Introduction
Social media has become an indispensable component of contemporary life. Although social media has made it simpler to stay in touch with friends and family, there is rising concern about their influence on young people’s mental health (Sadagheyani & Tatari, 2021). The debate over whether social media induces mental conditions or only activates existing aberrations continues, with some scholars claiming that social media is a key source of psychological illnesses and others arguing that it is mainly a trigger (Swart & Arntfield, 2018; Ardi et al., 2018).
This second viewpoint recognizes that there can be underlying problems that are unrelated to social media use, such as poor relationships with parents and friends, traumatizing experiences in the past, heredity, or environmental variables. An example would be the development of mental health issues due to traumatic events, including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence or catastrophes, which can result in the onset of PTSD, depression, or anxiety disorders. Over time, social media remains one of the leading causes of mental disorders development, even though it is often considered just a trigger to the existing deviation.
Social Media Can Lead to Addiction
Teenagers who use social media excessively may develop an addiction. It is common knowledge that social media platforms are curated to keep users hooked and compelled to return for more. Specifically for teens who are still establishing their sense of self, these platforms foster a sense of validation and approval that may become addicting.
Social media enables users to project a specific picture onto the world and promotes an environment of comparison. Networks dictate how people present themselves to be successful, likable, and admired (Glazzard & Mitchell, 2018). This pressure to project the ideal image may result in harmful behavior and a preoccupation with looks.
The pressures of social media disproportionately affect teenagers. As their identity is still forming, they frequently look to their peers for approval. Social media may become a constant source of affirmation, which can be addicting. Teens may get fixated on their appearance and spend hours refining their social media profiles. Furthermore, they could develop a behavior obsession, continually striving to project the ideal image to others. This can lead to a loss of authenticity and a lack of real connection with others.
The episode of Black Mirror titled Nosedive perfectly illustrates the dangers of social media addiction. The protagonists in the episode reside in a society where people are rated according to their interactions with others and social media to determine their social standing. The activity can take various forms, including riding in the same elevator, exchanging greetings, making purchases, striking deals, conversing, and more (Abi-Jaoude et al., 2020). Everyone can see one other’s ratings and observe the behaviors that led to a particular rating, making the rating process transparent (Swart & Arntfield, 2018). The characters develop an obsession with their rating and will go to any lengths to increase it, even if it means losing their authenticity.
The case of Nosedive demonstrates how social media may foster a toxic fixation with looks and behavior. In the episode, the protagonists become hooked on the affirmation they receive from their ranking and are ready to compromise their genuineness to increase it. This is a perfect example of how social media can lead to addictive behavior and the risks of continuously seeking approval through social networking sites.
Replacement Of Genuine Relationships with Virtual Ones
The capacity to communicate with others online has resulted in substituting actual connections with virtual ones, leading to a lack of face-to-face communication skills. Teenagers may easily become engrossed in social networks, where they can have multiple contacts online and forget how to start a real-life conversation. On a subconscious level, teens who overuse the internet acquire a fear of speaking to real people (Ardi et al., 2018). Adolescents are becoming increasingly conscious that logging onto a social network and sending a message to an online stranger is far simpler than offline socializing, necessitating regular meetings and time-intensive conversations.
One can consider the case of 14-year-old Lea to understand this point. Lea acquired a phone as a present from her parents and created social media profiles to meet new people online (Latifa, 2021). After several months of using her gadget, her parents realized that she was becoming increasingly isolated from real friends and relatives, and she even expressed a wish to commit suicide. In Lea’s case, excessive social media use may have exposed her to cyberbullying and online abuse, leading to suicide ideation (Naslund et al., 2020). This case illustrates how social media can negatively affect young people’s mental health and social relationships, exposing them to criticism from others and feeling alienated.
Lea’s predicament shows how young people are susceptible to online influences. Social media can drive people to compare themselves to others and develop a skewed sense of reality, increasing worry, despair, and poor self-esteem. In Lea’s case, virtual connections replaced the importance of real ones, and she felt misunderstood by everyone around her, contributing to her wish to commit suicide.
Nonetheless, several educational institutions and educators post helpful resources like online tutorials, study materials, and practice exams on the internet, which students can access. Similarly, students can interact with other students through social media, work together on group projects, and share feedback and ideas. Moreover, plenty of instructional information is available on YouTube, Facebook pages, and groups (Abi-Jaoude et al., 2020). Teens can also improve their social skills by interacting with classmates on social media platforms like Snapchat or Instagram.
Additionally, social media can help young people stay in touch with the most recent developments in academic research and trends. Several academics and researchers use social media to interact with their colleagues, share their research, and discuss them. In short, while social media may distract students, it can also provide relevant material to improve their academic performance. Students may access a plethora of material that can deepen their understanding of various subjects and issues by following relevant sites and people online.
Social Media Impacts Academic Performance
Social media substantially influences academic performance, which might result in suspension or dropout. Students who spend too much time on social networking sites frequently fail to remember the content taught in class. Social media platforms like YouTube and TikTok are highly addictive, and teenagers can easily become distracted from their studies. Many adolescents spend their leisure time online rather than participating in educational activities or sports (Glazzard & Mitchell, 2018). Their lack of intellectual and physical development significantly impacts their capacity to acquire and digest new information.
According to research by Abi-Jaoude et al. (2020), adolescents often use Wikipedia to prepare for lectures. This method demonstrates a lack of interest and limited study of classroom work, which can be detrimental to their long-term academic achievement. This lack of focus and interest in academics can be related to the excessive use of social media networks (Abi-Jaoude et al., 2020). Students would rather watch TV shows or play online games than study a topic extensively.
As an illustration, a high school student who spends a lot of time at night on social networking sites can have trouble sleeping, and their daily routine may be disrupted. This may increase mental tiredness, making focusing in class and understanding new content challenging. Students may lose interest in their studies and turn to shallow research on sites like Wikipedia, resulting in poor academic achievement. The student can be suspended or even expelled from school in rare circumstances.
Social Media Limit One’s Worldview
One’s viewpoint and worldview may be restricted if one spends too much time on social networking sites. According to Cinelli et al. (2021), users favor material supporting their opinions and join groups created around a standard narrative. This is known as an echo chamber, which is a setting where users’ opinions, political inclinations, or beliefs about a subject are repeatedly reinforced by contacts with others or sources that share such tendencies and attitudes (Cinelli et al., 2021). This may result in a lack of exposure to varied viewpoints, hence polarization and the propagation of disinformation.
The assertion is questionable, though, as social media may also give users access to informative materials that can expand their minds. For instance, sites like TikTok include instructional content that may be utilized as a source of knowledge to widen one’s perspective (Solomon, 2021). Similarly, social media platforms enable users to communicate with others who speak various languages (Siddig, 2020). This exposure to diverse languages can help users learn new words and phrases and gain a better knowledge of various cultures. Ultimately, the impact of social media on young people is a complicated and multifaceted problem that requires further research.
Conclusion
The prevalence of mental health disorders among teens cannot exclusively be attributed to social media, although it can function as a catalyst for underlying problems. Thus, it is critical to be aware of the influence of social media usage on adolescent mental health and to avoid excessive use. To mitigate the detrimental influence of social media on mental health, parents, guardians, and society must take collective action by supporting healthy social interactions and developing genuine relationships.
References
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