The Detrimental Hold Social Media has

Scrolling through Instagram, sending Snapchat streaks, and tweeting about the latest drama has slowly made its way into what seems like every teens' life. Social media is detrimental for several reasons. While there are some people who believe the benefits of social media outweigh the downfalls, it demonstrates far more disadvantages to a young teens' life. Because of creating barriers to communication, allowing way for cyberbullying or predators, and the challenge students face when it comes to balancing social media, sleep, and school, all prove social networking is detrimental to a teenagers life.

There are many reasons as to why social media creates barriers to communication. Another perspective to consider though, is the idea that social media is an effortless way to connect and communicate with like-minded people. For example, users are able to express their opinions and it gives you the ability to stay in touch with friends who have relocated throughout the years. While that may be true, social media has created barriers to communication and prevents teens from having real conversations outside of social networking apps. A study done at Cornell University stated, Social media sites also give people a false sense of connection? It was found that people have a hard time distinguishing between meaningful relationships that they build in the real world and the numerous causal relationships built through the social networking sites (Negative Effects of Social Media on Teenagers). This is significant because as the world becomes more reliant on these forms of communication, things like body language will no longer be a priority to generations to come.

This can cause miscommunication that can be incredibly detrimental to a working environment. Although social media is one of the quickest ways to communicate, it is important to think about what message we are sending and what would be the most appropriate way of expressing thoughts or opinions. Also, ChildMinds.org says, with the use of social media growing for teens, a blockade is being created between them and communication to the outside world. Social media is also allowing for teens to feel more insecure about their appearances (Social Media and the Negative Impacts). This is important because not only is social media abusing a very vital skill everyone will need in the future, but it is also damaging the egos of youth who may already be self-conscious of their appearances. For this very reason, social media does not allow people to open up; it closes them off and pushes anxiety levels over the edge. This evidence proves social media creates a barrier for teens and having real-world conversations.

There are many contributing factors as to why social media allows way for cyberbullying and predators, limiting the amount of privacy users have on social networking apps. In a survey done for just the year of 2018, 64% of teenagers that actively use social media say they stumble upon discrimination of race, sex, religion, or homosexuals frequently (Common Sense Research). People are able to express opinions, saying anything they want without accountability. The hateful comments we read online would never happen if the only way to get them out was in a face-to-face environment. Penn State recently did a study saying, Social networking sites do their best to encourage users to be less inhibited about our personal lives. They are forever asking for more intimate details of our lives as are some of our so called friends on these sites (Social Media and the Negative Impacts). With how easy it is in this generation to access personal information, predators are just a touch away from finding confidential and intimate information on just about anyone.

The dangers lie within how many details the user feels compelled to share, and how secure that information is withheld from the users audience. Studies done at Penn State have revealed women of all ages are typically singled out in the realm of social media for their body image and looks. Anonymity leaves room for harassment and trolling to become apart of people's lifestyles (Social Media and the Negative Impacts). This is important because priorities in young teens' have shifted into worrying about their online appearance due to social networking taking over their lives. Teenagers are being pulled into a world where being judged by looks is the norm and the amount of likes you get determines your social status. The damage this will do to future generations should have everyone in distress. It is clear from all pieces of evidence that social media's impact on teens is strictly negative.

Social media is not only affecting teens' self confidence, but it is also influencing how well they do at an academic standpoint. Common Sense Research revealed that social media distracts nearly 60% of students from studying or doing their homework. One-third of teens who have a device of their own even admit that late in the night they get notifications from apps, disrupting their sleep (MacDonald). Social media is a blockade for students trying to finish school assignments or studying for tests assigned the following day. Social networking sites keeps teens behind on school work and distracts them yet again, from their daily life by pulling them into the world of networking. A mental health expert, Nicole McCance believes sleep is necessary for the growth in a teen's brain. The past two years have shown an increase in the struggle teens have when it comes to getting the recommended nine to 10 hours about of sleep (MacDonald). This is significant because teens are compelled to stay up into late hours of the night, scrolling through Instagram or tweeting the latest news.

If a teenagers brain is not fully developed, that causes difficulties in the future, all because of the way social media is impacting teenagers in the present. A study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed 70 percent of students in high school were below the suggested amount of sleep they should be getting (MacDonald). This is important because it shows that the amount of sleep teens are getting in contrast to homework and the distraction of social media are linked to each other. Social networking first wards off students from doing their homework, and then disturbs their sleep. Teen's not getting enough sleep combined with additional stress and pressure to get school work done all ties back into the amount of time they spend on social media. These statistics and more prove social media is detrimental to a teen's way of life.

In conclusion, social media has made its way into almost every teen's life, and not in a beneficial way. Social media clearly demonstrates its disadvantages to a young teens' life by creating barriers to communication, permitting cyberbullying, and putting students at risk for high anxiety levels or depression due to the procrastination of homework and lack of sleep. If social media continues to take over teens' lives, generations to come will be in far worse condition. The impacts social media has on teens now, and in the future will continue to clash with their way of life.

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