Why Social Media is Bad - Youth is Under the Risk

Introduction 

Technology advancements have been a blessing to human beings; and today, computers, and mobile devices have become a part of our daily lives. The internet is also a part of the technology that many of us have come to appreciate. Basically, in this day and age, it is the internet that makes the world go round. Social media, for instance, is a part of the internet that has created a greater avenue for people to interact across the globe. Nowadays, social media negative effects are not unknown. Sadly, teenagers and adolescents are have taken on the use of social media to extents that if not monitored or restricted, it can have some very severe effects on their overall well-being. In why social media is bad essay risks of using it are analysed. 

Social media was created to help people maintain connections, network, and obtain information.  Recently, almost everybody has at least one account on a social networking website. Even people that have little desire to see the thoughts and opinions of hundreds of “friends” find themselves creating accounts. This is because nobody wants to be left behind in our fast-paced, advancing world of technology. If people’s friends and peers have a social media account, they are bound to create one as well. Supporters of social media claim that it improves the social connections of people. “People communicate and maneuver in these networks rather than being bound up in one solitary community”. Social media allows you to interact with your community no matter where you are or who you are with. According to social media supporters, connecting with your community via the internet makes you less lonely. In actuality, social media has isolated people. Studies have shown that outgoing people become lonely and depressed due to social media use. Frequently, new relationships are sparked because of networking and mutual friends through social media. Unfortunately, these relationships are often low quality. Virtual communication is much less sincere than face-to-face interaction. Engaging with strangers over the internet can be unsafe and leave users with a lack of social skills. Social media can be a great tool if used correctly, but more often than not, people misuse and abuse it. Not only is social media often abused and misused, but it has a gained a blind following. Many social media users today cannot prove why social media is helpful or beneficial. Instead, those who support social media want an explanation as to why social media is bad, shifting the burden of proof to the opposers of the incessant use of social media. The negative effects of social media outweigh the positive.

The Negative Impact of Social Media on Youth

Facebook Depression

Facebook depression is an emotional disturbance associated with social media usage. When a teenager is made to feel inferior to their social media counterparts, they often fall into a depression commonly referred to like a Facebook depression. The need to stand out, fit in, or be accepted by their Facebook friends is what drives users towards this form of emotional disturbance.

Anxiety

We are more curious about knowing what other people are doing rather than spending time for ourselves. Those who spend more time on social media become victims of depression and anxiety because it adversely affects the thought processes and mood. Good mental health is important for study, career, and personal life. Thus, it is recommended to spend only a half-hour per day instead of wasting your whole day.

Stalking

Smartphones are connecting people. If you’re always sharing your location, then social media friends know where you are. Teenagers are used to updating their status, share what they’re watching, listening to, reading, and where they check-ins. This habit not only becomes an addiction but also make them hyperactive because they always look for new updates from their friends. They check every notification and alert to respond because they believe responding on time is necessary.

Cyberbullying

A cyberbully is the use of social media to communicate false, embarrassing, or hostile information to specific users. Among the major effects of social media, cyberbullying is an evil that has become such an atypical toady. Victims of prolonged cyber-bullying often end up with psychosocial problems like depression, isolation, loneliness, stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and some even become suicidal.

Sleep Deprivation

Social media is among the leading causes of sleep deprivation in teens today. They are constantly worried about what their friends are posting and sharing. Adolescents can stay active on social for longer durations if not prompted to stop. And if they do these, especially during sleep time or just before sleep, then there is a high possibility of their sleep being disrupted. The readings can help you understand the importance of sleep and the associated risks of sleep loss.

Lower Self-Esteem

Mostly teen girls start comparing themselves with celebrities after spending time on social media and want to look slim, pretty, and rich like them. In the teenage, it is normal to copy those persons to whom they admire or consider a role model. This imitation can negatively affect their self-respect and dignity. The outcome of different studies is girls who spend more time on social media to portray them similar to celebrities are isolated from friend circles. Their friends do not accept them.

Social Isolation

There is a statistical relationship between the use of social media and social isolation. When teenagers see the pictures or video of a party where they were not invited, it can bring anxiety. It is known as “fear of missing out” or FOMO. Most of the time, teenage children believe they are connecting to different persons using social media, but actually, they are out of the present moment and their lives. This can become a cause to feel more isolated and a reason for FOMO.

Impractical Expectations

You won’t be surprised if I say Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are the reason for impractical expectations and friendships. You can not cross-check the authenticity of other’s activities.

