Pew Research Center<\/em><\/a>, about 95% of U.S. teens use social media on a daily basis. At least 1 in 5 say that social media affects their mental health negatively. Do these statistics bear out at our school? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe younger generation is definitely affected by social media,\u201d said senior Magnolia Walker. \u201cThey’ve had it their whole lives, and they are influenced by it. For example, they try to dress the same because they see it online, and it’s interesting\u2013not necessarily in a good or bad way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Senior Grace Thomas was less neutral. \u201cSocial media tends to distract me from homework and such. I end up getting stuck in the loop of scrolling for hours, completely forgetting to do my homework.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cIn some ways, social media has helped me grow friendships and meet with people. But it also can make you feel disconnected from people, making you feel like you’re not enough,\u201d said Walker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cI think the negative impact of social media is the fact that people of all ages have access to it,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cIt allows predators to have easier access to minors and their private information, also giving them an easy way to message them directly. A positive effect of social media is how it allows people to be expressive and share their ideas to a mass audience without having to spend too much time, money or effort to get those ideas shared.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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What about false information or detachment from actual reality? How is that affecting our students?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSocial media’s negative impacts are that it can produce false information, leading you to be influenced by false advertisements,\u201d said junior Byrianna Jason, \u201cand social media distracts you from what’s going on in reality.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Distraction from schoolwork to the point of detachment from reality is obviously going to be detrimental to academic success. But not all feedback was neutral or negative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cSocial media helps you have more social interaction with people you’re unfamiliar with, and it helps teens to build their confidence up,\u201d junior Chidera Ajoku said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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We\u2019ve seen a range of reactions from teens. So, how do adults view the extent to which teens use social media? Adults have a very different norm, as they did not grow up using social media and had to adapt to it in their later years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cI think kids need to talk to each other, go outside, and think for themselves more,\u201d Willow teacher and parent Ms. Crockett said. \u201cI think social media usage should be very tightly regulated like the addicting force that it is designed to be. I don\u2019t even like screens, and I find myself going down a rabbit hole looking at junk online, wasting my time, making myself depressed. I can\u2019t imagine if I actually liked staring at a screen how much time I\u2019d waste and how icky my eyes and brain would feel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not all adults see it as negatively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cSocial media can be a valuable tool if used wisely,\u201d Willow parent Brayanne Ford said. \u201cI would encourage students to limit screen time, practice online safety, and focus on using it for learning, networking, and positive connections rather than comparison or negativity.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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