Psychologist Dr. Amanda Cole argues that social media use correlates with increased anxiety in teenagers, but she emphasizes that the relationship is more nuanced than media coverage suggests. She notes that passive scrolling seems more harmful than active engagement with friends.
Which finding would most support Cole's nuanced view about different types of social media use?
Teenagers spend an average of 4 hours per day on social media
Teens who primarily used social media for messaging friends showed no increase in anxiety, while those who mostly scrolled passively showed significant increases
Parents express concern about their children's social media use
All major social media platforms have seen user growth in the past decade
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer. This distinguishes between active engagement (messaging) and passive scrolling, showing different outcomes.
- Context clues: Cole emphasizes the distinction between passive and active use.
- Evidence evaluation: Different use patterns → different anxiety outcomes proves nuance.
- Verify: This matches Cole's specific claim about passive vs active engagement.
💡 Strategy: Nuanced claims require evidence that demonstrates the distinction being made.
Choice A is incorrect because total time doesn't distinguish between types of use. Choice C is incorrect because parent concerns don't measure actual psychological effects. Choice D is incorrect because platform growth is irrelevant to anxiety effects.