Nowadays, there are various social media platforms in the world, such as Instagram and Facebook. These platforms have become the main source for young adolescents to connect and communicate. While many people believe that these applications are convenient to young people, there are others that believe that social media is harmful and that it would be difficult for them to form healthy relationships in the real world. I believe that social media has various advantages and conveniences, but the overall impact on young people’s health development has more negative impact than the positives.
On the one hand, social media platforms allow users from across the world to make connections and keep in touch with their friends and family. Moreover, it also provides a way for people to connect with those who have similar interests. For instance, if a teenager does not have anything in common with those around in their group, they could be able to find a warm community online who have the same enjoyment. Or if a teenager is feeling segregated to the community around them, they could be able to find an online support group through online platforms.
On the other hand, with the increase of adolescents communicating online nowadays, the percentage of speaking face to face also lessens. Which is a disadvantage to actually communicate properly. It would be harder to express certain emotions, let alone handle conversations head-on. Moreover, social media often displays improbable expectations. Such as, exposing themselves to idealized posts and pictures can make users feel insecure, insufficient or even anxious about their own lives. Furthermore, conversations online are often quick, short and they lack depth or emotions, making it difficult to build firm, trusting relationships. It also becomes harder to create respectful boundaries, because when texting on social media platforms, many believe that there are no consequences. Without consistent personal interactions, it becomes harder to form strong meaningful bonds.
To conclude, despite the fact that social media can help young people to stay connected, it restricts their ability to develop strong personal relationships with the people surrounding them. If we could have a healthy balance, it could encourage young people to still enjoy online communication without letting it replace real life connections. The mental health of young adults would be sure to improve if we could understand that meaningful relationships require effort, time, and face-to-face interactions, not only digital platforms.