Social Media's Negative Effects On Adolescents

In today’s society, social media has become a buzzword. Not only has it gained popularity, it has been accepted into mainstream culture. Social media is a web-based service, with a large online community. Websites and applications allow users to create and share content as well as participate in social networking. Assuming that all aged 15 to 35 have social media accounts, youths are undoubtedly actively involved in online communities. Even though social media allows youths to stay connected and interact with one another, it also has its negative impacts. Social media negatively impacts learning, and brings about signs of possible long-term psychological disorders in youths. Thus, I agree with the statement that social media is the ruination …show more content…
Youths who feel lonely tend to spend more time on social media sites for entertainment and boredom relief, rather than make new friends in real life and interact face-to-face. This is because they spend an excessive amount of time on social media sites, and very little time socializing in person. Other than nonverbal cues, such as tone and inflection, there is no use of body language when interacting with people via social media sites. As a result, it is difficult for youths who communicate via social networking sites very frequently to communicate in person in an efficient way, and tend to develop antisocial behaviours, such as self-centeredness, self-consciousness, depression and inferiority, as well as anxiousness and discomfort in social …show more content…
Dr. Rauch states that social media sites deliver reinforcements in the form of ‘likes’ and supportive comments every time a user logs in. Behaviours that are continuously fortified will be habitual, so it becomes difficult for one who has formed this habit to stop. One example is Facebook addiction, a behaviour common among youths. According to Dar Meshi of the Freie Universität in Germany, many Facebook addicts use Facebook to get people’s attention and increase their self-esteem. Therefore, social media can result in signs of psychological disorders in youths, such as social anxiety and social media addiction.

While the above may be true, social media can also improve the lives of youths. It allows youths to stay connected and interact with one another, even if they are in different countries and hardly have face-to-face interaction. Furthermore, social media allows students to collaborate more effectively, as they are better able to communicate and spread information efficiently. For example, platforms are provided where youths with common interests can form groups to share ideas and express themselves. Therefore, social media sites provide opportunities where youths can communicate and collaborate more