Social media has become an integral part of modern society, it’s the way we communicate, connect, learn, and so much more. It isn’t a pastime for teenagers anymore but a key component to their social and emotional development. Social media can be a place of both bad and good, but how and what teenagers choose to consume on social media platforms indirectly influences how they feel and act.
Negative side effects such as depression, anxiety, and FOMO can all come along with unhealthy usage of social media. Bad self image is one of the biggest problems that teenagers face today and social media enables that negative behavior. Constant scrolling that we do on social media can cause us to compare ourselves to unrealistic body standards and life expectations. Social media is a place that only shows the highlights of someone’s life, creating distorted perceptions of reality, fueling negative feelings towards oneself.
Social media doesn’t always have to be something associated with bad though. It can be a place of powerful connections, inspiration, support systems and even entertainment. To achieve these positives we have to ensure that we’re limiting scroll time, involved in healthy communities and prioritizing real life connections.
Ultimately, social media isn’t inherently good or bad, but a place where people go to connect and inspire each other. Moving forward, if we become more mindful of our use of social media we can obtain a more positive side of it and reduce risks of, ensuring that it’s serving us, not the other way around.
