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Alondra M. Salgado

Ms. Figueroa

Senior English 1

28 October 2018

Why Teenagers Should Reduce Social Media Use

More than half of teenagers have some sort of addiction to social media in the United

States. Ever since the internet came to be five decades ago, it has shaped and the way society is

today in the 21st century; especially among teenagers. The way adolescents are today, are very

different to the ones from 50 years ago, and that is all due to public networking. They would

rather have their eyes glued to a screen for continuous hours a day, instead of having a face-to-

face conversation with other peers of their age; causing isolation. This unhealthy habit that

sparks at an early age, creates several permanent complications that will follow many throughout

their whole lives. Beginning in the early 1970s, surfing the internet became the new trend;

alongside social media in the following years. Platforms such as MySpace and chat rooms were

places where millennials got to explore themselves and others through multimedia. By the year

of 2012, social media reached its peak. Popular websites, such as Facebook, Snapchat,

Instagram, and others of common use had taken over the nation. Today, it’s uncommon to spot a

teenager without a cellular device at the palm of their hand.

Although, having social media access is not necessarily a bad thing; only the person

behind the screen can give it that negative connotation. At the hands of the right person, social

media can be used to simplify and better the lives for countless of citizens. It gives adolescents a

positive support system, and is an effortless way to access information. Despite that, I believe

that this issue will only worsen over time as electronic devices and media outlets become more
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popular and advanced every year. The negative impact that this issue is applying is caused by

parents, because they are the ones handing the tools to their children. Parents born in the rising

age of social media in particular, should be more aware of the effects that come alongside buying

electronic devices for their children. Poor use of these devices will negatively influence many

generations to come. The government should provide required information for new parents to

educate themselves on before raising and planning to have children. Teenagers should limit their

use in social media because it triggers mental health issues, becomes easily addictive, and

negatively induces decision-making.

Interactive multimedia is one of the biggest factors that influence young adults and their

mental stability. Differentiating between reality and an artificial social life, causes teenagers to

feel unsatisfied with their environment. “Spending too long on social networking sites could be

adversely affecting your mood. In fact, you’re more likely to report poor mental health, including

symptoms of anxiety and depression” (Anya Zhukova). The main principal that comes with

social media usage is the comparisons that young adults are making between themselves and

others on the same platforms. Online predators are all over the media, and many teenagers

become victims on a regular basis: “While social media made making friends easier, it also made

it easier for predators to find victims. The anonymity that social networks provide can be used by

the perpetrators to gain people’s trust and then terrorize them in front of their peers. These online

attacks often leave deep mental scars and even drive people to suicide in some cases. You’ll be

surprised to find out that cyberbullying isn’t just affecting kids, but also full grown adults” (Anya

Zhukova). Not only can these dangerous people oppress others behind a screen, but they can also

pretend to be someone they are not to in order to do harmful acts beyond than just bullying, such

as catfishing (a person pretending to be someone they are not) and getting private information
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out of others. Without so much media interrupting the state of minds of young adults, it would

not provoke mental illnesses that emotionally damage young adults for the rest of their lives.

Social media has everyone on their toes; the fear of missing out (also known as FOMO)

causes teenagers to constantly check their phones and get distracted by them. Numerous of

studies show that priorities are being pushed aside in order for this group of people to spend

more time on social media. An author explains how electronic devices take a toll in the human

brain when it comes to putting morals first. “Grey matter areas of the brain are the parts where

processing occurs. They are the sites of the brain where planning, prioritizing, organizing, and

impulse control happen - basically, they’re the parts of the brain that enable us to get things

done. If these areas atrophy, they shrink and become impaired, which is kind of a big deal”

(Ryleigh Nucilli). This addiction (caused by endorphins), can biologically damage the ways

humans project on a day-to-day basis. Extended hours spent online can permanently damage

posture, interrupt a proper sleep schedule, and become a distraction in a school and working

environment (even from homework). “Next time you’re standing and scrolling through your

smart phone, do a quick posture scan of your body. Odds are, your ribcage is depressed, your

shoulders are rounded and internally rotated, and your head is forward with your eyes cast down

at your phone. In and of itself, standing like this for a short period of time probably doesn’t lead

to long-term damage. But the thing is, we social media users stand like this A LOT and OFTEN.

And the bad posture we adopt for better Facebook app scrolling can lead to problems in our

lumbar spine; lower back pain; neck, shoulder, and upper back problems; and shallow breathing”

(Nucilli). These physical changes can lead to health problems and an unwanted appearance.

Further into their lives, these illnesses will cause them to spend more money to support their

health.
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Popular multi-media influencers and celebrities glamorize negative decision-making

through music, posts, and provocative behavior. Many young adults do not have moral support

and a parent figure to guide them from right and wrong, so they go off what they see in their

screens: “According to the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine study, “hypertexters” are

young people who send 120 or more text messages per school day. And hypertexters, who are

also more embedded in the world of social media are far more likely to participate in illicit

and/or detrimental health behaviors. For example, hypertexters are “41 percent more likely to

have tried illicit drugs” than their non-hypertexting peers, and they are “43 percent more likely to

be binge drinkers.” And these are just a few of the unhealthy behaviors tested in the study”

(Ryleigh Nucilli, 11 Ways Social Media Is Ruining Your Physical and Mental Health). For

example, an artist can brag about skipping class in their latest song, which can influence students

to skip class as well, and do beyond just that. These poor choices attract crime without one even

being aware of it (such as smoking and underage drinking). “People have taken to social media

to brag about their illegal activities and even narrate them. CBS has an interesting list of crimes

that involved social media. Take New Jersey resident Sam Moeller as an example. Before

illegally sneaking into a music festival without a ticket, he posted what he thought was an

informational “how to” video, describing how he broke in. The video, of course, led to his arrest”

(Guisti). The desire for attention and popularity can lead to dangerous situations. There have

been videos of people pulling unsafe pranks in public, and students video recording fights to post

them online, to only later face the consequences. The extent that a young person will go through

for new followers and a couple of retweets is irrational.

