IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA ON YOUTH

INTRODUCTION:

Social media is a term for internet sites and apps that you can use to share content you've created. Social media also lets you respond to content that others post. That can include pictures, text, reactions or comments on posts by others, and links to information.

Online sharing within social media sites helps many people stay in touch with friends or connect with new ones. And that may be more important for teenagers than other age groups. Friendships help teens feel supported and play a role in forming their identities. So, it's only natural to wonder how social media use might affect teens.

Social media is a big part of daily life for lots of teenagers.

MAIN CONTENT:

Social media doesn't affect all teens the same way. Use of social media is linked with healthy and unhealthy effects on mental health. These effects vary from one teenager to another. Social media effects on mental health depend on things such as:

• What a teen sees and does online.

• The amount of time spent online.

• Psychological factors, such as maturity level and any preexisting mental health conditions.

• Personal life circumstances, including cultural, social and economic factors.

Healthy social media

• Social media lets teens create online identities, chat with others and build social networks. These networks can provide teens with support from other people who have hobbies or experiences in common. This type of support especially may help teens who:

  • Lack social support offline or are lonely.
  • Are going through a stressful time.
  • Belong to groups that often get marginalized, such as racial minorities, and those who are differently abled.
  • Have long-term medical conditions.
  • Express themselves.
  • Connect with other teens locally and across long distances.
  • Learn how other teens cope with challenging life situations and mental health conditions.
  • View or take part in moderated chat forums that encourage talking openly about topics such as mental health.
  • Ask for help or seek healthcare for symptoms of mental health conditions.                                                                                                                                                          These healthy effects of social media can help teens in general. They also may help teens who are prone to depression stay connected to others. And social media that's humorous or distracting may help a struggling teen cope with a challenging day.                    

  Sometimes, social media platforms help teens:

  • Unhealthy social media

    Social media use may have negative effects on some teens. It might:

    • Distract from homework, exercise and family activities.
    • Disrupt sleep.
    • Lead to information that is biased or not correct.
    • Become a means to spread rumors or share too much personal information.
    • Lead some teens to form views about other people's lives or bodies that aren't realistic.
    • Expose some teens to online predators, who might try to exploit or extort them.
    • Expose some teens to cyberbullying, which can raise the risk of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.                                                                                                                                                                                                   The risks of social media use are linked with various factors. One may be how much time teens spend on these platforms.

    • In a study focusing on 12- to 15-year-olds in the United States, spending three hours a day using social media was linked to a higher risk of mental health concerns. That study was based on data collected in 2013 and 2014 from more than 6,500 participants.

      Another study looked at data on more than 12,000 teens in England between the ages of 13 to 16. The researchers found that using social media more than three times a day predicted poor mental health and well-being in teens.

      But not all research has found a link between time spent on social media and mental health risks in teens.

      How teens use social media also might determine its impact. For instance, viewing certain types of content may raise some teens' mental health risks.                                                                                                                                                                   CONCLUSION: To mitigate the harms of social media in youth, we should prioritize open communication, set clear boundaries, monitor online activity, and teach digital literacy and safety. Should ensure encouragement , face-to-face interactions and limiting screen time, particularly before bed, to promote healthy sleep and well-being. Also should elders talk about online safety ,  discussing potential risks like cyberbullying , identity theft and inappropriate content with the young ones to ensure their overall safety in a wholesome manner.