The Hidden Cost of Social Media on the Youths

The social media influence the adolescents mental health both negatively and positively at the same time, because while the social media platforms helps the teens feel connected and stay in touch with friends and family, it can also contribute to depression, anxiety, loneliness and fear of missing out.

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Concerning the future of todays adolescents mental health is really causing issues like comparison, social media addiction and even sleep disturbance, it also makes them lazy at home to do house chores, they don't even pay attention to their academics even though the social media enhances communication, access to information and educational opportunities. It also leads to cyber bullying too. I would like to share my experience about social media.

When l was growing up my parents restricted me from using mobile phone they made a decision that l will only use phone when l am done with high school, even though all my peers had mobile phones l didn't take it to be anything l wasn't bothered at all. l was so serious with my studies all my attention was on my books and nothing else. Until when l was done with high school l started using phone that was when things changed l wasn't doing house chores like before, l stopped reading my books the way l used to everyday all my attention was just on my phone and nothing else. My parents started complaining regretting their decision for handling me a mobile phone to use, l became really sad so l had to balance the equation by scheduling myself when it is time to work l put the phone aside, when it is time to read l keep the phone when it is time to sleep l keep the phone then on my free time l operate the phone, now l'm no longer addicted to my phone l can even go days without using my phone l don't even get bothered about it anymore and l'm really happy about that.

The social media fosters innovation, learning, provides entertainment but the youths of today see more concern about having more followers on social media leading to anxiety and depression as they constantly compare themselves to others. When using the media there's this feeling of isolation among others, where there's a room for discussion getting to know your peers they won't be any form of interaction because all the person's attention would be on the phone and nothing else. Even in academics students don't read anymore in exams because all they think about is how to use their phone for examination malpractice without thinking about the implications, the society won't get any better if we continue like this.

An advice l would love to give to everybody is that the social media is not reality rather it is a valuable tool when used responsibly, do not post personal information on social media because not everyone out there wants you to succeed.

Thank you for taking time to read my post, hope to see you again @rukyig blog.

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