The effect of social media on teens

Student’s Name
Professor’s Name
Course
Date
The Effect of Social Media on Teens
The use of social media sites has become the most common practice in teenagers. All websites that have a social interaction capability are classified as social media site, for example, social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter; gaming sites and virtual worlds like Second Life and Sims; video sharing platforms like YouTube. This platform provides teenagers with an avenue for both entertainment and interaction and has advanced significantly over the last few years. Therefore, it is crucial to comprehend the nature of these platforms since not all can be considered safe environments for teens. Additionally, an understanding of the effect social media has on teen stress, anxiety, and insecurity will help identify the ways to assist teenagers maneuver through their lives.
Relevant studies show that there is a relationship between social media and depression. Igor et al. performed a study to analyze the likelihood of high schoolers being depressed and compared it to the relationship between depression and the use of TV. The study concluded that there is a high correlation between the use social media site, Facebook. Another study concludes that positive interactions on social media sites have been directly linked to low levels of depression and anxiety while negative interaction has resulted in high levels of depression and anxiety (Seabrook, Kern, and Rickard).
Steve Furtick, a pastor, and author says that insecurity stems from comparing one’s life to everyone else’s highlight reel.

People continuously post edited versions of themselves on social media. These posts are both awe-inspiring and demoralizing as well. It is human to compare oneself to other people therefore when a teenager sees such amazing posts of other people’s lives on social media they are likely to conclude that they do not match up. Also, some people misuse social media sites as a tool for coming up with false images of themselves that not only encourage their insecurities but their peer’s insecurities as well (Igor et al.).
Furthermore, too much social media has been known to make teenagers socially awkward and insecure. Social media has resulted in a lack of appreciation of one’s appearance and a crisis of body image. Consequently, there is an increased need to alter one’s appearance for example face, hair, and skin. Also, there has been an increased use of cosmetic surgery to change how one looks in photographs. The advancement of social media platforms has come with a new form of bullying called cyber bullying where teenagers are questioned and attacked by other online users. Victims of cyberbullying suffer from depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
Social media is an anonymity paradox whereby on the one hand it is more anonymous than face-to-face interaction, and on the other hand, it is used to make people public to the whole world. The real challenge is how to educate teenagers on themselves. Teens have to comprehend and appreciate being human entirely. Everyone has flaws and struggles with feelings of sadness, loneliness and an array of other emotions. People do not usually publicize their struggles on social media. Therefore, it is crucial that teenagers be observant to identify their struggles in life. Consequently, it will allow teens to give themselves more compassion. Eventually, teens will feel more secure and self-assured, knowing that they are not the only one with hidden struggles.
Works Cited
Pantic, Igor, et al. “Association between online social networking and depression in high school students: behavioral physiology viewpoint.” Psychiatria Danubina 24.1. (2012): 90-93.
Seabrook, Elizabeth M., Margaret L. Kern, and Nikki S. Rickard. “Social networking sites, depression, and anxiety: a systematic review.” JMIR mental health 3.4 (2016).