Growing up as a teenager in this age has many different aspects compared to the past generations. The reason of this is social media. There are now hunderds of platforms where people can communicate instantly, create content, follow news and express themselves. While media has many beneficial sides, it may also bring some challenging problems that affect teenagers mental health.
On the beneficial side, social media helps teenagers to connect and help them know what is going on around the world. It allows them to communicate with family and friend, who are long distance. Teens can also find communities where they feel understood if they feel left out in their school life or in their local environment. Social media also gives teenagers creativity with them creating photos, videos, writing or music. It can also be educational. It may be helpful for raising social awareness, learning new skills and find inspiration in any area.
Besides the positive sides, social media also has negative aspects. The biggest problem is pressure. Teenagers often compare themselves with what they see online which are unrealistic and edited images. This can lead to anxiety, lack of self confidence or body image issues. The need of likes and followers may give teens the thought that their worth depends on online approval. Moreover, spending too much time on social media can reduce face to face communication, make it harder to focus and affect sleep patterns.
In conclusion, social media is a powerful tool that strongly affects teenagers mental health because nowadays it plays a big role in our lives. It can connect, inspire educate but if it’s over used, it can harm them. The teenagers should learn how to use media responsibly.