Despite all of the ways that people have been abusing social media, many would say that

some people actually put it to good use. Teenagers that are likely to feel isolated, different than
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the people around them, or are unable to confine in others about their feelings, usually take to

social media to express their emotions: “Years ago, if teens were interested in a quirky subject or

they were grappling with who they were as a person, they often felt marginalized and alone,

especially if there were no others like them in their communities or at school. However, with the

birth of the online world, teens are now able to connect with others that share similar interests,

desires, and concerns. In return, this connection helps them feel validated and secure in who they

are” (Sherri Gordon). The feeling of acceptance and belonging somewhere is a key to happiness

for young adults. Not only can teenagers use multiple platforms to seek comfort, but they can

also utilize it to obtain positive recognition for something that they are passionate about. “What's

more, when done correctly building a platform on social media can open a lot of doors for teens

and help them build a positive online reputation. It can expose them to college scholarships,

college networks, and even a future career. And when parents encourage this type of online

activity, it changes their teen's perspective of social media. No longer do they see social media as

just a place to post silly pictures or to observe digital drama. It becomes a tool they can use to

share their passions and eventually find a career path” (Gordon). Teenagers can benefit and get

good things out incorporating social media platforms into their everyday life. They can gain

recognition from big organizations, receive scholarship opportunities, and find what they want to

do in the future by realizing their passions.

Getting information is easier than it was a century ago through the internet. One does not

have to walk miles for information, or wait to hear it from someone else, they can just easily

access an electronic device to better their knowledge on anything they desire: “It has become

very easy to get knowledge from renowned experts and professionals through the social media.

You can easily follow anyone to boost your knowledge. Regardless of your educational
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background, you can learn various skills without paying for them” (Varun Sharma). Education

and keeping up with the current events of the world is now more attainable and easier than ever.

Not only can teenagers expand their knowledge, but they can better the knowledge of others as

well by sharing and advocating positive and essential information in social media apps:

“Whether they are making YouTube videos or developing Twitter campaigns, teens have more

impact in the world around them than ever before simply because of social media. Moreover,

their voices are being heard more frequently. Finally, social media exposes kids to important

issues all over the world not just those in their communities. As a result, they realize that social

media is a way for them to help and support people despite being so far away. They can

instantaneously make an impact on things like hunger in Africa, preserving the rainforest or

providing educational tools for kids without resources” (Gordon). Being linked and able to share

important information, whether it’s about who to vote for at the next presidential campaign, or

getting information on how to put an end to world hunger; it all comes to the benefit of rising

teenagers.

However, teenagers do not need the internet to learn about themselves, they can read

literature and explore their environment. Seeking solace in others and venting can be done within

one’s environment. It is more important to reach out to close family members and loved ones

instead of strangers on social networking sites, who could potentially be dangerous people.

Before the internet came to be, no one ever viewed social media as a necessity in order to

survive, and now it is considered something essential like food and shelter. Young people should

learn how to struggle like past generations did to gain information and grow as individuals,

instead of having everything handed to them and getting into idle habits.
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Social media is not something that should be involved in a teens every-day-life, because

it is likely to report in mental health difficulties like depression and eating disorders, is more

addictive than drugs and alcohol combined, and is intoxicating the minds of young adults with

misdeeds. Teenagers need to cut the time they spend on social media because it is a large factor

that plays into their mood and feelings. Without it, they are less stressed and learn to have more

self-love, because they are not constantly comparing themselves to others and being put down.

Teenagers jump when they feel their phone vibrating in the back of their pockets, and check it in

an instant. It is a distraction, and can waste valuable time to do something useful rather than

posting a mindless tweet or Instagram selfie. Without having their parents around (due to school

and work), teenagers are easily influenced by their surroundings and negligent people who post

things about crime, drugs, and poor decision-making. This leads to teenagers normalizing those

unacceptable habits, instead of thinking lowly of them. Guardians are the ones who have full

control over this issue. They are not educated enough before bringing an electronic device into

their home. The government should be more involved with this matter, and help guide parents

before letting their children dig a hole for themselves in the future. This solution will help mold

the mindsets of the people who will lead the country in the future.
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Works Cited

Zhukova, Anya. “7 Negative Effects of Social Media on People and Users.” MakeUseOf, 16 May

2018, www.makeuseof.com/tag/negative-effects-social-media/.

Nucilli, Ryleigh. “Overuse of Social Media Is Making You More Susceptible To These

Diseases.” Ranker, www.ranker.com/list/how-social-media-ruins-your-health/rylee_en.

Guisti, Michael. “Is Social Media Making Crimes Worse?” Law Office of Michael L. Guisti,

2018, www.topcalifornialawyer.com/blog/criminal-defense/social-media-making-crimes-
worse/.

Gordon, Sherri. “Surprising Ways Your Teen Benefits From Social Media.” Verywell Family, 6

July 2018, www.verywellfamily.com/benefits-of-social-media-4067431.

Sharma, Varun. “7 Ways That Social Media Is Affecting Us Positively.” Curatti, 13 Feb. 2018,

curatti.com/social-media-positive-effects/.

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