Social media has completely transformed the way people connect with each other. With just one search, people can connect with others from all over the world. Social media has also opened the door for people to start making money by posting videos.
“I use it mainly to connect with other people and to be an influencer but I feel like that’s a strange name sometimes. I really like content creation so I get to pursue that passion and it also is a way to make an income,” said Alyssa Darland (12), who has a popular YouTube channel.
Because social media is such a huge part of life in today’s world, people who abstain from social media platforms can feel disconnected from friends at times and out of the loop on what is going on online.
“I actually do feel like I miss out by not having social media. A lot of connections that I once had are gone because I chose to get rid of it, but I reckon the productivity boost is worth it. I’d go as far as to say it’s life changing,” said Nathan Whitaker (11), who is off social media.
“There are a lot of topics that I’ll hear from my friends and they’re like did you hear this from Instagram or Snapchat. I guess there is stuff that I am missing out on but it doesn’t seem important so I’m not bothered by it,” said Kiyan Ghaffari (11), who is also off social media.
Many use social media for entertainment and to get their news. While each of these aspects can be good, they do come with some downsides.
Social media platforms enable people to post anything they want whether it is true or not. An article on USC Today found that “Social media has a rewards system that encourages users to stay on their accounts and keep posting and sharing.” Therefore, users are encouraged to post content frequently even if the information is false.
Furthermore, according to CBS News, “Social media companies exercise only limited control, permitting lies, fake news and intentionally divisive content to proliferate.”
Statista has recorded that teenagers in the United States spend an average of almost five hours on social media a day. Many users fall into the habit of “scrolling” through short videos which causes a dopamine release. In fact, Jefferson Health has found that watching videos on social media create “stimulating effects similar to addiction.”
“I’d say five to six hours per day,” said Antonio Angelini (12), who is on social media.
“My average screen time is about two hours right now. However, almost all of that is spent listening to music,” said Whitaker, who is off social media.
Because social media is addictive, many people spend a lot of their time on it keeping them from doing more productive things in their free time and getting enough sleep.
“I don’t have it because I feel like it’s a huge waste of time, it makes people less productive, and it’s incredibly addictive,” said Nathan Whitaker (11).
“I like social media but it does have negative effects like sleep and if you get too attached to it, it’s not a very good thing,” said Angelini.
In 2020, the documentary-drama hybrid, The Social Dilemma, was released on Netflix to explore “the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations.” The main motivation behind the film was to raise awareness on the negative effects of social media due to the algorithms that encourage addiction to the platforms.
“My friends say they are on it a lot and a lot of them say it’s a problem,” said Ghaffari.
It is also important to note that when social media started gaining popularity, the suicide rate for teenagers increased dramatically. In 2010, Instagram was launched and from 2007 to 2021, the suicide deaths among Americans ages 10 to 24 years old have increased by 62%.
Furthermore, according to NBC News, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, “a long proponent of mental health awareness,” has found that “social media use is a main contributor to depression, anxiety and other problems in the nation’s teenagers.”
“Personally, I think there are benefits like getting connected with people, your friends, and even people you don’t know. But I would say the negative aspects outweigh the positive ones,” said Ghaffari.
While social media is a great way to connect with others online, sell products, and market brands, there are also some negative aspects to it that everyone should be aware of.
