Social Media In Today's Society

The World Wide Web has only been around since the early 90s, but the use of the internet for social purposes is clearly seen in today’s society. It has allowed for quicker communication and instant satisfaction for users. As its popularity has gone up, so has the amount of social media apps available. Users have plenty of options to connect with one another, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and plenty others, and these apps have allowed for people to find different outlets for their stress, beliefs, and other aspects of their lives. Teenagers have been a main user of this type of technology because they were born into a world that relies heavily on phones, computers, and televisions; however, many claim that it is detrimental

With a lack of stability in their lives, teenagers could easily allow their “anxiety [to] lead to more social media use” in order to find a way to release stress from their day (Source A). Social media is a distraction from reality, so teenagers have the ability to use it as an escape from their hectic lives. Additionally, teenagers are living in a crucial stage in their life where their parents begin to rely on them more, while they also are working harder than ever in school in order to guarantee a future in college. The “academic pressures or economic concerns” teens have been burdened with could also lead them to use social media as a break from these stressors (Source A). These outside influences are at the root of the cause for the harm being done to teenagers both emotionally and physically; social media just provides a space for them to discuss these issues with other people their

Seventy-six percent of teens claimed to listen to music while doing their homework (Source B). Many of the songs teenagers listen to have degrading lyrics or promote unlawful activities, which could lead to more anxiety about their role and expectations in society. Tabloids and other media platforms depict picture-perfect models for both males and females, and that is exactly what they are: picture-perfect. Teens often immediately jump to comparing themselves to the models, actors, and actresses on television or magazines; however, many fail to realize that hours of wardrobe preparations, make-up, and Photoshop went into each model’s image. This misrepresentation of the ideal body leads teens to harmful practices like body dysmorphic disorder or eating disorders in hopes of getting the perfect figure or muscle tone. Only forty-eight percent of millennials agree or strongly agree that they worry about the negative effects of social media on their physical or mental well-being (Source G). This is less than half of the total millennial population interviewed, which further proves that social media is not having as negative of an effect on teens as many claim it is having. Both the music they listen to and media they are exposed to lead teens to having physical and/or mental health problems; however, none of these issues are a result of social media