Adults yell at teens every day to get off their phones, but why can’t teens put their phones down? Phones have an addictive factor: either it´s games or social media. Social media is one of the main reasons teen mental health is affected.
Social media really only highlights the good parts in people’s lives and that’s when people start comparing their lives to others. Phones can increase and create sleeping disorders, depression, and anxiety. Electronics are a huge distraction to kids and can cause them to neglect responsibilities and can run into day-to-day routines.
A survey done in 2023 shows that 51% of teens in the U.S. spend at least four hours a day on social media. Most people often find themselves doom scrolling which is the tendency to continue to surf the internet and spend an excessive amount of time reading bad news. Many students here at DHS walk with their phones up to their faces in the hallways or are on them during class and even in the restrooms.
¨I’m very into social media, like addicted to it. I can’t go a few hours without it because then I begin to feel very bored and it’s just one of my forms of entertainment. I forget to do my homework a lot because I’m just scrolling all day and my grades get bad,” said freshman Paola Solis-Martinez.
Overuse and mismanagement of social media use can take many students down a rabbit hole of negative thoughts and emotions and this is because apps like Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and X are designed to pull us in.
¨Social media use can interfere with students’ sleep, physical activity, and schoolwork. This can create a mountain of negative emotions like anxiety and depression. Students can find themselves more alone, rather than more connected,¨ said teacher Tabitha Hernandez.
Even though social media has negative effects, it can also have positive effects. With limits, social media can promote creativity and provide a space for learning. People can also socialize and interact with people on social media. It can also be helpful for people who want to promote a small business, spread positive news, or stay connected with family and friends away from home.
¨Social media allows people to collect and lets people share their life. For some people it allows them to influence people,¨ said freshman Danika Queen.
