As people venture through their lives there should not be a constant confinement of social anxiety even when they are alone. As a teenage girl I find enough social obstacles just going to school everyday, but now I find myself more worried about what I am going to see online, almost living in fear.
As people venture through their lives there should not be a constant confinement of social anxiety even when they are alone. As a teenage girl I find enough social obstacles just going to school everyday, but now I find myself more worried about what I am going to see online, almost living in fear. Looking through different social media platforms and constantly comparing your own life to others’ becomes a lonely trap and according to a study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine going on social media increases the likelihood of depression.
The Internet has become an environment where we vitalize our jealousy and insecurities. Comparing ourselves to others is unhealthy and discourages individual growth. Our society has created impossible expectations that are imposed through social media and people are being dragged around and tormented by the unrealistic ideas of happiness on their screens.
Social media creates an alternate reality that fogs real social skills, creating a very confusing, hurtful setting that neglects remorse. Pressing send is so easy and does not make people think twice about the effects it might have on the other person. While it is very useful and even fun to keep up with friends and distant relatives via our screens, contacting others through devices has become an aid to hurting people.
Counseling Service reported in the Cyber Bullying Statistics 2014 that 52 percent of teens report being cyber bullied. Over half of the young minds of our future have experienced the cruelest aspect of social media. Cyberbullying is so egregious because it offers a way to demolish someone’s emotional stability and never witness how badly he or she was hurt. You should not be able to ruin someone’s life by making a few clicks on your phone, unfortunately that is now something most people have access to.
We have given social media the power to alter lives, however, texting, commenting, liking, and sharing, are all given false value and often times interpreted all the wrong ways. A few words that do not portray any emotion should not define our relationships and statuses. Teasing playfully frequently takes place between close friends but when those lighthearted remarks go online it is easy to feel attacked. Similarly, texting is great for making plans and figuring out logistics, but it is not the place for heavy conversations.
Social media has also brought less satisfaction in real life interaction. Too many people care more about the notifications on their phones than the fellow human beings in front of them. Constantly looking at your screen it is easy to miss out on minor, yet crucial events. Face to face discussions are important and should not be abandoned for the cyber world.
Although in theory social media is an incredible social achievement, in practice it seems to deteriorate our mental health and relationships. With appropriate amounts, social media still has so much to offer, but as more apps are made, posts shared, friends added, it is easy to see we are becoming closer to technology but not necessarily closer to each other.
