Social media has become the biggest entertainment for teenagers the main question regarding social media, is what are the effects it has on teenagers? Social media has become a daily use for teenagers. According to a 2024, Sentiment Article, Over 93% of Teens use Social Media, for some even a daily outlet and an escape for reality. Social media has essentially become the way to start a day and to end one. Social media can be efficient for many teens as it’s a way they can communicate with friends and family, do research, make new friends and even be an outlet for self-expression and being able to share opinions as they wish; but what social media can also do is cause anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, and isolation creating a barrier between a teen’s developing mindset and shaping a disconnection from the real world.
Social media can now be seen as a modern and addictive drug. Social media has created a strong sense of dependence that makes teens feel as if they have to utilize social media in their daily routine to have a complete day and even provide purpose in their everyday lives. This alters the way and changes the process of development and growth in a teenagers developing mind. (According to a 2024 Yale Medicine research report, frequent social media use may be associated with distinct changes in the developing brain. Potentially affecting such functions as emotional learning and behavior, impulse control, and emotional regulation.) Most teenagers spend majority of their day scrolling through social media endlessly, instead of taking part of social activities and contributing in something productive.
Social Media is often seen as an outlet for teens, whether that means chatting with friends or expressing opinions with freedom to even meeting new people online; however this can come with its conflicts. Spending even a small amount of time on social media can be effective in a teen’s-developing mind. Small usage of social media can eventually turn into n addicting hobby, leaving a teen with an emotional attachment and dependency with a device. The entertainment provided by social media can be seen as an enjoyable involvement, but the more time spent on the net can create an invisible string and an emotional attachment; causing social isolation and generating social anxiety and the lack of social skills.
“Social media has impacted me by distracting me from my work, and it’s the main reason why I don’t do well in tests or finish my assignments.” -Dayana Soto, Grade 9.
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It can be a major distraction for teens, causing procrastination to grow and becoming a common and harmful thing that teens look past by. Procrastination can be the primary source of incomplete work, unfinished tasks and lack of motivation. Teens have problem in prioritizing important tasks due to social media.
The usage of social media on a daily basis can create a false image and a way for teens to idealize people’s image and style of living. The outcome for this is low-esteem and a constant comparison to individuals on the net. Not only is comparison a damaging factor to a still developing teen, but it leads to depression and lack of self confidence. Social media has created a picture in teenager’s minds of how one’s image and way of living shall resemble; which has produced a way of thinking in a harmful way. Teenager’s minds develop more by the day and numerous teens still may not know how to differentiate between reality and a fantasy created by social media, leading to negative effects on their mental health.
“Social media has its pros and cons, but for me it has been a positive thing because it’s where I met my online best friend who has helped me in tough times and it has helped me meet new people around the world.”- Amberly Hernandez, Grade 9.
Social media like any other thing has its pros and cons some might argue, either side. The evident thing is that social media, can be good or bad the main concern is how its affecting modern-age and the influence it has on teenager. Whether the effects are positive or negative the main conflict regarding social media is how much time is being spent on it and the use of it by teens.
