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Professor Farley
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Introduction
In today’s digital age, the impact of social media on mental health has become a pressing concern, particularly among young adults. This comparative rhetorical analysis examines two distinct media forms addressing this topic: a written article by Jean M. Twenge titled “Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?” published in The Atlantic in 2017, and a short video by AsapSCIENCE (2018) entitled “How Social Media Affects Your Brain.” Both sources explore how social media contributes to issues like depression, anxiety, and loneliness, yet they adapt their approaches to different audiences and genres. The article, a long-form journalistic piece, targets a general readership interested in cultural trends, while the video, a concise animated explainer, appeals to a broader, time-constrained online audience seeking quick scientific insights.
The purpose of this essay is to analyze how these sources convey similar ideas through rhetorical moves, focusing on four key strategies: logical appeals (logos), emotional appeals (pathos), establishment of credibility (ethos), and structural elements such as narrative flow and visuals. By comparing these moves, the analysis reveals how genre influences persuasion. Ultimately, this essay argues that while both effectively communicate the mental health risks of social media, the article relies more on in-depth narratives for an engaged audience, whereas the video uses visuals and brevity for immediate impact, highlighting the adaptability of rhetoric across media.
Rhetorical Situation of Both Sources
The rhetorical situation encompasses the context, audience, purpose, and genre that shape how a message is delivered (Bitzer, 1968). For Twenge’s article in The Atlantic, the genre is investigative journalism, characterized by detailed exposition and narrative storytelling. Published in a reputable magazine known for thoughtful cultural commentary, it targets an educated, adult audience, including parents, educators, and policymakers concerned with generational shifts. The purpose is to persuade readers of the causal link between smartphone usage—particularly social media—and rising mental health issues among teens, using evidence to provoke reflection and potential action. Twenge writes during a time of growing smartphone ubiquity, leveraging kairos to address timely societal anxieties about technology’s downsides.
In contrast, the AsapSCIENCE video operates within the genre of educational animation, typical of YouTube science channels, with a runtime of under four minutes to suit fast-paced digital consumption. Its audience is diverse, including young adults, students, and casual viewers browsing online, who may prefer visual, bite-sized content over lengthy reads. The purpose mirrors the article’s by informing viewers about social media’s neurological and psychological effects, such as dopamine loops leading to addiction and anxiety, but it aims for quick awareness rather than deep analysis. Released in 2018, it capitalizes on the same cultural moment of tech scrutiny, using accessible language to encourage healthier habits. Both sources serve an informative purpose, yet the article’s print format allows for nuanced arguments, while the video’s multimedia elements cater to visual learners, demonstrating how genre adapts rhetoric to audience needs (Corbett and Connors, 1999).
This comparison shows that despite sharing the goal of highlighting social media’s mental health impacts, the sources differ in exigence: the article responds to long-term trends with comprehensive discussion, whereas the video addresses immediate, everyday concerns through engaging visuals.
Rhetorical Moves Analysis
The core of this analysis lies in examining four rhetorical moves—logos, pathos, ethos, and structural strategies—and how they are deployed differently in the article and video to persuade audiences. These moves, rooted in Aristotelian rhetoric, enable creators to build arguments effectively (Aristotle, trans. 2007).
First, both sources employ logos through evidence-based appeals, but their execution varies by genre. Twenge’s article uses statistical data extensively, such as citing surveys showing that teens spending over three hours daily on social media are at a 27% higher risk of depression (Twenge, 2017). This logical structure builds a cumulative case, with data interwoven into narratives for credibility. For instance, she references a study where limiting social media reduced loneliness, explaining, “After the experiment, participants reported feeling less lonely and depressed” (Twenge, 2017). This move is effective for her audience, who expect substantiated claims in a magazine format. Conversely, the AsapSCIENCE video presents logos via simplified facts and animations, like illustrating how social media triggers dopamine releases similar to drugs, stating, “Each like or notification gives a hit of dopamine, creating addiction cycles” (AsapSCIENCE, 2018). The brevity forces concise evidence, making it accessible but less detailed. This strategy suits viewers seeking quick insights, though it risks oversimplification compared to the article’s depth.
Second, pathos, or emotional appeals, is evident in both but manifests differently. Twenge evokes empathy through anecdotes, describing a 13-year-old girl named Athena who feels isolated despite constant online connectivity: “She spends much of her summer keeping up with friends online, but ‘it’s not real life'” (Twenge, 2017). This narrative stirs concern in readers, particularly parents, by humanizing statistics and fostering emotional investment. The video, however, uses pathos through relatable animations and urgent tone, depicting brains overwhelmed by notifications with visuals of stressed figures, accompanied by a narrator’s cautionary voice: “This constant comparison can lead to anxiety and low self-esteem” (AsapSCIENCE, 2018). While less personal, these elements create immediate emotional resonance for a visual audience, arguably more impactful in a short format than the article’s slower-building stories.
Third, ethos establishes credibility, crucial for persuasive discourse. Twenge bolsters her authority as a psychologist and author, referencing her book iGen and citing peer-reviewed studies, which lends academic weight (Twenge, 2017). This move reassures her skeptical readers of her expertise. The video builds ethos through its channel’s reputation for science-backed content, crediting sources like neuroscientific research in on-screen text, with the narrator confidently asserting, “Studies show social media affects the same brain areas as gambling” (AsapSCIENCE, 2018). Though lacking a named author, the institutional backing of AsapSCIENCE enhances trust, fitting a digital audience that values collective expertise over individual authorship.
Finally, structural moves, including narrative flow and visuals, highlight genre differences. The article’s linear structure progresses from observations to evidence, allowing for reflective pauses, which engages readers in a thoughtful process. In contrast, the video’s dynamic structure uses fast-paced animations and transitions to maintain attention, such as quick cuts between brain scans and infographics, making complex ideas digestible (AsapSCIENCE, 2018). This visual rhetoric compensates for the lack of depth, proving effective for retention in short-form media.
Overall, these moves demonstrate rhetorical adaptability: the article’s depth suits analytical audiences, while the video’s immediacy appeals to casual viewers, both enhancing persuasion on social media’s mental health effects.
Conclusion
This analysis has compared how Twenge’s article and the AsapSCIENCE video use logos, pathos, ethos, and structural elements to convey social media’s mental health impacts, revealing genre-specific adaptations. Understanding these differences matters because it equips audiences to critically evaluate media, fostering informed consumption in a multi-modal world. Indeed, recognizing rhetorical strategies can empower individuals to navigate digital influences more effectively, promoting better mental health awareness.
References
- Aristotle. (2007) On rhetoric: A theory of civic discourse. Translated by G. A. Kennedy. 2nd edn. Oxford University Press.
- AsapSCIENCE. (2018) How social media affects your brain. YouTube.
- Bitzer, L. F. (1968) ‘The rhetorical situation’, Philosophy & Rhetoric, 1(1), pp. 1-14.
- Corbett, E. P. J. and Connors, R. J. (1999) Classical rhetoric for the modern student. 4th edn. Oxford University Press.
- Twenge, J. M. (2017) Have smartphones destroyed a generation? The Atlantic.
