Every day, people all over the world use social media. Social media plays a big role in one’s emotional and mental issues. Social media can help you communicate and see what your friends are up to. Is it really that beneficial? Social media can create big issues for teenagers and there are harmful factors that come with the use of the internet. Social media posts can not only produce cyberbullying, but they can also create expectations of what one’s body image should look like. The use of social media leads to stress, depression, anxiety, and even loneliness.

Over 90% of teens are using social media each day. This affects the rise of teens causing hate or discrimination, and more and more teens are developing depression or other mental issues. Despite this, people use social media positively as well. Some people spread kind messages, motivational quotes, and provide information. Although social media provides good entertainment, you don’t want to get too sucked into it and scroll for hours. But, overall, social media is not as bad as you think. 

Why is social media so bad for teenagers? A teenager’s brain can get overstimulated by the excessive amount of time scrolling, which can lead to them becoming addicted. The brain acts as if it depends on social media to get pleasure. The brain wants to use social media as excitement or entertainment. Dopamine is a part of the brain’s habit of pleasure or motivation. It leads the brain to want to seek more information. 

How does the use of social media affect parents too? An article by Kathy Katella titled, “How Social Media Affects Your Teen’s Mental Health: A Parent’s Guide.” Advised that “Teens can easily access extreme, inappropriate, and harmful content.” This quote suggests teens don’t need to be exposed to this influence at this age. 

Katella also advises, “Parents feel pressured to allow it because they don’t want their children to feel left out.” Social media can affect not only teens but also their guardians too. Parents get so protective of their kids that they forget how to focus on their mental health. But, some allow their kids to have social media before middle school. 

Can social media impact one’s self-esteem? Those who constantly post on TikTok or Instagram can create big problems for themselves. Social media influences a kid’s self-esteem. It can be a very high or low self-esteem. Overly high self-esteem is when a person thinks too highly of themselves. Those with too high of self-esteem tend to put others down instead of bringing them up. Those who have poor self-esteem constantly compare themselves to others and even feel like they have very little control over their life. 

An article titled, “Does social media impact how you feel?” By writer, Sophia Auld. The article talks about how it has negative impacts on teen’s and young adult’s self-esteem. According to the writer, “While social media may help to cultivate friendships and reduce loneliness, evidence suggests that excessive use negatively impacts self-esteem and life satisfaction.” This provides the positive and negative effects of social media. 

Although social media harms mental health and influences bad things, it can also provide friendship bonds and positivity. The use of social media isn’t as bad as it may seem. But you do have to be careful with what you post and view.