In an ideal situation, nobody should lie on social media, but showbiz and promotion strategies not gonna change in the near future. Instagram and YouTube celebrities, including influencers, are bind to such strategies to attract audiences.

Poor Concentration

Today negative effects of social media on students can be seen easily. Different tasks, such as schoolwork, classwork, or homework, require more concentration to deal with something important, but now teenagers have a habit of simultaneously using social media. Most of them consider it multitasking, but it is not. Researches show constant interruption has an adverse effect on attention and reduces learning and performance.

Decreased Activity

Teenagers who do heavy use of social media do not spend enough time on activities that definitely increase mental abilities, skills, and physical movement. Those who exercise daily, their body releases endorphins that signal our brain to stay positive and reduce depression. Thus decreased activities reduce the secretion of endorphins, and it is causing depression a common problem.

Internet Addiction

Uncontrolled social media usage among teens can lead to internet addiction. The more time kids spend on social media, the more they get exposed to new stories and ideas that they would want to explore. This habit eventually turns into an addiction that, if not handled early, can affect their school performance, mental health, and even personal development.

Suicide and Self-Harm Content

Social media is not only addictive but can also lead to suicide and self-harm. Teenagers on the internet can do anything to receive attention. When youth see someone is getting attention by doing self-harm activity, they copycat without a second thought. They do it to show their bravery or because of poor mental health.

Burglary

Nearly four in five ex-burglars have indicated that thieves watch social media to look for potential opportunities. This is because 57% of people post something about their travel plans, like a photo from the airport or 'checking in' at the hotel, effectively telling would-be burglars when they should break in.

Be Responsible and Sensible

Social media continues to be a positive tool that can be used to accomplish great things. It can foster creativity and social networks are terrific for connecting with people around the world. The important thing is to exercise common sense and restraint when using such sites as twitter, Facebook and Instagram to avoid potential pitfalls . Have fun, stay safe, and be mindful of what information you put out there.

Backlash

A joke among friends is one thing but a joke with the world at-large is much different. When potentially offensive content is posted online, the amount of feedback can be excessive and is often brutal. This is particularly true with highly opinionated subjects like politics and religion. This backlash can also have a long-term impact on a person's future, especially in a world that has fallen prey to over-sharing. Even high school students are learning that comments they post on social media can influence whether a college approves their application for admission.

Fake News

One unfortunate use of social media that has come up since the 2016 elections is the use of social media to influence public policy with information that may be doctored or outright false. This can be done by actors within the United States such as political parties as well as foreign governments. It also can be used by corporations to generate interest or controversy over a product or service that may be based entirely on fake information. A study by the Pew research centre found that 60% of adults who get their news information from social media shared stories that were false on their social media accounts. It's an issue that over half of Americans believe will continue to increase.

Workers Distracted

Employees who don't manage their usage of social networks during work hours can see signs of it in poor peformance reviews. Even leisure time use of these platforms becomes a workplace issue now that employers are beginning to do Internet keyword searches of their employees' names. This practice is increasingly occurring as part of recruitment, and job seekers with indiscreet online profiles are discovering that unprofessional behavior on social networks can hurt future job prospects.

Productivity Killer

Social networking, with the noted exception of professional networks like LinkedIn, is mostly geared toward personal use as a casual, leisurely activity. However, social media addiction may be hampering worker's productivity when they are in the office. Workers who surf social media instead of doing work could be costing their employers millions of dollars in lost productivity. As a result, some companies block sites like facebook on company devices.

Online Sex Crimes

According to GuardChild, 29% of 'internet sex crime relationships' started on a social media site. Further, in 26% of 'online sex crimes against minors,' perpetrators distributed information or images of the victims via social networks.

Сonclusion

In conclusion, social media is, and will continue to be, harmful, unless something is done about it. The power it has over people is dangerous and often goes unnoticed. People should care because if not addressed, or taken care, of social media could cause national and international problems. Social media stunts interpersonal growth and increases narcissism in many internet users. Even if the user is not psychologically affected by social media, they are still in danger. Nobody is immune to the harmful side effects social media including identity theft, stalkers, or hackers. Social networking allows hoaxes and false information to cause widespread chaos. “The dark side of social media is that, within seconds, anything can be blown out of proportion and taken out of context. And it is very difficult not to get swept up in it all” .If there are no regulations or limitations on social media, the repercussions will accumulate. People need to change the destructive patterns of social media use before it destroys society. The fast, easy access to information that is supposed to be beneficial to society is actually detrimental to society.