By Sadie Zann
EMS Press
Traverse City East MS
1st Place
Division MS, News Writing
Informative Feature
We spend more time today looking at the tops of people’s heads than we do at their faces. According to the Kaiser Foundation, teens are watch-ing TV, listening to music, social networking, and gaming more than seven hours a day. Much of this is done on their phones.
The number of teens who own cell phones has gone up from 45 percent in 2004, to 75 percent in 2013, reported a Pew Research study.
“I have about six social media accounts Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and ask.fm.” said Jordyn Blackhurst ‘20. “Instagram and Snapchat I check all the time, like at least once an hour. My other accounts I check daily.”
The sad news for many teens is that social media can actually harm more than help. One major issue is that it can cause depression. When face-to-face interaction has been removed, interactions between adolescents quickly become overly critical and hurtful, according to About.com Health.
“People can be really mean and you can’t do anything about it because sometimes you don’t even know who they are,” Eleanor Stevenson ‘20 said. “That can make you feel really sad and scared and alone, so I think it can lead to depression.”
Social media also allows people to make themselves out as someone they aren’t. People can pretend and lie about their looks, grades, home, even personality. Social media is a constant reminder for some that their life is not important and will never measure up to others. Simple things like this can be devastating to already troubled individuals.
Another issue with the use of social media is the loss of the ability to interact face to face. Social media allows friends and family to connect and socialize with one another easily online. Why go out for lunch and talk when you can easily talk with multiple friends online at one time? When removing the need for face-to-face interaction, you also remove many perks that come with it. Being able to read one another’s emotions, enjoy the sound of another’s laugh and the sight of a smile, are all human qualities that must be developed. Social media has interfered with the acquisition of these skills by eliminating the need to socialize in person. An emoticon can’t replace the emotional connection.
One of the other many reasons social media has a negative effect on adolescents is that it can actually lead people to addiction — to social media. A study from the University of Maryland shows many people spend so many hours of their time on social media that it actually interferes with their lives. People are relying on their smartphones to go on social media apps. It is becoming easier for people to log into their social media account anytime of the day whenever they feel the need to post something or check up on other’s posts. Social media has become an important part of people’s days. Maybe too important. Think about how often you see individuals using their phones instead of interacting with the person right next to them.
“I would say I am a little addicted to my phone. I check my social media accounts multiple times a day, probably more than I should.” said Madalyn Craven. “If I’m in an awkward situation, I just check my phone.”
Finally social media also affects creativity and decreases physical activity. Social media has made it easy for people to be lazy. With an easy tap of a button, you can ask questions or search for ideas instead of using your own imagination and thinking of your own creative ideas. People’s original thoughts can be easily replaced by available information online. People also are less inclined to exercise, go outdoors, or even do simple workouts at home.
Technology today is a great advancement for many people, our economy, and country. Social media sites are great ways for friends and family to stay in contact and keep up with one another. But too much of social media — like too much of anything — is a bad thing.