaming about for so long. But we have to become aware of what preceded the trip – a cruel murder, and we even don’t know if Ella is truly happy or if she enjoys the trip at all. A good way of making people think and wake their interests is to irritate them, exactly in that way how Gordimer irritates her readers with the endings. How could be Marie so blind and immature for ages and than grow up â€Å"in a second†? How is it possible that a system is SO unfair and unjustly like in case of Ella and Lena? And how does the narrator of â€Å"Africa Emergent† even dare to make him innocent for Elias’ death? Simply said, Nadine Gordimer is that kind of writer that can give a true picture of what’s going on, and can make it very interesting to the reader.

Effects of Social Media on the Youth Essay

Various forms of media, such as the television, radio, newspapers, movies, magazines and most notably, the internet, have impacted heavily on the youth. The media not only serves as a source of information but also provides a source of entertainment. Media sources have relentlessly worked on creating appealing images that entice the youth to their content. Although these may be informative, the youths have been coerced into consuming more time reading or browsing for such information. Recent advancements in computers and mobile phones have led to ease of access of the internet via advanced wireless devices. Whereas this creates a tech-savvy generation, the content provided by some media houses may be uncensored and entails violent acts, obscene scenes and vulgar language. In addition, adolescents have been enticed into spending longer hours with strangers rather than family. This undesirable environment, coupled with the fact that today’s parents are heavily burdened with income generating activities hence find little or no time to talk to their children, has led to high incidences of youth violence and untoward behavior. However, the media content has not been entirely negative. This essay analyzes the impact of various forms of the media on the youth and presents various arguments for and against letting young adolescents spend their time scanning media content. Read more:  Influence of social media on youth essay. How has the media changed the lives of adolescents? First, today’s youths spend less time with their families and spend more time with strangers. Tamar Lewin, in â€Å"If Your Kids Are Awake, They’re probably Online† notes that children between the ‘ages 8 and 18 spend more than seven and a half hours a day’ using electronic devices (Lewin 1). Five to six years ago, youths spent on average one hour less. In addition, the emergence of advanced electronic media devices has curtailed time spent doing group activities which has been channeled to solitary activities (â€Å"Awake†). Brent Staples in â€Å"What Adolescents Miss When We Let Them Grow Up in Cyberspace† notes that whereas the traditional media content was largely aired through such mediums as the television, which is watched by a family at the same time, currently, the internet has taken over. Secondly, the youth chat, send e-mails and post their daily encounters and problems on the web. Instead of relating such experiences to their parents, they accept and follow the advice presented by total strangers. This has left teens with ‘nonexistent social skills’ for they are more flexible and aware of the virtual space where they can assume a different personality under a pseudonym, which would otherwise not be possible in the real world (Staples 2). Thirdly, the media has presented various options that aid in circumnavigating life’s hurdles and challenges. As Staple notes, during his childhood, he was presented with situations whereby he had to prove his worth to other people other than his own family members (â€Å"Cyberspace†). Adolescents, in today’s world, can easily skip this and opt to send messages or video chat via electronic devices such as mobile phones or the computer. However, this comes at a cost: They develop ‘low-quality relationships in virtual reality’ at the expense of ‘higher-quality relationships in the real world’ (Staples 2). Therefore, these relationships may appear perfect when the teenagers are on a virtual space but are in reality not practical. Finally, the media has given teenagers a platform via which they can gain an identity and prove their worth. Teenagers, and their advice or point of view, are normally disregarded even when their arguments are valid. The internet avails an equal opportunity platform through which they can air their grievances or opinions either under a pseudonym or an incognito handle without being disregarded. However, they have been known to violate the law. For instance, Michael Lewis is a teenager who offered his expertise to the Internet Information Service by posing as a 25-year old (â€Å"Cyberspace†). However, it is noteworthy that not all teenagers use such pseudonyms with an intention of breaking the law. They may be in fact trying to escape from the ‘boring’ and conventional set-up where information is mainly presented in books (Staples 2). How much contact with the physical world do the youth need? Lewin outlines