Abstract
This study explored the normalization of youths’ perception regarding drugs at the handsofsocial media. The theoretical framework of this study draws upon the incidental exposure framework and the risk perception of health behavior to map out the penetration of increasing drugs’ representation on social media into the cognitive behavior of youth.Considering the quantitative nature of current study, the researchers virtually circulated thequestionnaire among conveniently available 270 young social media users of Lahore — aged 16to 25. The chi-square test on obtained responses approved the hypothesis — there’s a strong association between social media usage and normalization of users’ perception about drugs.Further data analysis suggested that the representation of drugs’ consumption paves the waytoward the normalization of youths’ perception about drugs.Not to mention, the depiction of these substances is not solely limited to one’s own social circle;instead,many influential people — particularly social media celebrities— alsoflaunt their smoking/drinkingvideos/images which collectively makes the latter one appear as a common practice—something that everyone must try!!!
Author(s):
Sumera Batool
AuthorAssociate Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
Pakistan
- sumerabatoolnaqvi@yahoo.com
Nimra Zaffer
AuthorVisiting Lecturer, Department of Mass Communication, LCWU, Lahore, Pakistan
Pakistan
- nimrazaffer@fccollege.edu.pk
Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication, LCWU, Lahore, Pakistan
Pakistan
Details:
Type: | Article |
Volume: | 4 |
Issue: | 2 |
Language: | English |
Id: | 668d4452257d0 |
Published | July 10, 2024 |


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.