Social media has become unavoidable in today’s age. It is hard to find anyone who does not use any social media platform. It started as a simple medium of communication but today it also allows us to keep up with the world. Social media platforms have various uses for every age group. Nevertheless, like everything, social media has its advantages and disadvantages. Such as teenagers are using these platforms the most, both for positive and negative purposes. They spend hours online, glued to their phones or on the computer.
We are going to discuss a few negative aspects of using social media and how it affects teenagers. Below mentioned are the following points. Read on to learn.
1. Mental Health
Social networking certainly plays an important role in expanding teenagers’ social circles and helping them acquire essential technical abilities. However, what effect do all these social media have on teenagers’ minds? Many reports indicate that the effects can be substantial. Teens developing brains are susceptible to a plethora of online activities, but since they typically are not able to control their time spent on their screens and their risk of being exposed to dangers can rise as they spend.
2. Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying on social media has far fewer immediate consequences than bullying in the real world. A teenager’s decision-making is not fully developed, and posting can easily go unchecked. Even if a child can delete or alter what they posted, it may still be difficult to undo the damage. This can cause mental and emotional distress for the victim and others around them.
If your child has been the victim of cyberbullying, try to talk to a trusted adult, such as a teacher or a counselor. You should keep track of evidence of bullyings, such as screenshots of emails, messages, and posts. You can also seek professional assistance. There are support groups for victims of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying cannot be prevented, but you must help your child cope with these issues and make them feel better about themselves.
3. Missing out on social media
One of the most common phrases used by teens and tweens is, “I don’t want to miss anything!” FOMO is a legitimate psychological condition. In a digital age, where we are constantly bombarded with updates and notifications, it can be impossible not to feel as though we are missing something. However, there are ways to combat FOMO without causing too much harm.
While it’s not a serious medical condition, FOMO can be extremely detrimental to teenagers’ mental health. This condition can lead to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, mood swings, and even sleeplessness. As a parent, you must help your teen overcome this disorder by avoiding giving them advice about their feelings. Encourage them to develop offline hobbies and sports to fight FOMO.
4. Sleep deprivation
Teenagers’ use of social media can lead to poor sleep. Teens often struggle to stay off the social network at night, fearing they will miss something important or not answer a friend’s message. They may be waking up the whole night because of social media, or their body clock is naturally set to that routine. Either way, sleep is a crucial part of adolescence, and teens should make sure they are getting adequate sleep.
A recent study analyzed how social media and screens affect adolescents’ sleep habits. The teens who slept less than recommended also had more electronics in their rooms. Researchers also noted that less sleep-deprived teens had lower self-esteem, were more likely to report mood problems and were less productive in school. The researchers concluded that the effects of social media and technology on sleep are mutually harmful. Being a parent, it is your responsibility to restrict your child from excessive use of the internet. For that, you must have parental control to limit your teenager’s internet access. You can contact Xtream Internet number to get more information about parental control.
5. Compulsive scrolling
Teenagers claim that various social media posts inspire them. They may be envious of their peers who have thousands of followers, while others may feel sad over images of their family members or loved ones. Teenagers might even experience distress when they see pictures of friends expressing gratitude for their families. Whether it is on Facebook, Instagram, or other social media sites, teens may feel overwhelmed by the number of messages and images they receive and post.
Conclusion
Since so much brain development happens during the teenage period, parents must be aware of the effects that using social media can affect their children. Therefore, it is essential to set strict guidelines for social media consumption and steer them towards healthy activities.
