How Social Media is Affecting Teens

After realizing how many problems are going on in the world, we can take a moment to realize that social media can be a big one.

I’m sure most of you social media users or beauty community followers have been hearing recently about the “James Charles” feud. If you haven’t, it doesn’t really matter (but click the link to get filled in, ha!). This is just another example of how it can be so twisted and unhealthy, especially for teenagers. After you view examples like that don’t forget that celebrities are human just like us. Anyways, let’s focus on how social media is impacting today’s generations.

How It Affects Teens

There are so many pros to using the internet/social media, but let’s face it, the negativity it brings is really harmful. It can bring communities together but it can also increase anxiety, depression and eating disorders to the youth and many studies have proved this to be true.

Cyber-bullying: Many enjoy the fact of not having to say things face-to-face and take it far by sending messages and exposing others. This leads most teens to a dark place in their minds, like depression and suicidal thoughts. Trolling can be similar to this.

Less face-to-face interactions: Teens have become more and more antisocial after the creation of social media. Most would rather stay home and be tweeting than going out to make real life friends. The fact they can hide behind a screen and type makes it easier for them to say or do things.

Negative comparisons: This kind of relates to the whole James Charles situation. It’s like people can put a microscope on social media and make all kinds of comparisons. Either physical or having to do with successes and failures. Nobody is perfect and they never will be. Keep that in mind.

Fake Friends: Although social media provides some privacy settings, your information is never going to be hidden. Anyone can find their way to sending you a message, adding you as a friend, and seeing what you post. Some will even fake their info to get things from you.

Focusing on ‘likes’: Nowadays many teens give ‘likes’ the power to control their happiness. The more they get, the more they feel better. But if they don’t get the same likes or even more than others, they take it as an insult. Some will even go overboard just to get as many likes as possible. Examples are accepting dangerous challenges and friend requests.

Teen Social Media Addiction

So many teens began to increase the time spent on social media that it becomes an addiction. Impatience grows in them because they can’t stand 5 minutes without it. This not only becomes a mental problem, it also brings so many physical problems. Most just start with a neck strain or back pain. Most teens just ignore it but the parents have to really watch out when this addiction results in obesity, nutrition problems, cancer, heart diseases, and many others.

How To Overcome Addiction to Facebook, Instagram, You Tube, TikTok and More

The teenagers of today think that their life can get better watching how other influencers and celebrities go by their day. But don’t let all of that content fool you! Behind the screens and cameras they all have a life too. They are human just like you and go through so many bad things. Most just want to post the good and lead people to think they are ‘perfect’. But every teen also has to live their life in order to be healthy and happy. It doesn’t even take money or distance to get the help you need to overcome this. Don’t be afraid to talk to an adult, parent, or mentor, or come to Peek Counseling.

Conclusion

Social media is still pretty new and it is still evolving. Because of this, it’s important to watch out for all the negativity it is bringing and will bring in the future. Protecting all the new generations so that they don’t fall into this rabbit hole is a main priority, especially for Peek Counseling.

The goal is to help all the youth from the terrible physical and mental issues that are slowly growing in each and every one of them. Katie Bisbee-Peek is a trained professional teen counselor in Denver who helps adolescents, teenagers and youth with the struggles life can bring to them. Schedule an appointment today by sending me an email!