The Different Psychological Effects of Social Media on Teens Today

Over course of the past decade, the rise of social media has revolutionized our entire way of living and has become an essential part of our culture. Although social media has been designed in a way so that it can be easily accessed by anybody regardless of age, the most prominent users are teenagers and young adults. The teenage years are critical for mental development and many experts have expressed concerns that the use of social media may possibly stunt this growth. Since social media is still relatively new, there is no definite evidence to prove or disprove that excessive use can contribute to mental health deterioration. Though even without concrete evidence, it is believed by some that there could be possible links to anxiety, sleep disorders, lowered self esteem, feelings of loneliness, and depression. However, there have also been claims that social media helps some cope with hardships in their lives. Although there are both positive and negatives, is social media ultimately causing more harm than good?

A recent study has shown that teenagers on average spend almost nine hours a day using a variety of different media, but most notably social media. (Wallace, 2015). Nine hours is also the amount of hours of sleep recommended for adolescents, but most only get six to seven hours of sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause very harmful effects to not only a person's mental health, but also physical health. Those who suffer from sleep deprivation over prolonged periods of time may experience symptoms of unusual or worsened anxiety and stress. It is not uncommon in our society to hear of teens sacrificing hours of sleep to social media. Not only does using social media at night disturb sleep patterns, but even extended exposure during the day can put teens at risk. The blue light emitted from phones prevents the brain from releasing melatonin, which is vital for sleep (Kim, 2014).

An astounding amount of today's youth have spoken out about the constant pressure they feel from social media. Most aspects of social media revolve around sharing things about yourself and your life, but it can be presented in a way that makes it look appealing when in actuality it is not as glamorous as it is made out to be. Impressionable teens may then begin to compare their lives to others and feel self conscious if they don’t look a certain way. An online persona is almost never an accurate representation of that person’s life, only an exaggeration of the few interesting and exciting aspects of their life. The attention and approval that people receive from their ‘friends’ and followers is what leads them to become dependant on the praise from their followers in order to feel acceptance. In the end, it is a vicious cycle of someone trying to make others jealous because they are insecure.

Social media has the ability to do just as much good as it can bad, it almost always depends on the individual and if they use it responsibly. Online, many feel as though it is easier to find people who are going through the same things as they are and connect with people who understand them better than people they know in real life. Many who feel lonely and helpless in their real lives can turn to social media to feel a sense of acceptance. Although using this as a regular coping mechanism can be detrimental, it can be helpful as a short term solution to temporary feelings of sadness and loneliness.

In all, there is no way to confirm or deny if social media causes more harm than good because in the end, it all depends on personal experience. The use of social media should only be used in moderation, especially for those who already have preexisting mental health issues. Social media is sure to be around for long to come so it is beneficial to be aware of the possible consequences, both positive and negative, that it can cause.