For most of us, social media has been around for our whole lives. We usually all start our days by checking our phones, and end our days in the same way. It’s become part of our daily lives without even realizing the impact it has on us. Social media can be very beneficial at times, but on the other hand it can also have a big impact on how we think. There have been many studies on the pros and cons of social media, and how it is connected to mental health. Many of the outcomes of these studies show that since social media has begun to grow that teens’ mental health has declined. 

There are still many positive ways social media can help people. Most people use it to be able to talk to their friends, and to see what they are doing. It can be a good way to meet new people, or to reconnect with old friends. According to a study done by the Pew Research Center, 81% of teens ages 13 to 17 reported that social media makes them feel more connected to the people in their lives. They also say that it has helped them seek emotional support during tough times. Another pro of having social media is being able to seek out job opportunities. It allows you to be able to interact with companies that you might potentially want to apply for. You can find information about these companies online, then apply for the job position you are searching for.

On the other hand, social media can also have many negative effects on people. It has been known to be linked with anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, and even suicidal thoughts. One of the main cons that social media has is leading people to have self-image issues. There have been many studies that  have shown the correlation between the time spent on social media and having eating disorders. One specific study done was by Mental Health First Aid USA on February 25, 2020 which showed the relationship between the two. Social media has also been associated with causing FOMO (fear of missing out). Which leads to you constantly having the need to check your phone to see what your friends are doing. The thought that you might miss out on something if you’re not online can also affect your mental health. It causes you to have mood swings, loneliness, feelings of inferiority, social anxiety, and increased levels of depression when you aren’t around people. Something else that social media can cause is cyberbullying. Which is a way of being cruel to others by sending or posting harmful things or engaging in other forms of social aggression using the internet or other digital technologies. 

In conclusion everyone is going to have different thoughts on social media. Many will think that it can be bad for your mental health, but others think it has no effect. Out of all the studies done over this debate, most have shown that the more social media grows, the more it affects your mental health. Personally, I agree that social media can have an effect on your mental health even if others don’t think that. 

https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/it-or-not-social-medias-affecting-your-mental-health 

https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2020/02/study-shows-social-media-may-play-a-role-in-eating-disorders-among-teens/