Impact of Social Media on Teenagers

Digital revolutions reshape reality's landscape as technology rewrites human experience's ancient code. Modern technology has made our lives easier, faster, and better in many ways. It has become an influential factor in our everyday lives, creating a large impact on today’s youth. Although social media is accessible to everyone, studies have found that children from the early age of 8 to 18 years old spend around 6 to 7 hours a day on social media (Brown & Witherspoon, 2002, p. 154). That is a vast amount of time that children and teens spend using their tablets, smartphones, computers, and TVs each day.

Technology has created a new community for adolescents through the use of social media. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat have made it easier for individuals to communicate, socialize, and develop relationships. Social media has also become influential in education, information dissemination, business, politics, and entertainment. However, while social media has its benefits, it also poses risks when used daily. The relationship between teenagers and social media has become hyperconnected. About 90% of young adults in the U.S. use social media, and the majority of users visit these sites at least once a day (Primack et al., 2016, p. 1). Studies have shown that social media is linked to mental illnesses. Adolescents are exposed to negative effects such as cyberbullying, Fear of Missing Out (FOMO), depression, anxiety, lower self-esteem, and decreased life satisfaction. It is crucial for adolescents and adults to be aware of these potential harms and understand how to use social media safely.

This essay examines the sub-disciplines of abnormal and developmental psychology to understand the effects and history of social media on adolescents. It will include a literature review focusing on multiple models describing social media and an applied research project designed to help prevent mental and physical damage to adolescent groups. Abnormal Psychology addresses unusual patterns of behavior, emotion, and thought, which can be exacerbated by excessive social media use. The negative impact of social media on adolescents' mental health is an increasing issue that needs to be addressed to prevent it from growing further.

Social Media and Its Historical Context

Social media can be defined as internet-based platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and others (Ali, Iqbal, & Iqbal, 2016, p. 369). These platforms include blogs, forums, business networks, photo-sharing sites, social gaming, and chat apps. They allow us to stay connected with family and friends and provide a way to share information and communicate. Social media has become a new marketing tool for businesses and advertising, ingraining itself into our society and continuing to grow in popularity worldwide. In this emerging world of technology, internet accessibility is possible globally at the push of a button. The question remains: will social media continue to evolve and grow in popularity among adolescents? Only time will tell.

The history of social media and social networking has seen significant growth. The internet has revolutionized communication and interaction, changing our way of life. The first social media platform was introduced in 1969 and has since evolved into the current forms we use today. Many of the first recognizable major social networking sites were launched in 1997, with SixDegrees.com being the first of its kind (Boyd & Ellison, 2007, p. 214). This site combined profiles, friends lists, and school affiliations into one service, serving as a basic prototype for platforms like Facebook.

Following SixDegrees.com, the development of instant messaging created another platform for online communication. Messengers like ICQ and AIM allowed users to send messages, engage in multi-user chats, and transfer files for free with internet access. From 1997 to 2001, social networking sites like AsianAvenue, BlackPlanet, and MiGente emerged, allowing individuals to create personal, professional, and dating profiles (Boyd & Ellison, 2007, p. 214). The creation of Ryze in 2001, which allowed users to build profiles, add friends, and include instant messaging, paved the way for LinkedIn, a professional networking site.

In "The Culture of Connectivity: A Critical History of Social Media," Jose van Dijck summarizes the rise of social media: "From the late 1990s onward, platforms like Blogger (1999), Wikipedia (2001), Myspace (2003), Facebook (2004), Flickr (2004), YouTube (2005), Twitter (2006), and many others began to offer web tools that sparked old and new online communication tactics" (p.7).

Abnormal Psychology and Social Media

Abnormal psychology studies human behaviors such as anxiety, mood disorders, dissociative disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. Researchers aim to understand why individuals develop certain habits, behaviors, or thoughts that deviate from the norm. By examining the negative link between social media and our cognitive, affective, and biological responses, abnormal psychology can highlight the risks of poor mental health, such as depression and anxiety, associated with social media use.

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in the U.S., affecting how individuals feel, think, and act. It is more than just sadness or a depressed mood. Those suffering from depression often feel helpless and worthless, which can lead to emotional and physical problems that impair daily functioning. If untreated, depression can be fatal. Symptoms of depression include tiredness, difficulty focusing, sleep disturbances, loss of interest in activities, weight changes, and thoughts of death or suicide (Dhir, Yossatorn, Kaur, & Chen, 2018, p. 144).

Several studies link social media to depression, as many individuals spend the majority of their time on electronic devices, reducing face-to-face interactions. A study by Radovi, Gmelin, Stein, and Miller (2016) found that, compared to their non-depressed peers, depressed adolescents are more likely to use the internet (p.5). Their study found that depression symptoms varied by age group, with younger adolescents who frequently used social media more likely to internalize their behavior by withdrawing from peers, friends, and family, while older adolescents were more likely to externalize their behavior through anger or aggression (Radovi et al., 2016, p. 6).

Developmental Psychology and Adolescent Growth

Developmental psychology studies the psychological development of humans throughout their lifetime, focusing on factors that promote or inhibit growth. Biological, psychological, and social forces play crucial roles during adolescent development. Changes occur as individuals transition from childhood to adulthood, including puberty, which alters hormone levels and physical appearance, influencing drive, motivation, psychology, and social life. The brain also undergoes structural and functional changes throughout adolescence.

Self-Esteem, Life Satisfaction, and Identity

Social media can negatively impact individuals' self-esteem, pride, and self-respect, affecting their life satisfaction in areas like academic success, relationships, and mental and physical health. Self-esteem changes throughout a person's life, with adolescence being a particularly delicate phase. Adolescents are more susceptible to their environment and often compare themselves to others online, absorbing the idealized images others post.

Evidence-Based Social Program Proposal

Based on research, it is clear that social media can become an addictive habit from which adolescents and young adults are inseparable. Families and parents can help their children by educating them about the negative impacts social media can have on mental health and well-being. Encouraging open communication, setting time limits, and fostering healthy attitudes towards social media use are essential steps in mitigating its adverse effects.

Discussion and Conclusion

Social media has become a popular communication tool, integrating into everyone's daily routine, especially teenagers. They often can't go a day without checking platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat. Adolescents undergo significant changes during puberty, and social media can contribute to their insecurities by perpetuating the illusion that everyone else is perfect, wealthy, and fit. This can lead to self-esteem issues as adolescents strive to emulate what they see online.

In conclusion, while social media offers numerous benefits, its negative impacts on adolescent mental health cannot be ignored. By understanding the historical context, psychological implications, and developmental challenges associated with social media, we can better address its risks. Through education, awareness, and evidence-based interventions, we can help adolescents navigate the digital world safely and healthily, ensuring their mental well-being and life satisfaction in the process.

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