Final answer:
Katie Notopoulos develops the central idea about social media by showing both its positive role in friendship and communication among teens, and its negative aspects, such as impersonal breakups and information credibility challenges. She uses scholarly research and real-world examples to illustrate social media's complex impact on teen lives.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author of “Teens Say Social Media Isn’t As Bad As You Think”, Katie Notopoulos, develops the central idea that social media plays a complex role in the lives of teenagers. She presents evidence showing that, while social media is integral to building and maintaining friendships, it can also be a source of negativity, particularly when it comes to breakups or the spread of misinformation. Notopoulos utilizes scholarly research, including findings by Danah Boyd, to illustrate the positive aspects of social networking, such as how Faceb_ok is essential for the formation and consolidation of friend groups, and how texting helps deepen one-on-one relationships.
Conversely, she highlights some of the negative aspects associated with digital communication, such as the impersonal nature of breakups via text or Faceb_ok. Furthermore, the text discusses the transformative power of social media in creating social change, providing examples like McKenna Pope's petition as evidence of positive uses. The author also discusses the darker side of digital media, including the spread of conspiracy theories and the challenges of distinguishing credible information in an era of ubiquitous social media access.