Effects of Social Media on Teens

Effects of Social Media on Teens

By Miquela Oviedo

Social media has been around for decades, but nearing the late 2000’s, it has grown and improved across the world. Many platforms like Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and more have grown exponentially based on how much people enjoy being on these social media platforms. But how can these platforms affect the lives of every teenager who is in reach of social media?

Data shows that 51% of teens from 13-19 spend a total average of 33.6 hours on social media per week. That’s almost 5 hours per day! Spending 3 hours per day on social media is linked to teens with mental health concerns. So being online for almost 5 hours can be incredibly unhealthy for the human brain. When we decide to spend lots of time on our phones, we’re basically asking for mental health issues to invade our lives. Issues/concerns can include, self harm or harm to others, illegal acts, eating disorders, depression, and body shaming oneself. 

This graph shows the percentage of the teens questioned in relation to how many hours they said they spend on social media per day. As shown, over 50% said they spend an average of 1-3 hours per day. A large amount said 4-6 hours per day, and around 20% said 7 or more hours. It was also noticed that multiple teens said an average of 10 hours per day. This was surprising because most teens spend their time in school, and would be off their phones. Many teenagers stay on their phones during class to check social media, which becomes a distraction for them. This can lead to lower grades, and failure in classes. Many feel disconnected from their phones when they are taken away. This is not a healthy thing to have. This only occurs when a teenager becomes addicted to staying on their phone and going through social media. 

When asking the same teenagers what they use social media for, 93% said entertainment, and the other percentage said for school work or productivity. While social media is a good way to keep us entertained and connected to our companions, it can become an addicting thing. When teens spend too much time on their social media for entertainment, they forget to realize that the world around them has enough entertainment to fill their brains with. With communication, using social media to communicate with long distance friends is a good method, however, using social media to communicate to your close distance friends is just another excuse that society as a whole has created so that humans don’t have to speak to each other in person. It’s healthier to see your friends and family in person because it helps keep away depressive feelings and strong negative emotions like depression and loneliness. 

This study also showed that about 65% said that social media is a negative thing for them because it causes them to procrastinate, become distracted, and many tend to compare themselves to others they see online. This proves the point that social media can become an unhealthy habit for teenagers because it distracts them from the world around them, and what they should be doing rather than scrolling online. 

Teens like to blend in, and look and act like the crowd. When they see someone on social media who seems “cool” or they want to be like them, the person may go to extreme measures to be like the person they saw on social media. Some people may eat less to lose weight, or use lots of makeup to hide facial features. This is partially caused by body shaming. This occurs when someone is shaming another person about their weight or how they look externally. Victims get upset about this and some even do things that hurt themselves so they can look better, or some just may commit suicide. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for teenagers. Viewing this in a line of causes and effects, social media has brought the endings of lives to many teens. Some people fall into a state of depression and some commit illegal acts to lash out on other people.

There are many solutions to help teens with social media. This can include time limits, phone restrictions, social media boundaries. Many social media platforms are known to not be healthy for teens. Limit your screen time on each of those platforms. Don’t allow yourself to download some negative social media platforms. Limiting screen time in total is a good way to start. Setting a timer to get off your phone will limit how much negative information you get off of social media. 

Research shows that teens who already suffer with some sort of mental health condition, are even more vulnerable to hate on social media. This can lead to anxiety, depression, and stress posting (which means posting things without thinking it through, and regretting it later). Mayo Clinic says that to help your teen use social media responsibly and limit the negative effects, you must take action now. Setting rules like “no social media till you are done with your homework” or “no social media for more than (x) hours”. You can also encourage teenagers to be more social outside their phone. It’s not always necessary to be 24/7 on phone calls and texting with friends. Just talk to them face-to-face. This will help limit their screen time on social media. Another good way is to explain how the past has gotten along fine with social media, and now that social media is a big “thing” around the world, it has led to heartbreaking disasters. Protecting teens from the dangers of social media can make a big impact on that teens future. 

Sleep is another great aspect of a teenager’s life. Many teens don’t get enough sleep because they are staying up late finishing homework, studying for a test, and of course, scrolling on social media. Being on a device is harmful to the human eye when on it late at night. The radiation and bright lights from a phone can lead to dry eyes, vision problems, blurred vision, burning sensations, and strained eyes. It’s not healthy to have eye issues, because it can lead to worse problems as you grow older. 

It is also really bad for your sleep due to the device’s blue light which restrains the production of melatonin, which can damage your sleep cycle and keep you awake at night. Teenagers need an average of 8-10 hours of sleep per night, and most only get 6-7 hours. This is unhealthy because it can lead to insomnia and sleep deprivation. This is yet another line of causes and effects. Being on social media late at night will later lead to sleep problems. To help keep teenagers off their phones at night, set a limit they can be on their phone, possibly an hour or longer before bed, or don’t let the teen sleep with their phone in their room. It can help them not become tempted to get on their phone and be on social media. 

Teenagers need to help be reminded how much an impact social media will put on them. It can have its benefits, but social media has a dark side to it too. You just need to learn how to control it. 

References

Adgate, B. (2023, October 18). Gallup: Teens Spend More Time On Social Media Than On Homework. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2023/10/18/gallup-teens-spend-more-time-on-social-media-than-on-homework/

‌Does Smartphone Use in the Dark Really Damage Your Retina? – Empire Retina. (2016). Empire Retina. https://www.empireretina.com/practice_news/smartphone-use-dark-really-damage-retina/#:~:text=In%20fact%2C%20the%20American%20Macular

How to help your teen navigate social media. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teens-and-social-media-use/art-20474437#:~:text=In%20a%20study%20focusing%20on

News, O. (2015). Research: Face-to-face socializing more powerful than phone calls, emails in guarding against depression in older adults. OHSU News. https://news.ohsu.edu/2015/10/04/research:-face-to-face-socializing-more-powerful-than-phone-calls-emails-in-guarding-against-depression-in-older-adults#:~:text=Phone%20calls%20and%20digital%20communication

Sleep in Adolescents. (n.d.). Www.nationwidechildrens.org. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/sleep-disorder-center/sleep-in-adolescents#:~:text=Adolescents%20are%20notorious%20for%20not

‌Why It’s Time to Ditch the Phone Before Bed. (n.d.). Intermountainhealthcare.org. https://intermountainhealthcare.org/blogs/why-it-is-time-to-ditch-the-phone-before-bed#:~:text=The%20blue%20light%20emitted%20by