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Adolescent anxiety: A response to social media?

Social media is widely known to be one of today’s growing issues. As AI is becoming more prevalently incorporated into our lives, I believe that kids growing up in the social media world are being cognitively hurt in the long run. 

 

Users of social media are getting younger and younger. A study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that even though the minimum age of social media users in the US is 13, 40% of children ages 8-12 are active on social media; this signals how difficult it can be to enforce such rules without parental supervision, potentially leading to bullying and mental health issues.  

 

According to an article on Forbes, many tweens ages 10-12 have been exposed to inappropriate online content such as hate speech and vulgar language. Videos and images on social media platforms can trigger intense episodes and self-comparison for adolescents. Poor body image and eating disorders are considered “normal.” This can lead to unreal expectations in adolescents and nurture a lack of self-worth on all ends.  

 

A 2022 study conducted by the Pew Research Center found that 92% of teens use YouTube, 73% use TikTok, 69% use Instagram, and 64% use Snapchat. As a senior in college still interacting with these apps, I have realized the harmful effects they have had on my mental health. I am bombarded with these images and videos daily and I believe it has altered my perceptions of myself, and subconsciously created higher expectations for others because of the fakeness they promote. 

 

I believe being on social media can cause large amounts of unnecessary stress as children and teens deal with emotional learning and behavior, impulse control, and emotional regulation. According to one research study, American teens ages 12-15 who use more than three hours of social media a day face twice the risk of having symptoms of depression and anxiety. 

 

This is not only an important matter to discuss, but a PSA for those who need to seek help if they feel this way. On my end, I have tried cutting social media out of my everyday life and have been making an effort to try and heal what has hurt me from my long period of being active. I hope those who witness the younger generation who are highly active on social media realize how much it can harm them and take action to inform and prevent overexposure in this overstimulating environment.

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