The usage of social media is constantly being talked about within your home, at school, with friends, etc. As a senior in high school, social media is a huge part of my life. Even though I wish it was not as heavily used, I am constantly looking at my phone whether it’s talking to my friends, on Tik Tok, or on Instagram. I think social media should definitely be used but to a certain extent.

There are many pros to social media and technology, but a lot of people fail to realize the cons that come with it. Social media is a powerful tool to help connect people with friends and family virtually. It allows you to see different parts of the world, and different cultures through a screen. It can help you set goals for yourself and realize what you want for your future.

But, with all of those good things that social media brings, it comes with negatives too. A large amount of pressure gets put onto people, especially teenagers, to meet a certain, and unrealistic standard of beauty. HelpGuide, a website that focuses on the health and well-being of others, said “Multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts”. There is also a very big difference between online vs. reality. While scrolling through your feed, you see social media influencers “living their best life”, and a lot of us wish we could just be them. Having this mindset can negatively impact your life. You can get consumed by the fact that you need to be a certain person, and live a certain life, just to be happy and to succeed in life. Ultimately, social media is a very helpful tool for not only students but everyone. It should just not be used as much, especially for young brains.

Sources:

https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm