According to Pew Research Center, 69% of adults and 81% of teenagers in America use social media. How many of those teenagers are impacted mentally and academically by social media? As time progresses, social media only becomes more relevant, and in some cases, even more of an issue.
Social media reached popularity in the early 2000s, engaging more people each year. At Cape Henry Collegiate, the students and teachers believe social media has heavily influenced their lives. These platforms have become more advanced in such a short amount of time, and there has been much debate about whether or not social media is more beneficial, or instead, has grown into an unnecessary distraction.
“I do think that social media is a distraction and I think that it prevents me from getting a lot of my work done ahead of time,” junior Marshall Daniel said.
According to Child Mind Institute, a 2017 study revealed that more than half a million 8th through 12th graders experienced symptoms of depression, establishing a 33% increase between 2010 and 2015. Not only has social media evolved into a distraction from school work and other priorities, but it has also taken captive people’s minds, leading to an uprising of various mental health issues.
“When I was in high school, if I missed something, it would be because of word of mouth (people talking about it) but I wouldn’t be sitting home on a Saturday night watching my friends hang out without me,” Mrs. Jill Qualters, the guidance counselor at CHC, said. “So I think that sometimes too much information and too much connection can be detrimental to mental health because you are kind of immersed in a world that you are not in, and you are not in the moment in person.”
Social media can create a false sense of reality that often leaves users wanting more. According to a survey of Cape Henry students, many said they spend over four hours on their phones each day. These platforms were specifically designed in order to draw people in, and to force them to become attached. Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok – they are all learning about each individual’s interests; slowly adapting as one wastes an absurd portion of their day scrolling and liking.
“I think that one of the biggest downfalls of social media and just phones in general is that we lose track of time when we’re on them,” Mrs. Qualters said. “You guys [students] are just so busy with school, sports, arts, and all the things you do, that your time is so precious and I don’t really think that everyone completely grasps how time consuming social media can really be for them.”
Despite the many negative effects, social media has converted into a tool which has helped students at Cape Henry, but also helped society as a whole. Through the use of social media, many upperclassmen are able to make decisions concerning their future college that they will be attending, and they can begin to promote their own businesses. These platforms promote communication and assist people on a daily basis, especially teenagers, when attempting to discover new people and establish more friendships in their lives. The main purpose of media is connection.
“As a military family, we are moving around so much so it makes it easier to stay connected with people from around the world – tracking photos and sharing ideas,” Mr. Simpson, a government teacher at CHC, said.
Social media makes the college process flow more smoothly for students and the college counselors at Cape Henry, for many of the campuses advertise their values and student life through social media. Social media can also be useful for athletes, since more coaches and colleges will be able to view athletes’ highlights and profiles; therefore, the process of recruiting them will be more efficient.
Even though social media can be a way of decompressing after a long day, it can also form bad habits in adolescents’ minds. Spending time on the phone is not entirely negative, but staring at a bright screen for countless hours can result in a more damaged mental, and even physical health. Social media causes young people to overanalyze each detail of themselves due to the comparison factor which is introduced because of celebrities and the fake images that are constantly being advertised.
According to The Guardian, even 12 year olds are affected by social media, which is shown through a study involving 3 out of 4 children not being satisfied with their appearances. Additionally, 8 out of 10 people who are ages 18 to 21, have gained a negative perspective of themselves, showing that people of any age have been negatively influenced by social media. Overall, social media promotes perfection; increasing many teenagers’ battles with their own insecurities.
“A negative of social media includes basing your self worth on likes – it is always going to be a problem,” Mr. Simpson said. “And the fact that social media is not the real world, and people think that it is.”
Although social media can be addictive for teens if time is not managed correctly, and it appears to be the cause of many problems throughout the world, there are numerous possible positive outcomes that are capable of benefiting the community, which will improve both education and creativity.
“There’s a lot in the media which is very hyperbolic, which means that it is just really passionate about how it is so bad,” Mrs. Qualters said. “I do agree that it is a challenge to teach you guys [students] how to use something like that responsibly while your brains are still developing and you are figuring it out, but I personally just don’t think that it’s something that is completely negative.”