Negative effects of social media on youth

By Jemaa El Bahraouy

Social media has created a much different childhood for kids now than when our parents grow up. Young people spend as much as nine hours a day on social media. It is a great tool, but when they use it for long period of time with no reason, it can lead to alarming effects on them and their health. 

Social media can be more addictive than cigarettes and alcohol. It has a powerful draw for many
people that it leads to them checking it all the time without even thinking about it.
Young people are constantly engaged with their technology, their phones, and the internet. They
go to social media and look at their friends and idols enjoying life partying, traveling, and having
amazing experiences, but what many of those young people fail to realize is that these
experiences are the best highlights of that person’s life. They do not show the day-to-day
struggle they may be going through. However, this type of filtered exposure can make a person
feel inadequate and insecure; leaving the person to think why their life does not match the ones
portrayed on social media.

Young people spend a lot of time on social media. They are more susceptible to peer pressure,
low self-esteem, and mental ill-health. Several studies have found associations between increase
in social media use and depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and suicide risk.
Also, the excess usage of social media sites decreases productivity amongst the youths. Siting all
day in front of laptops/computers may disturb body metabolism, reduce physical activities,
weaken eyesight, and increase cyber bulling.
In 2018, Angie Chartier, a teen from Washington DC, got bullied for her looks by other girls
online. Angie felt ashamed of her body. They bullied her for her interests and for things she did
and where she went. Angie was just living a normal life a teen should live, but due to hate and
jealousy of others, she found herself bullied and almost took her life.
The more time spent on social media for no reason can lead to cyberbullying, social anxiety,
depression, etc.…Instead of scrolling through Instagram and comparing themselves (Inadequacy
about their lives or appearance), youth should use it with purposes like educating themselves,
learning some skills, etc.… So in conclusion, youth should utilizing social media in a
constructive and productive manner because if they do so, its advantages are unlimited.