In the modern world, social media has largely revolutionized the way that teens interact. Teenagers no longer rely on face-to-face interaction and, in fact, many of them prefer to explore the world behind a screen. But the bigger issue is how does social media affect teenagers emotionally and mentally?
While these platforms do have their merits, they also come with a myriad of negative side effects – at least when paired with frequent use. This article will discuss the pros and cons of social media use in teens:
Positive Effects of Social Media on Teenagers
In teens around the world, social media has been particularly effective in:
Strengthening Social Connections
Studies show that people who feel more connected with other people live happier, more fulfilled lives. The truth is – companionship makes us thrive.
Luckily, social media has provided many teens with a platform to connect with loved ones and strangers alike. For the first time in history, teenagers can talk to individuals overseas and in other countries in mere seconds.
Many children even have the opportunity to connect directly with celebrities!
If done in a modest amount, these interactions can be incredibly beneficial. In teens, they have been found to reduce social isolation and loneliness by opening up new ways to interact with others.
Increasing Individuality
Every popular social media platform uses algorithms to determine the content that a user would like to see.
It may seem counterintuitive that this would promote individuality, but let me explain.
Social media makes it easy to find other people with the same interests. For example, if a teenager likes a certain musician, they can easily find other fans just going on the band’s Instagram.
This promotes individuality because the teen would feel validated in the things that they like. As a result, they would be more likely to pursue their own personal interests (at least on social media).
Fostering Creativity
Whether a teen is pursuing a career as an influencer, or just posting for fun, there’s no denying that social media platforms foster a sense of creativity in children.
On these platforms, the content that you can post has no limits (within the confines of the law). From art to singing to homemade videos, these platforms are a great way for teens to express their creative side and showcase their skills.
Offering Career Opportunities
Social media has allowed teenagers to develop an online presence that can interest future employers, colleges, meaningful societies, or clubs. For example, some teenagers have made influential videos that have changed the world and grabbed the attention of millions.
Others, such as influencer Charli D’Amelio, have made an income that most adults could only dream of (at the ripe age of 15!).
Social media doesn’t have to be a place to post silly comments or pictures. It can be a tool for your teens to build a career path for themselves.
How Does Social Media Affect Teenagers Negatively?
Some ways social media has affected teenagers negatively include:
Physical Dependence
Every time an individual uses social media and gets a “like” or “follow”, a small wave of dopamine hits the brain. Because these hits offer continuous mental stimulation, the brain will get addicted and seek social media against all odds.
Many teenagers will forgo sleep or homework in favour of staying up late on social media. As a result, their bodies – and grades – may suffer.
As a whole, this also leads teens to have more trouble concentrating which is why a digital detox is often a good idea every so often.
I’m sure you’ve seen those children who can’t put down their phones to have a simple conversation. Because their brains are hardwired to seek dopamine, they simply get bored with normal human interaction that doesn’t give them the same “hit”.
Self-Esteem Issues
Teens on social media are exposed to “ideal” images that can make their lives seem far worse. Many influencers alter pictures of their bodies, which can cause teens to feel insecure if theirs don’t look the same way.
Teens can also experience FOMO, or the “fear of missing out”. They may constantly check their phones on the off chance that they’ll miss something important on social media. Over time, this will cause anxiety and stress.
Many teens also feel guilty about how much time they spend on social media itself. It is not uncommon for individuals to spend upwards of 3 hours on these platforms – time which could be better spent on more productive measures, such as homework.
For these reasons, many teens report that they are less happy, overall, when they use social media.
Decreased Empathy
While social media has helped teens keep in touch with family and friends, online interaction doesn’t provide the same value as face-to-face communication.
In-person interactions allow teens to see the consequences of their actions. If they hurt someone, they will be able to see it on their face. On social media, accountability – for the most part – goes out the window. This is why fostering kindness is so important.
In fact, many teens will opt to have an argument online because they believe that it is “easier”. They will say brutal things about another person without a second thought – they don’t have emotional, empathetic cues to keep themselves in check.
How Does Social Media Affect Teenagers ?
Social media is here to stay, we can’t make it go away and if anything more and more platforms will come along and they will impact of life. Social media brings with it a plethora of pro’s and con’s. Teenagers need to learn how to navigate social media in a way previous generations did not. It is not easy and I’m sure many teens will make mistakes with their use of social media but it can also bring positives to their lives.
Remember it is also to take some time off social media many of these 30+ Activities for Teens don’t involve screens!
