Social media empowers adolescents
Two years ago I found an amazing recipe for tomato and feta penne pasta from TikTok. Ever since then it has been a beloved recipe that I have cooked for my family and friends.
I agree that there are better ways to spend your time than scrolling through apps such as TikTok or Instagram, but if managed responsibly, it can be a great way of showing creativity or creating a community.
Students’ accounts allow them to share their talents as well as find inspiration from others.
These apps not only provide entertainment but also give students communities where they can connect to other people who may share the same interests.
This helps students learn valuable social skills and create relationships.
Many adolescents have trouble finding themselves, whether that relates to their identity or interests.
Social media also serves as a main source of news for many teenagers.
Many important world events and national updates are broadcasted on social media platforms, and common news channels have their own accounts on these apps such as NBC, CNN, and Fox News. For example, the first news I heard about the fires in Los Angeles came from the CBS news account on TikTok.
Other creators are also able to advocate for global issues as well, informing people on current events and how they can support those in crisis.
Many influencers choose to use their platforms to spread awareness for worldwide issues such as the war between Ukraine and Russia.
Teenagers may also be able to seek out the help they need through social media, whether that’s relating to mental health, or even just searching for a job.
I have also found that social media is a great source for growing life skills. These apps provide things like recipes, studying tips, or organizational methods.
Especially for kids who may not have grown up with a present caregiver or role model, social media is helpful when you have a question you may be embarrassed to ask.
Although social media apps are considered a waste of time to society, they are also used throughout the world to communicate.
We need to stop viewing these apps as useless and instead as a valuable tool.
Social media consumes teens
You get home and plan to finish all your homework and be productive, but then, ding! You get a snap notification, and that’s just the start.
The next time you look up, its 10:30 p.m. and you have been scrolling through Tiktok for two hours.
Social media is one of the main issues teens struggle with. It prevents productivity and their ability to do tasks. I believe that teens should not have access to social media until they are 16.
Teens’ brains are still developing, and social media can be very harmful. “The brain is going through a highly sensitive period between the ages of 10 and 19 when identities and feelings of self-worth are forming,” according an article from Yale Medicine. This suggests that teens using social media will be heavily and negatively influenced during the prime times of their brain development.
Since teens’ brains are still developing, so are their time management skills. Because of this, it is very difficult for them to stop scrolling. “Average screen time on internet-connected devices among users in the U.S. is 7 hours and 3 minutes,” according to Datareportal. Seven hours of online time for the developing brain can lead to unhealthy habits and lazy routines that prevent them from spending time in a more healthier way.
Furthermore, teens are sucked into their phones because of algorithms companies have designed to keep teens attached to their screens. According to a Yale Medicine article, “Social media algorithms are built to promote whatever you seem interested in. If a teen searches for any kind of mental health condition . . . it is going to feed them information about those things, so soon they may begin to think that everyone around them is depressed or thinking about suicide, which is not necessarily good for mental health.”
Social media can take a toll on mental health in many ways like when teens compare themselves to others or experience cyberbullying.
I think teens should have no access to social media or a limit on how long they are on these negative apps. Companies or parents should limit young users to one hour daily.