Social media has an immense impact on our daily lives. Most teenagers have phones and 24/7 access to social media. According to an article written by statista.com in 2023, teenaged girls spend an average of 5.3 hours on TikTok, while teenaged boys spend 4.4 hours, for teens ages 13 to 19. The most used platform for girls was TikTok and the most used platform for boys was YouTube.
Mental health is an essential aspect of a teenager’s life. An article written by theelitex.com states that, “Excessive amounts of social media has been linked to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, [particularly in young girls] social media can also contribute to feelings of isolation and loneliness.” Low self-confidence can lead to overthinking and extreme loneliness, especially among young people.
Teenagers have so much life to live and self-confidence is extremely important to have. The better you feel about yourself, the more prepared you are for the things to come. Bullying and cyberbullying are common in the world today. An article by annapolis.gov claims that, “Nearly 42% of kids have been bullied online and almost one in four have had it happen more than once,” and “the reality that with cyber bullying there is often no escape. School ends at 3 p.m., while the Internet is available all the time.”
Girls, specifically, are a main target for cyber-bullies. Annapolis.gov states, “Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyberbullying.” Due to the societal beauty standards of today’s world, it is easy for young girls to compare themselves and fall victim to online bullying. “Many users, particularly young people, compare themselves to the carefully curated images they see on social media and may feel inadequate as a result.” Comparison can lead to depression, low self-esteem, and even suicidal thoughts in some cases.
When Meghan Lockman, a junior at Roxbury High School, was asked about the negative effects of social media, replied “There are many unrealistic expectations on social media, people see things that are fake,” and “I’ve seen people lose sense of reality and only care about what they see online.” It is very common for teens to primarily focus on what they see on social media rather than the real life in front of them. Living in an online trance can cause teens to lose focus on their friends, family, and goals.
“I witnessed one of my friends get cyber-bullied in middle school, guidance counselors got involved it became a very big issue,” said Joe Fomchenko, a junior at Roxbury High School. An article by stopbullying.gov argues “Because teachers and parents may not overhear or see cyberbullying taking place, it is harder to recognize.” This shows that cyberbullying can sometimes go unseen. Often, for children and teens, the only option is to come to a trusted adult.
It is rare for teens to feel fully comfortable to share their struggles. They may not feel secure enough to open up. Teens may fear feeling judgment or disappointment. This is why teens need to build a social life beyond just living online. Social media should not be used as an escape from real-world issues. Engaging in face-to-face interactions is crucial for everyone’s emotional well-being.
