Effects of Social Media on Teenagers

Effects of Social Media on Teenagers
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Effects of Social Media on Teenagers
Introduction
The focus of this paper will be on how social media use continues to impact the lives of teenagers today. Every development or technological innovation leaves an imprint on society. Social media platforms are not any different. Their introduction to society has led to some changes that will influence society for decades. Therefore, this paper aims to showcase the impact social media has had on teenagers. In doing so, it will be easier to estimate how much influence social media platforms have had on teenagers. Such research is crucial as it helps society plan and develop mechanisms to deal with issues and instances that deviate from the norm. Also, this research offers a great benefit to society as it helps explain the rise in certain issues among teenagers, including depression and suicidal tendencies.
Literature Review
The advent of social media brought with it a lot of fears and expectations. Some people saw social media as a threat to society's way of life, while others saw it as an addition to society. However, despite the different takes and perspectives people have had over the years, social media continues to be a part of everyday life. For teenagers, social media platforms have become a crucial part of who they are, who they present themselves to be, and how they see themselves. But, people question the effects these platforms have on teenagers. Are these platforms helping to enhance the teenagers, or are they taking away from them? Asking such questions has proved to be quite crucial, especially considering the many developments and stories covered in the mainstream media today. On the one hand, social media platforms are seen as a godsend by some teenagers because they have helped them to open up about things they could not even share with their parents. Others have been able to form friendships regardless of their personalities. However, there are those who have been on the receiving end of social media's dark side. For example, some teenagers have taken their lives because of the bullying that happens online. Also, there are reports that indicate teenagers are losing the essence of conversation or communication as a result of excessive use of social media platforms. All these reports have some truth in them and help showcase the different ways social media platforms leave an imprint on teenagers. Presented herein is a discussion that involves both the positive and negative impacts that social media has had on teenagers since its advent.
Positive Impacts
While some evils are associated with the use of social media platforms, there are some positive effects that these platforms are deemed to have on teenagers. Some teenagers credit social media platforms for the development of their social life, others believe their eyes are opened to what is happening around them because of social media use. So, it is impossible to discredit the positive social media platforms have had because of a few bad ones. However, as will be shown, it is crucial to discuss or compare the weight of the impacts, and make apt adjustments. Below is a discussion of these impacts.
One way that social media positiv...