All of us use social media almost everyday, however most of us don’t utilize it beneficially. While social media can connect people and keep teens informed, many would rather text than talk to someone in person, which reduces necessary communication skills.

  Maricela Sanchez, an SVHS School Counselor, revealed, “Social media isn’t good or bad. It depends upon the teen that uses it. Moderation and supervision helps.”

  A study published by the Association for Psychological Science found that almost 50% of teens who spend 5 hours per day on an electronic device have at least one suicide risk factor.

  Social media offers a safe environment for marginalized teens that may not participate in traditional friendships. People in online support groups going through the same hardships can help these teens.

  Those who realize that posts are just a snapshot of their friends’ life benefit the most from social media.  However, when every post is about exciting milestones in people’s lives, teens may question their own life and self worth. Social media can create negativity in teens’ lives when we compare ourselves to others.
  In the case of cyberbullying, Mrs. Sanchez stated, “People will say a lot of things online that they wouldn’t say in person.” The best way to deal with cyberbullying is to block them and report it to an adult. Their words might be misconstrued, and an adult’s perspective can help. There is no fear of confrontation to what people post online which leads to people saying things that they don’t actually mean.

  Teens would rather text than talk to someone face to face due to less stress and convenience. Mrs. Sanchez continued, “Overuse of social media leads to loss of communication skills that are necessary as adults.” Online communication puts everyone in a nonverbal context. This is detrimental to the development of teenage social skills.

  To solve this, we need to stop spending time on our screens and instead, spend time with people in real life. A simple solution to this matter is to limit social media use and not pay such close attention to other people’s seemingly lavish lives.