The Adverse Effects of Social Media on the Youth

We live in a quickly evolving world, in which people are more connected than ever before. Social media has become one of the defining themes of our generation, reaching all parts of the globe and influencing many aspects of life. It has provided a platform for individuals, businesses, and news outlets alike. Whether the rise of social media has brought about more harm than good, particularly amongst the youth, has become a hot topic of debate and discussion. Young people are some of the most active social media users, and likely the most vulnerable. Research has indicated that poor academic performance, sexual exploitation, and increased anxiety are often results of overexposure to social media.
A study by the Kaiser family foundation found that today’s teens are spending more than seven and a half hours a day consuming some form of media (Ahuja 2013). Although we may not be surprised by hearing about heavy media exposure, over seven hours would amount to nearly half of our waking time. Social media alone accounts for over 3 of those hours, according to the Ipsos Open Thinking Exchange (Marketing Charts 2013). These numbers, which are consistent with many similar studies, mean that the current younger generation is the most electronically connected ever. These new trends require that we understand the benefits, as well as the drawbacks which may occur. Up until about a decade ago, time currently spent on social media may have been spent on other, likely more natural, activities and forms of communication. Larry Rozen, a social media research specialist and past chair of psychology at California State University, says that teens check in to their social accounts every few minutes, fearing they miss out on something in their social circle. Social media, as Rozen points out, is not just part of their lives, it