PSYC FPX 4210 assessment 2 Analysis 1: Successful Gamification of Cybersecurity Training
Analysis 1: Successful Gamification of Cybersecurity Training
Gamification, or applying game-like elements to non-game contexts, is one feature of social media platforms that influences how young people interact with these sites and their identities (Zhao, 2024). Functions such as likes, follower count, badges, and streaks create a reward-based system that taps into the heightened sensitivity of the adolescent brain to social feedback and rewards. These gamified components stimulate frequent interactions and self-presentational behaviors because, for teens, the reward mechanism to “win” the validation of their social relations lies in curating profiles or engaging in trending challenges and content.
A critical success of gamification is its ability to support identity exploration. For example, the algorithms of TikTok and Instagram reward creativity and individuality by boosting trending or innovative content (Lee & Shen, 2024). Adolescents tend to test their personas through viral trends, showing off their talents, or joining specific communities or movements, all of which form part of the identity process. Positive reinforcement, like getting likes or followers, reinforces certain aspects of the identity, thereby increasing their confidence and building parts of their self-concept.
However, gamification also succeeds in promoting social belonging. Adolescents build connections and validate their roles within peer groups through gamified interactions like streaks on Snapchat or collaborative challenges on TikTok. This sense of belonging makes identity formation stronger because it offers adolescents social cues and critical feedback for self-discovery. While gamification is an opportunity for personal growth and social bonding, it is also a cautionary aspect, since overreliance on digital rewards for self-worth can hinder authentic identity development.
Analysis 2: Exploring Workers’ Subjective Experiences of Habit Formation in Cybersecurity: A Qualitative Survey
Habits of social media use significantly affect the worker by determining his or her daily routines, productivity, and psychological well-being (Berraies et al., 2020). A qualitative survey on the subjective experience of workers revealed that habits of social media use usually come from seamless integration into professional and personal life. Most of the participants describe their initial use of social media as task-oriented-for networking, updating, or promoting professional content. But over time, these behaviors turn into habits by the design of the platform itself, like algorithmic notifications and infinite scrolling, which encourages frequent use.
Workers often report having ambivalent feelings about their social media habits. For example, many participants were able to recognize the professional benefits, such as higher visibility, access to trends in the industry, and ease of communication. On the other side, they claim to be frustrated by compulsive checking behaviors because they disturb their concentration time and extend their working time. For example, most of the comments from the respondents are about always being in a state of “connectivity,” mainly due to notifications, and FOMO makes them want to stay logged in all the time. They also mentioned how their habits get combined with an emotional state because boredom and stress trigger subconscious use.
The qualitative data highlights the role that self-awareness and the intentional use of the application are playing in reducing the negative consequences. Those who consciously set bounds, such as turning notifications off or scheduling specific times on social media, report control over their habits. This therefore implies that though social media can serve to develop a professional identity and boost productivity, uninhibited formation of habits undermines workers’ welfare and work-life balance.
PSYC FPX 4210 assessment 2 Conclusion
Exploring the impact of social media on adolescent identity formation and workers’ habit formation underlines its deep influence across different life stages and contexts (Lin et al., 2024). For adolescents, gamification fosters identity exploration and social belonging, providing opportunities for self-expression and peer validation, though it risks promoting reliance on external rewards. Similarly, for employees, social media becomes a complementary part of professional lives where connectivity and visibility are positively enhanced but, in the meantime, create habits that can damage focus and well-being. These results highlight the Janus face of social media: its benefits depend entirely on conscious and intentional use. As social media evolves, developing strategies for balanced engagement is indispensable to capitalize on its growth-generating potential while mitigating its risks.
