Throughout many years, social media has been a cesspool of ideas, creations, news, and bringing people together. While many positive things come from social media platforms, it can also be a negative and scary place.
Almost everyone you know uses social media for entertainment and as a pastime. While it can be a good place to interact with others and see each other’s thoughts, videos, and photos it can also have a lot of downsides to it like cyber-bullying, blackmailing, and social isolation. Experiencing harmful effects like these can be damaging to many children who use any form of social media.
Positive Effects of Social Media
Social media has many positive effects throughout the use of it. According to the National Institutes of Health, which did a survey on both the negative and positive impacts of social media use, they state, “A majority of adolescents say that social media helps them feel more accepted (58%), like they have people who can support them through tough times (67%), like they have a place to show their creative side (71%), and more connected to what’s going on in their friends’ lives (80%).” At times, it can improve mental health by providing supporting communities that help advocate mental health, sexual identities, and social support. It can help build a connection among peers.
Negative Effects of Social Media
While there can be many positive aspects of social media, it can also be a very misleading place. Many teens can be easily influenced by fake news. They can also experience cyber-bullying by people they don’t know or even their peers. It can cause anxiety, depression, and other health challenges that can be harmful. In some ways, it can distract teens from accomplishing schoolwork and disrupt their sleep schedules. According to Pew Research Center, “About two-thirds of Americans (64%) say that social media has a mostly negative effect on the way things are going in the country today.”
How Can You Be Safe on Social Media?
Although a lot can happen on social media you can still be safe and cautious of reducing screen time, watching what you post, or limiting views and comments. Doing these things can help reduce stress and anxiety in teens.
