My first inclination with this discussion post was to argue with
myself. I see both sides to this equation. Social media presents unique
opportunities to learn and communicate, but it is also associated with
isolation and depression (O'Keeffee & Clarke-Pearson, 2011). Many
studies have found a possible association between social media use
and psychological incidences in adolescents (Keles et al., 2019). Social
media may promote low self-esteem or a negative image of oneself
(Keles et al., 2019). We all know how impressionable we were at that
age, and social media seems to propagate any societal missteps a
young mind takes. Any negativity can contribute to depression or
anxiety. Correlation is not causation, and further studies are needed
to gauge the psychological consequences of social media use.
Currently, evidence points to it being psychologically healthier to
limit social media use and spend more time socializing in person.
References
Keles, B., McCrae, N., & Grealisj, A. (2019, March 21).
A systematic
review: The influence of social media on depression, anxiety and
psychological distress in adolescents
. Taylor & Francis. Retrieved
October 5, 2022, from
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02673843.2019.15
90851
O'Keefe, G., & Clark-Pearson, K. (2011, April).
The Impact of Social
Media on Children, Adolescents, and Families
. Publications.aap.org.
Retrieved October 5, 2022, from
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/127/4/800/65133/Th
e-Impact-of-Social-Media-on-Children-Adolescents
