Social Media's Effects on Teen Mental Health: An Analysis

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CVR College of Engineering *

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101G

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Sociology

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Nov 24, 2024

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CRITICAL ANALYSIS 1 CRITICAL ANALYSIS Student Name Course Number and Name Institution Name Instructor Name Date of Submission

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 2 The Question We’ve Stopped Asking About Teenagers and social media Academic research into the effects of digital technology on teenagers' mental health is a rapidly expanding field in response to rising concerns about the psychological effects of excessive adolescent screen time. Despite research emphasizing the need to differentiate between different kinds of digital technology consumption, many studies ignore this nuance. Irrespective of these caveats, there is a negative but minor correlation between digital technology usage, or social media use in particular, and mental well-being. Because impacts have been discovered to occur in both directions, and according to a study conducted to control potential confounders, the trajectory of the connection between digital technology and happiness remains elusive. In an article for The New Yorker, Carl Newport questions whether or not young people should have access to social media. In this piece, I explain why he is not referring to the "social internet" in his article titled “The Question We’ve Stopped Asking About Teen-Agers and social media Should they be using these services at all?” The global community has been profoundly affected by the rapid development of technology. The rise in popularity of social media is both a product of and a reaction to the rise of the internet. In general, social networking is an extremely important part of people's lives, and social media plays an even larger role in this. One of the most contentious issues surrounding social media is whether or not it is helping people learn how to communicate better (Orben, 2020). Social media is more than just a medium of communication; it has far- reaching consequences. Though it may have unintended consequences for one's interpersonal abilities, the very act of sitting in front of a computer or holding a smartphone and being able to connect with friends, acquaintances, and even outsiders across boundaries has far-reaching effects. One of the most important things you can do to get the most of social media is to educate yourself on how the platform itself functions, as well as the evolving habits and

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 3 patterns of other users. The anonymity afforded by the internet is being used to foster bullying, which has had varying effects on people who use various social media platforms. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable since they spend so much time on social media. Negative effects, such as depression, have been linked to excessive usage of social media. The control that parents have over their children's access to social media is a hotly contested topic, and that is precisely the contention of Newport in his article published in the New Yorker. I totally agree with the views of Newport in relation to the control that parents should have on their children’s usage of social media platforms. I strongly opine that parents should have the power to force their adolescent children to utilize social media, as these kids sometimes lose all sense of morality as they scroll through their feeds for hours on end. Their social lives and interactions with others are altered as a result of their excessive use of social media. In most cases, addiction to social media is completely new. Therefore, adolescents usually enter this deadly trap of addiction without realizing the consequences. The repercussions begin to show up in a variety of ways, including a lack of focus, disconnection from reality, and, in extreme cases, depression. Teenagers should be given the freedom to develop normally, learning about and exploring the world to the greatest extent possible. Furthermore, the friends they make on social media are the primary source of social media's empowering effect on these adolescents. Even then, as Newport points out, there is evidence to suggest that these adolescents may suffer detrimental consequences from excessive social media use. He refers to several news articles published in leading publications like the Globe and Washington Post to name a few, which have highlighted the detrimental effects of social media platforms like Instagram and likes (Newport, 2021). Parents can help their adolescent children learn to live together peacefully by first being their friends. In fact, parents who remain in contact with their

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CRITICAL ANALYSIS 4 teenagers are better able to keep tabs on any changes taking place in their life and to address any problems as they crop up. Therefore, parents can protect their teens from the harmful effects of social media by imposing usage restrictions. Second, parents should restrict their adolescent children's time spent on social media to keep them from being depressed or anxious. Due to their dependence on social media, these young people experience feelings of alienation and avoidance. Studies show that depressed teens often use social media to avoid dealing with their problems. However, the unfortunate reality is that the moment people log off social media, they are led to greater despair because the challenges remain on their consign. This can exacerbate depression. It is true that social media has turned the world into a smaller place, and there are many benefits to this. People all throughout the world have benefited from the information shared on social media. Even though the enormous social platform is open to abuse, teenagers enjoy using it. Problems arise, however, when one considers the rising incidences of anxiety and sadness that have been linked to prolonged exposure to social media. It's a proven fact that the unrealistic expectations fostered by social media contribute to low self-esteem. Teens' happiness can be affected by their social media metrics, including the number of peers they have, the frequency with which their posts are liked and commented on, and the volume of shares and mentions they receive. These factors have a snowball effect on a person's mental health, elevating anxiety, and despair in extreme circumstances (Orben, 2020). Therefore, parents should take the lead in limiting the time that their children spend on social media in order to avoid these kinds of occurrences and encourage their children to develop positive relationships with others. In conclusion, it becomes clear from Newport’s article that the impulsive character of teenagers makes them more vulnerable to revealing private information about themselves when using social media. This can lead to teen victimization by means of bullying,

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 5 harassment, or even blackmail. Teenagers frequently make posts without giving any thought to these potential repercussions or privacy concerns. It is important to keep in mind that attempting to solve problems by prohibiting or restricting access to social media is unlikely to succeed and may actually make teenagers feel even more alone and angry. Instead, it is critical for parents to evaluate how they use social media and the example they provide for their children.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS 6 References Newport, C. (2021, November 9). The Question We’ve Stopped Asking About Teen-Agers and Social Media . The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/office-space/the- question-weve-stopped-asking-about-teen-agers-and-social-media Orben, A. (2020). Teenagers, screens and social media: a narrative review of reviews and key studies. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology , 55 (4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-019-01825-4

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