Blog Post #1

Social media has become an incredible part of our lives- especially those of teenagers and young adults. Platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, and Twitter have allowed people to connect like never before. Although this may seem like a positive societal impact at first glance, not everything is brighter on the other side.

A report created by Common Sense Media, “Social Media, Social Life: Teens Reveal Their Experiences,” shared insightful details on the good and bad effects of social media. According to the company, “Teens are much more likely to say social media has a positive rather than a negative effect on how they feel,” (Rideout, et al., 2018). This interesting yet important detail covers a whole lot of different feelings teenagers may experience. For example, teenagers are likely to feel less lonely when using social media. This could be due to the ease of access to others online. This is just one example, but it shows how social media can make a positive impact on teenagers’ lives.

Despite the blossoming connectivity created by social media platforms, there are some crucial negative impacts to these sites as well. One interesting statistic highlighted by the site, “72% of teens think they’re being manipulated,” points out just how in tune people are starting to become when it comes to information privacy and social media, and the use of algorithms. Like it or not, chances are if you use social media of any kind, some company somewhere probably has information on you.

These are findings that are not new, exciting, or wildly groundbreaking in any way. We have known for years that social media, despite its positives, has profound negative impacts. For some people, these negatives outway the positives, and being involved on social media is just not worth it. It is a personal choice, and in order to make it, it is crucial to have all of the information. That is why reports and studies such as these are so important and beneficial. Although, this report in itself is inherently biased, as it seems to convey the message that parents should monitor their children’s social media or not allow them to partake at all.

Overall, whether social media is 100% positive or 100% negative is not a clear-cut answer. This report seems to show mostly only the negative aspects of social media, but with just enough positive findings to ensure the reader does not think the company is trying to persuade them of anything. Sure, social media has its downsides, but it also has its upsides. But after all, doesn’t just about anything?