Your day-to-day bases may be different from most "typical" social media users who spend 2 hours and 23 minutes per day using social platforms. The constant exposure of social media can create unrealistic expectations to any one of any age. By having those expectations, you also start to compare yourself to others which has staggering effects on the youth, mental health, and education. Many people are not too sure what is considered social media. Checking your emails, checking the time, and googling stuff online is a whole entirely different statistic, being " On average, people check their phones 58 times per day. And almost 52% of phone checks (30 per day) occur during work hours. Picking your phone up can become a habit as data shows that half of all screen time sessions begin within 3 minutes of the last."(Duarte, Fabio ) The constant exposure of social media can create unrealistic expectations to any one of any age. By having those expectations, you also start to compare yourself to others which has staggering effects on the youth, mental health, and education. This can be extremely dangerous for the youth as this creates unrealistic standards causing detrimental damage to younger ages. "Most social media apps require users to be at least 13 years old. But according to the U.S. Surgeon General, nearly 40% of children 8 to 12 years old and 95% of children 13 to 17 years old use social media apps.In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory on how social media affects children and teenager's mental health. One scary statistic? Teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media double their risk of depression and anxiety.If your child is currently on social media or if they've been asking to join, it's important to talk to them about what social media is, what rules you have for it and how it doesn't always show an accurate picture of someone's life."(Cleveland Clinic) .
Social media is known for over exposing beauty standards as well as lifestyle standards. We need to realize social media is a toxic escape and stop normalizing things that we know will negatively impact not only our future but the future children. My last piece of information that I want to provide is the actual definition of a social media paradox; "giving off the illusion of acceptance and validation, while detrimentally affecting one's self esteem in reality." and with that being said, let's all take a step back and look at the things that social media has highlighted or put on a pedestal that has slowly broken people down and changed them to what society thinks they should be."(Crossroads high school)Furthermore, the majority of social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter(X), and Facebook have the mandatory age to set up an account as thirteen . With or without the age restrictions, a lot of children would still be active on those apps. These apps' content is not always monitored and can affect children's well-being. In addition, the limited age restrictions and unrealistic standards of social media creates the potential of very harmful effects on anyone's mental health. We need to realize social media is a toxic escape and stop normalizing things that we know will negatively impact not only our future but the future children. My last piece of information that I want to provide is the actual definition of a social media paradox; "giving off the illusion of acceptance and validation, while detrimentally affecting one's self esteem in reality." and with that being said, let's all take a step back and look at the things that social media has highlighted or put on a pedestal that has slowly broken people down and changed them to what society thinks they should be."(Crossroads highschool)
There are not many different approaches one can come to the topic, Is Social Media a Negative Impact on Mental Health? On the other hand, there are also many different topics you can include that all go together. You can either say social media isn't impactful, which is going to be hard to show with statistics other than opinions. Even though some people say social media is bad, it can be helpful. It's great for connecting with friends and family all over the world, even if you don't see them much in person. Social media also helps people find groups of others who like the same things they do, so they can share ideas and create a community. It's also a great way to learn new stuff, get the news( which can be controversial) and see things from different points of view. If you're creative, you can share your art, music, or writing with lots of people and get feedback. And for grown-ups, social media can help them find jobs and grow their businesses. Sure, there are some bad things about social media, but it can also be a really positive force if we use it the right way. While that gives me the benefit because I can debunk any of them with the approach I am coming at which involves every reason why it will affect mental health, who, how and why. ." At its core, social media grants us the power to showcase a carefully curated version of ourselves. We meticulously select the best photos and only share the highlights of our lives. Moreover, we can tailor our online experiences by following and engaging with content that highlights our positive attributes. This can bring about a sense of belonging and affirmation, as we bask in the digital applause." ( Social Plug). At its core Social Media and other online platforms allow you to present a carefully curated version of ourselves which allows for the fake to be shown as real. Social Media then stems from mental health issues to being very addictive. Taking away from homework, hobbies, and hanging out with friends in real life. It is also easy for fake news and rumors to spread online, which can be harmful. Cyberbullying comes into play which can also be damaging to one's mental health and children who are on the app. Social media companies collect so much information about you, it makes some people worry about their privacy. Even though it can be tempting to spend all your time on social media, it's important to remember the bad stuff too.
