Social media is an internet-based form of communication that allows people to connect all around the world through various applications. Social media includes blogs, micro-blogs, wikis, social networking sites, photo-sharing sites, instant messaging, video-sharing sites, podcasts, widgets, virtual worlds, and more. There are many applications on social media that help people connect; some applications are.
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Snapchat
there are thousands of applications through which people can connect to each other. Social media can be of great help to people and organization’s for making connection around the world, discovering new ideas and sharing information but only if it is used in the right way otherwise social media can also be used to cyber bully people, to conduct frauds, to get personal information of people and use them against them.
Social media has become an important part of teenage life. Platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and You Tube allow teenagers to express their feelings, stay connected with friends, and help them study. But social media has both positive and negative impacts on teen mental health. Research shows that the online environment shapes the mental health of teens.
Positive benefits of social media on teen health are –
Creative expression- Teenagers can express creativity by posting creative posts and stories on Instagram. They can also express creativity by posting creative designs on Pinterest.
Making connections- They can connect with new people, make friends locally and over long distances. Social media helps teens to make friends that are like minded. Teens can stay updated on their friends’ lives, which helps them stay and feel more connected.
Gain new Knowledge- social media helps teens to gain new knowledge and help them study efficiently with online resources and videos.
Social Support and Community- It makes it possible for adolescents, particularly marginalized ones (like LGBTQ+ youth, racial/ethnic minorities, those suffering from chronic illnesses), to find friends who are similar to them in terms of identity, interests, or difficulties, and thereby receive a much-needed feeling of belonging and support that they might not have in their real-life interactions.
Maintain social bonds with friends and family over long distances.
Express themselves and develop their personality.
Access constant support and advice anonymously, providing a lifeline to young people who may struggle in silence.
Social media also has some negative impacts on teen health. Social media negatively contributes to increased anxiety, depression, and poor sleep through unrealistic comparisons and cyberbullying, while positively providing a sense of community and emotional support through online groups. Excessive use can also lead to compulsive behaviors, decreased self-esteem, and sleep disruption, particularly when used before bed. Some of the negative impacts of social media are-
Cyberbullying- online bullying has a harmful effect on the mental health of the teen being bullied. There are many cases in which teens have taken their own life because of cyberbullying.
Sleep disruption: Social media use, especially at night, can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to poor sleep quality and disturb the sleep cycle, which negatively impacts mood and cognitive function.
Addiction-like behavior: The design of social media platforms, with features meant to maximize engagement, can stimulate the brain’s reward center, leading to compulsive or uncontrollable use
4. Exposure to harmful content: Teens may be exposed to hate speech, discrimination, or post content impulsively that they later regret, leading to stress and shame.
5. Become a means to spread rumors or share too much personal information.
6. Body image. Young people may compare themselves to celebrities, influencers, or people they admire, developing unhealthy obsessions with appearance that can significantly impact self-esteem.
7. Self-harm and suicidal ideation. Although social media can be great for support-seeking, certain content can have a negative influence, normalize self-harm, and expose young people to explicit images/videos. With access to online forums discussing self-harm and suicide, young people may be encouraged to engage in such behaviors with devastating consequences. Conclusion- Therefore, social media has both positive and negative impacts on teen mental health. It is upon the person how he decides to use social media, if used in the right way it can be useful and of great help but if a person decides to use it in a negative and wrong way, he/she may hurt themself or others.
Author – Rishit Chaudhary
