For how many years we have been using Internet in our lives? Or Google? Or social media? To be exact, SixDegrees was launches in 1997 and since that day, so many of them has entered in daily life. As everything on this planet has both advantages and disadvantages, social media has, too, so much that we cannot continue to ignore both.
On one hand, the most outstanding pro of social media is endless connection. Both teenagers and elderly can stay in touch with friends, family, which is especially important for well developed countries. Social media also allows young people to express themselves creatively through photos, videos, writing, and art. Plenty of teenagers discover their talents, share their thoughts, and most importantly expand their horizons. In addition, juvenile can strengthen their linguistic side by following pages about foreign languages.
On the other hand, social media creates problems to such lengths that many juveniles have serious physical, furthermore mental issues. First complication of plenty is comparison. Seeing touched photos and so-called “perfect” lifestyles of influencers can have youngs feel insecure about their appearance and personality, which can harm self-esteem and lead to depression. Moreover, other serious problem is addiction. Spending most of the time online can lead to damaged circadian rhythm, serious health problems, reduced concentration, and unsuccessful real-life relationships. Many teenagers feel pressure to always be available, reply quickly, and keep up with trends.
On top of this topic, cyberbullying and age-inappropriate content are deeply traumatizing for underage children. Because of the hateful and judgmental comments made by users, they may develop a sense of not being enough and not fitting the standards. This situation can follow them until they rest their lives, because of their trauma, low self-esteem, and trust issues.
In conclusion, albeit previous platforms present their shiny sides, there are malicious things that cannot be ignored as well. For well-developed generations in future, teenagers must definitely be informed and educated about the dangers of it. They must know how to use social media platforms healthily and sensibly. To achieve this, certain measures can be taken, such as limiting their access until a certain age or certain contents. To give an example, the initial one is done by Australian government.