As I look around, it is difficult not to notice the abundance of teens on social media nowadays. Even more and more pre-teens nowadays are starting to use social media regularly. Personally, I got my first social media account around seventh grade, so I contributed to the generous number. At the time, I saw no harm in social media. It was a way for me to interact with friends daily and make creative videos of myself. However, as an eighteen-year-old, I am now left questioning whether my life would be better if I had never gotten involved with social media.
About six months ago, I made it a priority to spend less time on TikTok and Instagram, as those are the apps I use the most. I had noticed that I would go to these apps when bored, instead of finding something productive to do, so I wanted to do something about it. I decided to set a screen time limit on my phone and limit my social media use on those two apps to two hours a day. I am slowly narrowing down that time.
According to Tulane University, teens spend an average of 4.8 hours on social media a day. This means they spend over 33 hours a week on social media alone. And for a larger perspective, over 1,705 hours a year on social media! Tulane University says two-thirds of parents say social media harms their teens. Negative effects of social media can include cyberbullying, social anxiety, depression, and more.
The age of kids with social media seems to be getting younger and younger, too. Tulane University reports that thirty-five percent of parents say their kids were on social media before they turned seven, and 64% say their kids were on social media before they turned ten. This leaves me wondering why parents choose to let their kids use social media this early in their lives.
Now, social media is not all negative. Social media is a way to stay connected with friends and family, obtain quick and easy information, serve as a source of entertainment, and express oneself. I bet the creators of every social media app never had the intention of potentially harming individuals, but this is just something that comes along with the apps.
The courier wanted a strong, reliable opinion on this topic, so I asked Lewis Cass Mental Health Coordinator Lindsay Adams for her opinion. When asked how she thought social media is both beneficial and harmful to students, she responded with, “I do not see a lot of benefit in social media for teens; it puts them at more risk of danger. I don’t think brains and maturity are developed enough to handle things on social media platforms. Teens see how others live a different lifestyle, which can impact their mental health; it can make them feel bad about themselves or what their family has. One thing that could be beneficial is if they have a great talent, like playing an instrument, singing, or playing a sport, it can help them get attention from colleges, which could open the door to scholarships and continuing to improve their talents.” These are all valid reasons why social media is both beneficial and harmful, and should really make a person reconsider how much time they are wasting on social media.
Teens are going to want social media, whether they understand the impact of it or not. Knowing this, I asked Mrs. Adams her advice to teens who want social media. She responded with, “My advice to teens wanting social media is to be responsible and respectful to yourself if you are on social media, do not friend anyone you do not know, don’t put your personal information out there, and don’t talk to people you don’t know on social media. Privacy settings should be set to the strictest they can be, and add your parents to your socials so they can keep an eye on you for your safety and mental health. I know having your parents on your accounts isn’t cool, but it helps to keep you safe. Social media doesn’t have a great impact on mental health within teens because they are at such an impressionable age, and what they see on them can make them question their image, lifestyle, and the things they have in life, making us all less grateful for what we have in life.” It is greatly important to remember to be safe when using social media.
I personally wish I had waited later in my life to get social media. When I asked Adams if she believes there should be a limit to how much a teen/anyone is on social media a day? She said, “Social media should be limited to anyone; that is my opinion. I think if you spend too much time on it, it can impact your mental health in a negative way. It is always better to have face-to-face conversations with people and be active in doing things you enjoy than sitting on your cell phone or electronic device.” Anyone getting out and doing activities that they love with people they love will always fulfill their heart more than any app can.
The age of teens on social media keeps getting younger, and the hours spent on social media keep getting higher. It is always important to be safe on social media and try to limit the time spent using it. Remember, there are way many greater activities to do out there other than scrolling on a phone.
