Is it a blessing or a curse?

A BLESSING...

The benefits of social media

Nyah Simpson

The global rise of social media began with MySpace in the early 2000s. Since then, the rapid rise of online media and communication has generated a frenzy of criticism.

However, many fail to remember how much social media benefits the world, and why we continue to use it today.

Social media platforms thrive off of connection, not just to the web but also between humans. They are a tool to connect people across the world and from all walks of life.

On any social app, you can have a conversation with someone from anywhere in the world. With apps like Twitter, you can easily stay up to date on news and connect with people from anywhere in the world.

Many are quick to point out the negative impacts brought by worldwide communication yet, there are also countless positive stories that they ignore in their criticism.

One example is Kayla Gaytan, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2016. Despite being told she couldn't bear children, she unexpectedly got pregnant with quadruplets. The babies had to be delivered early due to her cancer coming back. Gaytan's family created a GoFundMe that raised $1.1 million, paying for her children's medical expenses.

Thanks to online platforms like GoFundMe and Facebook, online communities and organ donors can help patients gain access to financial and medical aid that they would not have been able to obtain otherwise.

Through social media, people can also find others who share the same interests and passions. This can inspire people and allows them to find communities of like-minded individuals.

When people no longer feel isolated and misunderstood, their mental health is also positively affected. According to a study by Stanford Medicine, people who feel more connected to others have lower levels of anxiety and depression.

However, as much as this connection to new people has improved people's mental health, it is impossible to ignore the negative impact social media has had on the mental health and body image of people, especially teenagers.

People are becoming increasingly aware of this issue and are taking steps to help remedy the effects of social media on mental health.

An increasing number of global campaigns, trends, and hashtags are promoting self-love and body image advocacy.

Many social media creators are also aware of the impact they have on individuals and choose to use their influence for good.

An example is YouTuber Anthony Padilla, who is open about his own experiences going to therapy and actively encourages his 6.85 million subscribers to seek help if they need it. One of his most frequent sponsors is the company BetterHelp, a free online therapy service.

Social media has also opened up new career paths. Some of the most famous individuals in the United States are creators and influencers. It is through social media that their career path was created, but it is also how other celebrities stay relevant in the modern world.

When you open a social media platform you are bombarded by all the problems that it causes, but the next time you start to scroll on your explore page reflect on all the reasons social media continues to help people.

OR A CURSE?

The problem with social media

Evan Leong

Social media has become an everyday part of life. However, it brings far more detrimental effects than positive ones, especially when it comes to the topics of mental health, societal standards, and social interactions.

Social media is quite addictive while giving little in return. According to Statista, the average person spends 2 hours and 27 minutes daily on social media. Those hours spent scrolling provide little benefit to the social media consumer, and there are many better ways to spend that time, such as pursuing passions, hobbies, or studying.

Social media also negatively affects mental health. According to MIT, researchers have found that Facebook use led to a 7% increase in severe depression and a 20% increase in anxiety. A major cause of these detrimental effects is social comparison– the natural human tendency to compare with other people. Social media makes it all too easy for people to compare themselves with what they see online.

However, many fail to realize that social media is often inauthentic. They compare their lives to unrealistic standards that content creators portray, falling for personas of attractive and wealthy influencers that are often fake. This leads viewers to believe they must conform to increasingly toxic societal standards perpetuated by social media.

Social comparison often leads to the fear of missing out, envy, low selfesteem, and poor body image. These effects then deteriorate mental health, potentially resulting in depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

According to Scientific American, humans have a natural desire to connect with others, but social media fails to provide in-person communication, resulting in isolation, loneliness, and harmful mental health effects. A lack of in-person social interaction can even cause health risks as severe as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or having an alcohol addiction, according to the American Psychological Association.

Equally as severe, the anonymous veil that social media provides can lead to cyberbullying. According to Pew Research, 59% of teens have been bullied online, and only 33% of teens say social media sites are doing a good to excellent job addressing cyberbullying.

In addition, some cases of cyberbullying are so extreme that they result in death. According to Old Dominion University, 20% of cyberbullied people considered suicide and 4,500 deaths per year come as a result of cyberbullying.

Social media has allowed people to expand their network and platform, pushing many to fame. However, this same system allows those with influence to spread radical ideas that strain how society functions.

An example is when conservative politicians with a large following organized an attack on the capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. As a result, thousands of people came to the attack and caused considerable damage to the area. `

Social media undermines mental health and perpetuates toxic societal standards. it places people at risk, and the entertainment they get in return is nothing compared to inperson interactions. Overall, people should avoid the over-use of social media, knowing the consequences far outweigh the benefits.