Social media is infamous for contributing to teens’ and young adults’ mental health issues.
Over the years social media has grown in popularity, with new platforms and trends.
Social media, especially TikTok, has such a wide range of users from kids to older adults.
Especially as a teenage girl, it’s hard not to compare yourself to what you see online: airbrushed images and edited videos to look perfect.
“Using social media to compare yourself to others is extremely harmful. It is important to remember that social media is a highlight reel,” said Nardella. “You see the best of everyone in edited photos. It is easy to feel like you don’t measure up when all you see are the edits. Behind the smiling faces where it looks like everyone is having the time of their lives, it is easy to forget that.”
Social media gets rid of reality and it’s hard to guarantee what you’re seeing on social media is real all the time. It makes us forget that we are human and can’t fix our imperfections.
Along with comparison, cyberbullying is also something that affects a lot of social media users.
Cyberbullying has taken power because these bullies are simply talking to someone through a screen. They can’t see emotions and can easily forget that they are talking to actual humans.
Cyberbullying can also be an outlet for people who are getting bullied themselves. They need to take their anger out on someone else, so they result in bullying people they don’t know.
“The reasons it can be bad are online bullying, or saying things or commenting to people using social media that you would never say to the person’s face,” said Nardella.
While there are some negatives associated with social media, it can also bring people together, if used in the correct way. Users can control what they post on social media and how they engage with other users.
Jennifer Scott, a counselor at Mount Pisgah, uses social media to connect her with her family.
“[Social media] connects people, for example I’m connected with cousins of mine in California. I had some cousins who lost their homes in fires and being able to keep up with them, see what’s going on, support them through social media,” said Scott. “I wouldn’t be able to do that any other way.”
