November 9, 2021 | By anoushka

Impacts of Social Media on the Youth

The glamour and intrigue of social media and its many amenities often renders us blind to the impacts that social media really has on us. In recent years, social media has become the main form of communication for millions of children and teenagers around the world. One study done by Pew Research Center survey in 2018 found that out of nearly 750 individuals between the ages of 13 and 17 years old, 45% are online almost constantly and 97% use a social media platform, such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat. We have seen a huge shift towards the usage of social media sites as our main form of communication with one another. Of course, social media has numerous benefits to the younger age group such as allowing individuals to create their own online personalities, social network, gain access to educational sites, or simply find entertainment. However, there is a dark side to social media which it is important to be aware of. Social media allows for individuals to be exposed to various different kinds of content, some of which can indirectly impact someone’s mental health and cause lasting self-image issues. Not only can the content shown on social media impact teen’s view of themself but so can the users themselves. A study done in 2016 found that 33.8% of students between 12 and 17 were victims of cyberbullying in their lifetime. Cyberbullying, which is enabled by social media sites, can be detrimental to the mental health of those experiencing it. Being aware of the possible ways social media may impact your mental health is the first step to prevention of it.