Social media plays a major role in most young people’s lives. The influence that they have on us can be both positive and negative, it depends on the way we use them. Statistics have shown that people at the age of 18-24 use social media more than older people and sometimes tend to overdo it.
There are numerous drawbacks. As one psychologist said: “Over the years, we’ve seen an increase in depression, anxiety and poor body image among teens and it’s clearly linked to the growth of social media”. People in social media present a distorted view of their real life because they want to attract more views. That fact influences people’s life and behavior as they compare their lives to the fake ones that they see and as a result they feel depressed. For example, teens compare themselves with their peers and because of the fact that they are more vulnerable than adults their self confidence is damaged. That phenomenon can cause mental issues to the young teenagers.
On the other hand, social media are also beneficial. It is a common phenomenon that young people receive support from other people in social media. There are not only people that give bad influence to others but there are people who can provide aid if need be. Another positive effect is that social media promote communication. If you need to connect with someone who lives far away, you can at any time.
In conclusion, social media have both negative and positive effects, but I think that there are more disadvantages if you are not careful. Thus, especially young people should avoid spending too much time in social media and try to use them in moderation.
Chryssa Moschou C1
