Social Media: Help or Hinder?

Before talking about how social media affects young people today, it is extremely important to understand what social media is in the first place. Social media refers to a computer-based technology that allows for the sharing of ideas, thoughts and information through networks and communities. Simply, it is where users can share information and connect with virtual communities through text, videos, photos and other content. Social media is extremely popular among teens since it allows them to stay in touch with friends and family, especially if they are quite far away. In addition, many teenagers use social media to combat loneliness by staying active online, stimulating socialisation with activities like texting on group chats. In today’s society, almost every teen in the UK has access to social media with studies showing the usage rates being 93-99% for ages 12-17, making it seemingly an essential part of their lives. Although many think social media is one of the most useful technological advancements of the 21st century, it may not be as great as it seems to be. 

Social media and technology offer us young people greater convenience and connectivity. Social media helps us stay connected with family and friends worldwide through email, messages, FaceTime, WhatsApp and many more platforms. Social media also allows for online learning and content creation in platforms such as YouTube. Online learning limits the need to buy a coaching lesson for something you want to learn if you can simply learn it for free on a content-sharing platform e.g. YouTube.  Moreover, social media can allow us to seize opportunities since information can be spread to thousands of people from the comfort of your room. 

On the topic of the spread of information, social media also effectively allows for the increase of social awareness on a problem faced somewhere in the world, most commonly a war or a world danger like climate change. Overall, social media can be an extremely beneficial tool, especially for the lives of young people by improving communication, providing accessible opportunities to learn and social awareness on global issues.

However, while social media can be quite beneficial, too much use can lead to a variety of negative consequences, especially for young people. Multiple studies taken and accompanying research have linked high use of social media to increased risk of anxiety, depression, self-harm and even suicidal thoughts. Some risks of social media include: Social comparison, Body Image, Sleep Patterns and Cyberbullying.

Social comparison encompasses the fear of missing out (known colloquially as ‘FOMO’). Virtual profiles allow people to show small, carefully curated, and often unrepresentative segments and highlights of their life, setting unrealistic expectations that leave young people unsatisfied and insecure. The ‘FOMO’ can also then impact a young person’s self-esteem, triggering anxiety and resulting in further use of social media, to escape their own dissatisfaction.

Negative impacts on body image occur when young people may compare themselves to influencers, celebrities or their idols, developing unhealthy obsessions to appearance which can immensely impact their self-esteem. Excessive use of social media has been linked to poorer sleep quality, which in turn links to low self-esteem, anxiety and depression.

Cyberbullying is also caused through social media. This is when young people may fall victim to bullying online. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) recently highlighted that 1 in 5 children in the UK experience some form of cyberbullying. Whether from ‘trolling’, discrimination or sharing embarrassing videos/photos without someone’s consent, cyberbullying drastically increases a young person’s risk of depression and low self-esteem, which could make them more likely to self-harm. Overall, while social media is widely used, using it excessively can be extremely dangerous, having severe consequences on young people’s mental health and self-esteem. This highlights the utmost importance of taking care of the time you spend on social media.

Therefore, although social media does have many negative effects on young people, it can be used safely if they manage the amount of time spent using it and showing self-control.

So how can we stop the addiction to touch our phones every once in a while when someone posts something on their story?  Well, there are many ways in which young people can limit their use of social media whilst also building self-control.

Firstly, you can start by setting a time limit on your social media apps. It is extraordinarily easy to lose track of time on social media. You can set a timer or use tools like the ‘Focus’ mode on iPhones or parental controls which can limit the amount of time you spend on apps.

Secondly, another way is identifying your unmet needs. Whether we are aware of it or not, there are underlying social and psychological factors that push you towards certain behaviours. These include our needs for: Connection, Validation, Entertainment, Comparison and Coping.

Connection, in the case of social media, refers to the sharing of life updates and participation in online communities that give us a sense of belonging.

Validation refers to the instant feedback through likes, comments and shares that make us feel recognised for the opinions and achievements we share.

Entertainment pertains to memes, live streams, and other media that social media offers directly as a source of amusement and pleasure.

Comparison, for many teens, serves as social augmentation. We check in on friends’ lives to help us decide whether our lives are on the ‘right track.’

The negative effects of social media are most prominent when people use it to cope. This can mean scrolling through feeds, watching videos, or engaging in online discussions which can temporarily relieve stress, anxiety, and boredom. 

With these needs in mind, we can find alternative strategies to fulfill them, other than social media. This brings us to the final step – exploring alternative strategies. It is paramount that we explore and find other options that address our underlying needs. For example, for connection, we can spend quality time with friends and family in person. For validation we can share achievements with loved ones in person and practise saying self-affirmations like saying “I am the person who I want to be.” For entertainment, we can replace social media with educational apps like Duolingo, or playing sports like football. To combat comparisons with ourselves and others, we can attend classes or workshops highlighting other people's experiences. Finally, to cope with stress and anxiety, we can practise meditation or participate in activities that boost your energy levels and reduce your anxiety like playing a sport or going on a run.

The use of social media can have both positive and negative impacts on young people but, if used responsibly,  it can be an integral part of the future.