When I wake up in the morning, the first thing I do is check my phone. I do this, not only because my alarm is going off and blaring the Game of Thrones theme song throughout my house, but because I need to check my phone and see what I missed while I was sleeping. First, I check my texts and missed calls (although, who makes phone calls nowadays?) I will then check my Instagram, Facebook, and any other social media accounts that I may deem necessary. Before I know it, an hour has gone by and I realize I have been sucked into a social media vortex. I do this when I get out of class, meetings, movies or any other place that I am not able to check my phone. When I finally do get on social media, I sometimes wish I had avoided doing so. Social media is filled with people having more fun, wearing more expensive clothing, and traveling to places that I will never have the financial means to visit. I have a love/hate relationship with social media – I want to avoid it, but the fear of missing out is real.
This seems to be a common practice for many, especially teens and young adults. In an article
written by Riley Griffin (2015) the Pew Research center found that social media usage has
increased nationally by almost 1000 percent in eight years for people between 18 and 29 (par. 10). Not only is social media and technology a frequent way for young adults to distract themselves, but it can also come with anxiety inducing consequences.The effects of comparing themselves to others can put a huge toll on ones self-esteem. Crone & Konijn (2018) state that "adolescent girls often share pictures and comment on the “ideal” degree of slimness of the models they see via media when deciding how a ‘normal’ body should actually look" (p. 5). The addiction factor of technology is problematic as well. Walking around any public place and you can notice that everyone is glued to their phones, barely looking at the world around them. Compulsive phone use could be a contributing factor to anxiety, as could the withdrawal symptoms when people aren’t able to access their social media accounts. Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic (2019) points out the correlation between social media and addiction in that “the characteristics of pathological internet use are very similar to the ones listed for ‘Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders’" (par. 13). Adolescence also have to do with cyber-bullying from so-called "Keyboard Warriors" Below is a wonderful resource of the top 10 forms of cyber-bullying with tips on how to protect your children from it.
While there some negative effects of technology and social media on adolescents, there are some positives that come from it as well. Social media is a great way to communicate and interact with others, save memories in photo or video form, and learn new hobbies or "life hacks". Some believe that social media helps them to feel more outgoing and can positively influence their relationships. In an article by Kelly Wallace (2014), a study was performed and found more than 50% of teens stated that using social media has made their relationships with friends better (par. 11). Using social media can also help adolescents and teens feel less shy and more outgoing than they would making friends in person. Teens may use social media as an outlet to find a good support system when they don't feel they belong at school, in their families or in social circles.
Whether you feel that social media is good or bad for adolescents, the fact remains that it has a large impact on the development and social aspect of their lives. Schools should limit device usage and not introduce technology to students until they are a bit older and only for certain activities. I may be aging myself here, but when I was in school we had "computer lab time" and it was for an hour or so a week. Although computers at schools are great, blocking social media sites would be a good idea, as well as collecting phones at the beginning of classes so that students can only use them on their breaks. Our educational system should do more to spread information about the effects of technology and social media on young minds. It is crucial in helping to get people off of their technological devices and out in the real world!
References:
Crone, E., A., & Konijn, E. A. (2018) Media use and brain development during adolescence. Nature Communications, 9. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03126-x
Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic. (2019, August 8). The good, bad, and in-between of Social Media. Hackensack Meridian Health Carrier Clinic. Retrieved October 17, 2021, from https://carrierclinic.org/2019/08/08/the-good-bad-and-in-between-of-social-media/.
Wallace, K. (2014, October 7). The upside of selfies: Social media isn’t all bad for kids. CNN.com. Retrieved October 17, 2021, from https://www.cnn.com/2013/11/21/living/social-media-positives-teens-parents/index.html.