Furthermore, the majority of social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook have the mandatory age to set up an account as thirteen . With or without the age restrictions, a lot of children would still be active on those apps. These apps' content is not always monitored and can affect children's well-being. Most social media apps require users to be at least 13 years old. But according to the U.S. Surgeon General, nearly 40% of children 8 to 12 years old and 95% of children 13 to 17 years old use social media apps .In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory on how social media affects children and teenager's mental health. One scary statistic? Teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media anxiety. If your child is currently on social media or if they've been asking to join, it's important to talk to them about what social media is, what rules you have for it and how it doesn't always show an accurate picture of someone's life."(Cleveland Clinic). Another alarming stat? " Nearly 6 out of 10 teen girls say they've been contacted through social media platforms by a stranger in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. "As a parent, it feels nearly impossible to be aware of and manage all of this. A good place to start is communicating with your children about these potential dangers, letting them know what to be aware of and caution them not to share any information with those they don't personally know," advises Dr. Eshleman."It's also important to work to create a safe space for communication, allowing children to come to parents should questions or concerns arise."(Cleveland clinic)
In addition, the limited age restrictions and unrealistic standards of social media creates the potential of very harmful effects on anyone's mental health. ."Social media heavily focuses on physical appearance. Many social media platforms - such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok - provide users with the option to use filters on an image. Filters can be great for a laugh, but the ability to easily alter physical appearance and hide imperfections can create false illusions. Constant exposure to altered images can also lead you to feel self-conscious and dislike the way you look."(cultivating health) . A systematic review found that the use of social networking sites is associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress (Keles, et al., 2020). The associations, though not by itself proof of causation, at least some reason for concern. Additionally, this association is particularly strong in adolescents compared to younger children (Twenge & Campbell, 2018). Moreover, in the United States, the 12-month prevalence of major depressive episodes among adolescents increased from 8.7% in 2005 to 11.3% in 2014 (Mojtabai, et al., 2016). The new media screen activities have been suggested as one of the causes of the increase in adolescent depression and suicide (Twenge, et al., 2017)." (Stanford LLM ). It is sad to see younger generations fall into this gray area of mental health issues that 100% are due to the more use of social media. Research indicates that personality plays a role in addictive use of social media (e.g., Andreassen et al., 2012, Andreassen et al., 2013, Hong et al., 2014, Wilson et al., 2010). The few studies exploring individual differences in terms of narcissism have found it to be positively associated to different online social networking activities (La Barbera et al., 2009, Malik and Khan, 2015, Ryan and Xenos, 2011, Wang et al., 2012). This appears to be meaningful as social media use allows individuals to express their ambitions and show their successes to a potentially large audience, and to obtain highly visible rewards and recognition through "likes" and positive comments from other social media users. Most contemporary studies refer to narcissism as a relatively broad behavioral trait domain, expressed by, among others, self-centered grandiosity, arrogance, manipulativeness, and similar features (Alarcón & Sarabia, 2012). However, the complexity of the narcissism construct needs highlighting."
The research process for this topic includes countless reports from different school administrators as well as mental health analysis. In conclusion , the only difficulty I have is trying to find statstics for a counter argument. Of course Social Media brings out dophamine , you get to connect with anyone over the world (friends,family...etc) . This also will be the downfall of it though. Security risks on ones whereabouts and the misuse of social media. In conclusion, there is no simple way to fix this problem. You can put a band aid on it ( Set a few more privacy features) but there is more serious issues that need to be addressed. . "Schedule regular breaks from social media. Research has found that taking several days off can lead to significant improvements in well-being, depression and anxiety. You can also cut back without going cold turkey: limiting yourself to using Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat just 10 minutes a day can result in less loneliness and depression."(Primary Care). You should know when to filter , block, report. By personalizing your settings you can make this a much safer place. Adjust your privacy settings on the site to your comfort level, and select options that limit who can view your information. Think about non-traditional social media as well, such as your public transactions on Venmo or music activity on Spotify. These site-specific security pages can help you get started.
Social media is known for over exposing beauty standards as well as lifestyle standards. We need to realize social media is a toxic escape and stop normalizing things that we know will negatively impact not only our future but the future children. My last piece of information that I want to provide is the actual definition of a social media paradox; "giving off the illusion of acceptance and validation, while detrimentally affecting one's self esteem in reality." and with that being said, let's all take a step back and look at the things that social media has highlighted or put on a pedestal that has slowly broken people down and changed them to what society thinks they should be."(Crossroads high school)Furthermore, the majority of social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter(X), and Facebook have the mandatory age to set up an account as thirteen . With or without the age restrictions, a lot of children would still be active on those apps. These apps' content is not always monitored and can affect children's well-being. In addition, the limited age restrictions and unrealistic standards of social media creates the potential of very harmful effects on anyone's mental health. We need to realize social media is a toxic escape and stop normalizing things that we know will negatively impact not only our future but the future children. My last piece of information that I want to provide is the actual definition of a social media paradox; "giving off the illusion of acceptance and validation, while detrimentally affecting one's self esteem in reality." and with that being said, let's all take a step back and look at the things that social media has highlighted or put on a pedestal that has slowly broken people down and changed them to what society thinks they should be."(Crossroads highschool)
There are not many different approaches one can come to the topic, Is Social Media a Negative Impact on Mental Health? On the other hand, there are also many different topics you can include that all go together. You can either say social media isn't impactful, which is going to be hard to show with statistics other than opinions. Even though some people say social media is bad, it can be helpful. It's great for connecting with friends and family all over the world, even if you don't see them much in person. Social media also helps people find groups of others who like the same things they do, so they can share ideas and create a community. It's also a great way to learn new stuff, get the news( which can be controversial) and see things from different points of view. If you're creative, you can share your art, music, or writing with lots of people and get feedback. And for grown-ups, social media can help them find jobs and grow their businesses. Sure, there are some bad things about social media, but it can also be a really positive force if we use it the right way. While that gives me the benefit because I can debunk any of them with the approach I am coming at which involves every reason why it will affect mental health, who, how and why. ." At its core, social media grants us the power to showcase a carefully curated version of ourselves. We meticulously select the best photos and only share the highlights of our lives. Moreover, we can tailor our online experiences by following and engaging with content that highlights our positive attributes. This can bring about a sense of belonging and affirmation, as we bask in the digital applause." ( Social Plug). At its core Social Media and other online platforms allow you to present a carefully curated version of ourselves which allows for the fake to be shown as real. Social Media then stems from mental health issues to being very addictive. Taking away from homework, hobbies, and hanging out with friends in real life. It is also easy for fake news and rumors to spread online, which can be harmful. Cyberbullying comes into play which can also be damaging to one's mental health and children who are on the app. Social media companies collect so much information about you, it makes some people worry about their privacy. Even though it can be tempting to spend all your time on social media, it's important to remember the bad stuff too.
