Is Social Media Stopping People From Living Their Best Lives? Social media use among adolescents is becoming more and more widespread, and it comes with many advantages and disadvantages. Many found it helpful in connecting with others and found that having more social interaction, even online, made them feel less alone. However, this tends to take time away from the activities necessary for good health. Overuse of social media can put teens at greater risk for mental health problems and worsen pre-existing symptoms. Additionally, “sleep patterns are often completely disrupted by technology addiction” (Rosen). Therefore, adolescents should control what they watch as well as the time they spend on social media to minimize the harmful effects on their mental health. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay Teenagers sometimes make unwise choices in order to get more likes on social media. Social media can cause teens to behave differently than they normally would in various aspects of their lives. As unfortunate as it may be, teens may feel pressured to change things about themselves to be more desirable on social media. Some of these things include “…changing their appearance, engaging in negative behaviors, and accepting risky challenges on social media” (Hurley). When teens feel like their authentic self is inadequate to present publicly, changing things about themselves won't resolve their underlying insecurities. On the contrary, the constant need to always feel worthy reinforces their negative self-image. Although it may not be obvious, the thrill of getting likes on social media can also be extremely addictive. According to the New York Times, "the same reward center in the brain that is involved in feeling pleasure and activated by thoughts of sex, money or ice cream is also activated when teens see their photos getting lots of likes on social networks. » media". This can cause a toxic cycle of lowering self-esteem and potentially lead to mental health issues stemming from the new stress of not being enough. The constant need to get more and more likes on social media can lead to poor decisions by teens that otherwise would not have been made. Minimizing the amount of unrealistic content viewed greatly diminishes the negative effects associated with social media use. Influencers often post parts selectively. positive aspects of their lives, which can give the impression of a seemingly perfect life. Teenagers who spend the majority of their time on social media looking at these carefully curated lives often mistake them as a good standard to strive for. . When they start comparing their lives to those of the people they follow, their reality cannot compare to the fantasies broadcast on social networks. According to Abington Health, “this constant comparison to unrealistic ideals can lead to low self-esteem, self-doubt, poor body image, and fear of missing out.” These negative effects are often associated with mental health problems, especially among adolescents. For example, teens who see many underweight models on their Instagram feed may begin to view this as an ideal body type andhealthy. Comparing themselves to highly edited images can make them feel self-conscious about their bodies, which could lead to the development of eating disorders and body dysmorphia. It is therefore important to be mindful of what they choose to follow on social media as well as how they respond to it personally to promote better mental health. Despite the many downsides of using social media, some teens have found community and support through online communication. Community on social media can give teens a place to feel welcomed and accepted. Although excessive use of social media can have isolating effects, "...a study by Griffith University and the University of Queensland in Australia found that although American teenagers have fewer friends than their historical counterparts, they are less alone than adolescents of previous decades” (Knorr). Having an online support group to turn to could be beneficial for many teens who struggle to find friends in real life. However, social media is not an adequate replacement for face-to-face interactions. In Eric Klinenberg's study, “he found that the more people interacted face-to-face, the less alone they felt. He concluded that the key thing about social media is whether or not that social media allows you to have more face-to-face interactions.” Online communities are effective in providing space for teens to interact, but it ultimately comes down to authentic, in-person interactions to alleviate loneliness. Although social media can provide a virtual sense of social activity, teens tend to replace their valuable in-person interactions with superficial online connections. Social media causes problems in the lives of adolescents by disrupting normal activities essential for a healthy lifestyle. The more time teens spend on social media, the more they tend to subtract time from daily necessities, like sleep, exercise, and face-to-face interactions. In reality, "it's not necessarily social media that's causing these problems, but rather the content young people are exposed to and the barriers that prevent them from getting healthy sleep and exercising." This lack of “healthy sleep and exercise” can cause or further worsen mental health issues, as well as harm physical health. Sleep, in particular, strongly affects mental conditions, and "sleep problems may increase the risk of developing particular mental illnesses, as well as result from such disorders." Overall, the healthy lifestyle habits that social media imposes on adolescents make them more susceptible to negative mental health effects. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay For adolescents, limiting their exposure to harmful content and ensuring that social media does not interfere with necessary activities is essential for good mental health. Constantly watching unrealistic content leads to a negative self-image, and eliminating it from their daily lives will improve their overall happiness. Social media also tends to diminish daily life, and many teens end up trading important parts of their day for more time on their devices. They may also feel the need to change themselves in order to be more popular on social platforms, which can potentially harm their self-esteem and therefore their.. 2020.