Social media has made it easy to connect with people across the globe. The issue of prolonged use of social networks on teenagers’ mental health is a complex and multifaceted topic. In this essay, I will examine the advantages and disadvantages of social media on the youth of society.
On the positive side, social media provides youngsters with a platform to showcase their creativity. There has been a significant increase in the number of content creators curating content on fashion, food, technology, and the environment. These creations involve the process of innovating, recording and communicating, which results in boosting their confidence and refining communication skills. Moreover, teenagers can carry out intellectual discussions by forming a group. This community consists of people having the same areas of interest. The meaningful conversations with like-minded people fosters thinking capabilities and give them a new perspective.
On the other hand, social media isolates an individual from the real world. Many people are lost in the virtual world; they often forget to make connections with the people in their local communities. Additionally, teenagers start comparing their lives to the unrealistic portrayal of influencers on social media platforms. This leads to feelings of low self-esteem, self-doubt, and frustration.
To summarize, social media is beneficial as it helps in building a productive and collaborative learning environment by sharing knowledge and indulging in group discussions. This proves to be a drawback as issues like depression and anxiety emerge when they start comparing their lifestyle with others on social media. It should be the responsibility of parents, educational institutes, and organizations to provide accurate knowledge to teenagers on the correct use of social media.