Furthermore, the majority of social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook have the mandatory age to set up an account as thirteen . With or without the age restrictions, a lot of children would still be active on those apps. These apps' content is not always monitored and can affect children's well-being. Most social media apps require users to be at least 13 years old. But according to the U.S. Surgeon General, nearly 40% of children 8 to 12 years old and 95% of children 13 to 17 years old use social media apps .In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General released an advisory on how social media affects children and teenager's mental health. One scary statistic? Teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media anxiety. If your child is currently on social media or if they've been asking to join, it's important to talk to them about what social media is, what rules you have for it and how it doesn't always show an accurate picture of someone's life."(Cleveland Clinic). Another alarming stat? " Nearly 6 out of 10 teen girls say they've been contacted through social media platforms by a stranger in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable. "As a parent, it feels nearly impossible to be aware of and manage all of this. A good place to start is communicating with your children about these potential dangers, letting them know what to be aware of and caution them not to share any information with those they don't personally know," advises Dr. Eshleman."It's also important to work to create a safe space for communication, allowing children to come to parents should questions or concerns arise."(Cleveland clinic)
In addition, the limited age restrictions and unrealistic standards of social media creates the potential of very harmful effects on anyone's mental health. ."Social media heavily focuses on physical appearance. Many social media platforms - such as Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok - provide users with the option to use filters on an image. Filters can be great for a laugh, but the ability to easily alter physical appearance and hide imperfections can create false illusions. Constant exposure to altered images can also lead you to feel self-conscious and dislike the way you look."(cultivating health) . A systematic review found that the use of social networking sites is associated with an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and psychological distress (Keles, et al., 2020). The associations, though not by itself proof of causation, at least some reason for concern. Additionally, this association is particularly strong in adolescents compared to younger children (Twenge & Campbell, 2018). Moreover, in the United States, the 12-month prevalence of major depressive episodes among adolescents increased from 8.7% in 2005 to 11.3% in 2014 (Mojtabai, et al., 2016). The new media screen activities have been suggested as one of the causes of the increase in adolescent depression and suicide (Twenge, et al., 2017)." (Stanford LLM ). It is sad to see younger generations fall into this gray area of mental health issues that 100% are due to the more use of social media. Research indicates that personality plays a role in addictive use of social media (e.g., Andreassen et al., 2012, Andreassen et al., 2013, Hong et al., 2014, Wilson et al., 2010). The few studies exploring individual differences in terms of narcissism have found it to be positively associated to different online social networking activities (La Barbera et al., 2009, Malik and Khan, 2015, Ryan and Xenos, 2011, Wang et al., 2012). This appears to be meaningful as social media use allows individuals to express their ambitions and show their successes to a potentially large audience, and to obtain highly visible rewards and recognition through "likes" and positive comments from other social media users. Most contemporary studies refer to narcissism as a relatively broad behavioral trait domain, expressed by, among others, self-centered grandiosity, arrogance, manipulativeness, and similar features (Alarcón & Sarabia, 2012). However, the complexity of the narcissism construct needs highlighting."
The research process for this topic includes countless reports from different school administrators as well as mental health analysis. In conclusion , the only difficulty I have is trying to find statstics for a counter argument. Of course Social Media brings out dophamine , you get to connect with anyone over the world (friends,family...etc) . This also will be the downfall of it though. Security risks on ones whereabouts and the misuse of social media. In conclusion, there is no simple way to fix this problem. You can put a band aid on it ( Set a few more privacy features) but there is more serious issues that need to be addressed. . "Schedule regular breaks from social media. Research has found that taking several days off can lead to significant improvements in well-being, depression and anxiety. You can also cut back without going cold turkey: limiting yourself to using Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat just 10 minutes a day can result in less loneliness and depression."(Primary Care). You should know when to filter , block, report. By personalizing your settings you can make this a much safer place. Adjust your privacy settings on the site to your comfort level, and select options that limit who can view your information. Think about non-traditional social media as well, such as your public transactions on Venmo or music activity on Spotify. These site-specific security pages can help you get started.
