The Perils of Social Media

A teenager speaks from experience about what it can and cannot do for us

SARAH KAPADIA

Ateenager’s life now revolves around social media, with around 90 percent of teenagers having their own accounts. It gives them the freedom to share ideas, opinions, and information by creating virtual networks and communities. Almost everyone on the planet now has a social media account, with around 4.5 billion users on social media worldwide.

Social media gives teenagers the opportunity to connect with people across the globe and develop their social life. In the past, apps such as Instagram and Facebook became a platform on which teens could share opinions and ideas freely. Whether teenagers are organizing fundraisers or donating to a worthy cause, social media helps them make a difference in their communities. Some social movements began when teenagers used social media to raise awareness about a problem.

While social media might make adults feel more lonely, experts believe the opposite is true for teenagers. According to a 2015 study, even while kids have fewer friends than they did a decade ago, they nonetheless report feeling less lonely.

However, teenagers are blinded by these platforms and fail to see the adverse effects they can have. While social media does give them a sense of belonging, the mental and physical impairments that it brings along can be dangerous.

Recently, researchers have found a link between depression and social media. Teens who use seven social media sites are more likely to encounter depression compared to those on only two. There is a personal and emotional connection built with these accounts. They are under pressure not just to respond swiftly online, but also to have excellent images and well-written postings, all of which can increase pressure on them, resulting in worry and anxiety. The other perils that teens have to contend with are body-shaming, cyberbullying and plain old meanness. Receiving messages from your friends or even strangers saying horrible things about your personality and body can drastically affect one’s self-esteem.

Insomnia resulting from spending too much time on social media causes teens to lose sleep. Sleep deprivation can result in moodiness, a reduction in grades, a lack of physical activity and binge-eating. It has also known to worsen existing disorders such as depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

As a result, logging in to social media in the middle of the night can be hazardous to their physical wellbeing. Lack of sleep even has an impact on your immune system.

While jealousy and envy are natural feelings, they may wreck havoc on a teen’s psyche if they compare themselves to their friends. Olivia Roderigo perfectly summed up every teens thought process through her song “Jealousy Jealousy.” All your friends are so cool, you go out every night In your daddy’s nice car, yeah, you’re livin’ the life Got a pretty face, pretty boyfriend, too I wanna be you so bad, and I don’t even know you All I see is what I should be Happier, prettier, jealousy, jealousy All I see is what I should be I’m losin’ it, all I get’s, jealousy, jealousy Co-comparison is killin’ me slowly I think, I think too much ‘Bout kids who don’t know me

This competitive mindset eventually leads to teenagers changing everything about themselves, from their wardrobe and their body language to their entire personality. In the process, they lose their uniqueness and the idea of being the best version of themselves. Soon it will be like all the teens are clones of each other and the diversity of the world will be crippled.

I mentioned that social media is great for socializing and bonding with others, though it is impossible for a teen to see the opposite person’s facial expressions and true reactions while texting – leading to several misunderstandings. A genuinely funny or sarcastic comment is likely to get perceived in the wrong way and result in further repercussions. Many teenagers spend so much time online monitoring statuses and likes that they neglect to communicate with the individuals in their immediate vicinity. Teens who prioritize social media will frequently focus on the images they take to demonstrate how much fun they are having rather than really having fun.

Because critical brain development happens during the teen stages of life, it is essential to be aware of the impact of social media. Too much nor too little of anything is good. I believe that teenagers have to strike a balance between social media and their other activities because it seems teens are being brainwashed and controlled by software. What was once a conflict in a movie is slowly coming to life with the excessive usage of these platforms.

How do we keep ourselves from being consumed by social media? A regulation on the time spent on it would be the first thing to do. Try other activities that would make you happier, such as reading, painting or cooking. Second, unfollow people whose updates or messages bring you down. Third, remind yourself constantly that social media is not a representation of reality.