a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation in which it was found out that today’s teenagers spend around seven and a half hours using electronic gadgets (â€Å"Awake†). This did not include the time spent texting or talking on their cell phones. Obviously, this time spent in contact with the virtual world is too much. There is a need to spend more time with family members and others in the physical world. Whereas Dr. Rich feels that parents and other key players in teenagers’ lives should accept the usage of media devices as part of the youth’s environment, there is a need to limit the hours spent on the internet and other media sources (â€Å"Awake†). On the other hand, parents should not entirely limit their children from accessing media content via electronic gadgets. Teens may end up feeling left out or develop an anti-social behavior in retaliation. Lewin outlines Ms. Calinan’s decision to limit her child’s access to video games to one and a half hours on weekends. Whereas this may force Trey, her son, to work harder in his studies, it may limit his development on the usage of electronic devices in this tech-savvy era (â€Å"Awake†). Therefore, the question as to how much time the youth should spend with the physical world has no straightforward answer. It should vary from child to child. Different teens have different reasons and needs. Whereas most heavy internet users have been linked to ‘behavior problems and lower grades,’ not all teens have been affected in a similar fashion (Lewin 1). For instance, Lewin found out that Francisco Sepulveda used his cell phone as an alarm clock in addition to accessing media content. However, his mother felt that he did not use his phone for its rightful purpose: To work on his assignments (â€Å"Awake†).Hence, parents should regulate their teen’s access to media content according to their teenagers’ situations rather than ascribe to a particular schedule. Do social media benefits outweigh the costs? Although both Lewin (2010) and Staples (2004) have presented their arguments by bordering on the negative influences of social media, there are numerous merits that cannot be overlooked. Teenagers can easily access a host of information sources that they would otherwise not be interested in were they to be limited to the traditional sources of information. For instance, unlike their parents and other preceding generations, few teens devote their time to watching news. However, the internet, through social sites such as Twitter and Facebook and search engines, such as Google and Yahoo, provides a direct link to the world’s current news. Hence, it can be argued that today’s teens receive breaking news even before their parents have received such news. The social media creates a rich source of information that caters for the youth in an appealing and sensational way. In addition, teens find a way to express themselves fully and anonymously in a manner that they could not h ave achieved in the real world. The virtual world breaks the conventional rules and hierarchical structure that teenagers are forced to submit to. Although this may come with various demerits, such as fraud and emotional troubles, one cannot afford to ignore the relief that the social media avails to teenagers who may be in dire need to express their feelings without being judged. Although there are outstanding demerits, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Lewin and Staples have avidly described disadvantages such as untoward social behavior, fraud and criminology, obesity and dwindling academic performance. However, these are resultant problems when sources and devices that avail social media content are not properly regulated. They are a result of overuse rather than the proper usage of electronic media gadgets. How might Staples argument be problematic and to some extent fallacious? Staples arguments may not necessarily hold water given that the internet and other forms of social media have successfully started off relationships. In fact, various couples have met and fallen in love via the internet and are currently happily married. The supposition that career couples have had their lives ‘taken over by e-mail and wireless tethers’ is in fact fallacious (Staples 1). People have adopted technology which avails a cheap means of communication. Rather than rely on older means of communication, which are quite cumbersome, they have chosen to adapt fast and efficient electronic devices. In addition, not all adolescents are drawn to the cyberspace so as to commit fraud or to ‘discard (their) quotidian identities’ (Staples 2). For instance, most adolescents prefer social sites such as Facebook which demand that the user should log in using a valid name. In conclusion, social media has made great impacts on today’s youths. Not only are they spending more time in this virtual space but they are also seeking entertainment and information in areas previously untested. Therefore, they face numerous challenges in adopting technology in order to suit their own ends. Therefore, parents should take a firm stand and guide their children through these perilous grounds in order to transform these young adults into successful people in future.