A stereotype that has lasted for around a decade, is a teen with their face in their phone, technology now plays a critical role in a teens development for better or for worse.
The poster child of modern technology, social media, is the most influential piece of technology in a teen’s life. It warps a teen’s perception of their quality of life in comparison to others.
Shadow Ridge health teacher, Shannon Alia, echoes this sentiment, saying, “So many people put their lives out on social media and aren’t real about what’s going on in their lives; they just post fantasies of their lives,” Alia explains. “I think social media can give teens a false sense of reality.”
This skewed comparison can take a toll on a teen’s mental health. At best, it fuels a fear of missing out (FOMO). At worst, it can lead to a sense of dissatisfaction with their own lives, causing feelings of loneliness, anxiety, and even depression. When seeing these manufactured “perfect” versions of people online, teens can often find themselves comparing their appearance, social status, and achievements to those of other people online, giving teens an unhealthy amount of self-criticism.
Alia also believes that the issue can be enlarged when the need for validation isn’t met at home. “I think the impact of social media is huge if kids aren’t validated in the home first,” she says. “When kids don’t get that validation and socialization from their family, and their family isn’t monitoring their social media activity, I think it can be very detrimental to teenagers.”
Social media’s addictive nature can have consequences in the classroom as well, irresponsible use of social media can harm student’s grades. Alia reiterates this, saying, “If they’re on social media instead of focusing on their studies, it can greatly impact their performance.”
To lessen these negative effects, Alia recommends a simple strategy, limiting social media use and limiting the content teens view on social media.
“If teens limit the amount of time they actually spend on social media, that can be really helpful. They should also aim to keep their social media experience positive and try to stay away from negativity,” stated Alia.
Social media was meant to be a digital bridge, connecting people all across the globe, no matter how far. While in recent years this intended mechanism has come with downsides, it is important to note that moderation is key to healthily using social media and limiting its downsides.
