# data[].attributes.body
The topic of social media and its effects on teenagers does not have a historical background but has much recent research done as it is a growing topic of interest. A lot of research done on the effects of social media on teenagers discusses how avid social media users develop toxic habits. One of the New York Times articles, “Does Social Media Make Teens Unhappy? It May Depend on Their Age.” states how statistically, some studies found significant associations between heavy social media use and mental health challenges amongst teenagers. The researchers in this article talk about how teenegers go through two periods of development and when social media use is heavy during these two times, it can affect the growth mentally and be shown emotionally. However, other studies conclude that the correlation between mental health issues and spending a lot of time online is not directly related, rather just a result of bad habits that eventually affect mental health. An article by the Washington Post, “How to Really Understand if Social Media Harms Young Minds.” researchers propose that what’s most harmful for the average kid isn’t social media use itself, but how it can consume so much time that could be put towards activities that science shows are beneficial for mental health, such as exercise or most importantly, sleep. Researchers amongst many different articles also discuss the negatives of social media such as how the spike in social media could be responsible for the increases in depression and suicide. While social media usage can be helpful, there is a line that is important for teenagers to know so unhealthy routines are not created. This will be the topic of discussion throughout.

# data[].attributes.body
Is the increase in teenager's emotional sensitivity due to social media?

# data[].attributes.body
Teenagers are in a constant stage of growing and social media allows them to meet new people and stay connected.

# data[].attributes.headline
Main Topic Idea: Social Media has Effects on Teenagers Growth and Development. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Main Topic Idea: Social Media has Effects on Teenagers Growth and Development. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Counter Argument: Social Media can positively affect teenagers as they grow and develop. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Counter Argument: Social Media can positively affect teenagers as they grow and develop. 

# data[].attributes.body
Social Media allows teenagers to learn new information in a more kid-friendly way as newspapers are considered 'old'.

# data[].attributes.body
There is no direct link connecting social media and mental health so it is not fair to say that the increase in mental health issues is due to social media. It can be due to the changing world around them and social media could actually be a coping tool.

# data[].attributes.body
Can social media increase brain development in teenagers forcing them to feel like they need to think and act older than they are?

# data[].attributes.body
Does social media increase the amount of comparison that teenagers do with one another, forming an unhealthy mentality?

# data[].attributes.body
a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being. This is a big key term related to social media as the constant feed and interactions online can lead to a change in one’s mental health for the better or worse.

# data[].attributes.body
a set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a society or group of people have about something. This is a key term as social media is filled with stigma as researchers just claim it to be something bad and rarely talk about the positive effects it can have.

# data[].attributes.body
the process of establishing a relationship or connection between two or more measures. This is a key term as most of the information discussed will give correlational effects between mental health and social media. It is important to know this word as it is mentioned frequently.

# data[].attributes.body
Depression is a constant feeling of sadness and loss of interest, which stops one from performing normal activities. This is a key term as many researchers believe the depression spike amongst teenagers is due to social media.

# data[].attributes.body
Social Rewards are the motivational and pleasurable aspects gained through interactions with other people. This is a key term as social media is filled with social rewards which is one of the biggest reasons why it is so addicting for teenagers.

# data[].attributes.body
Can social media cause teenagers to form unhealthy routine habits?

# data[].attributes.body
Does social media ruin children's attention span?

# data[].attributes.headline
Teens are behind a wall as they say whatever they want on their phones. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Teens are behind a wall as they say whatever they want on their phones. 

# data[].attributes.headline
The lack of instant gratification from their phones during real-life interactions makes them more sensitive. 

# data[].attributes.subject
The lack of instant gratification from their phones during real-life interactions makes them more sensitive. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Many teenagers do not know how to properly handle their emotions as they hide behind social media.

# data[].attributes.subject
Many teenagers do not know how to properly handle their emotions as they hide behind social media.

# data[].attributes.headline
Among girls, the comparison is more and creates toxic relationships. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Among girls, the comparison is more and creates toxic relationships. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Teens tend to get more self-conscious and compare their bodies with one another. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Teens tend to get more self-conscious and compare their bodies with one another. 

# data[].attributes.headline
There is an increase in depression and anxiety when social media is at its height.   

# data[].attributes.subject
There is an increase in depression and anxiety when social media is at its height.   

# data[].attributes.headline
Recently, it has been seen that younger children are acting older than their age as they are exposed to more content through social media. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Recently, it has been seen that younger children are acting older than their age as they are exposed to more content through social media. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Brain development in children is not reported as being affected by social media but rather by the habits that social media causes. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Brain development in children is not reported as being affected by social media but rather by the habits that social media causes. 

# data[].attributes.headline
There is more access for children to act differently as they can see different versions online compared to what is online. 

# data[].attributes.subject
There is more access for children to act differently as they can see different versions online compared to what is online. 

# data[].attributes.headline
It is reported that attention spans since social media has been in its prime is significantly lower. 

# data[].attributes.subject
It is reported that attention spans since social media has been in its prime is significantly lower. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Reports have also shown that multi-tasking amongst avid social media users is lower than those who use social media sparingly.

# data[].attributes.subject
Reports have also shown that multi-tasking amongst avid social media users is lower than those who use social media sparingly.

# data[].attributes.headline
Attention span is linked with instant gratification which is a big problem with social media. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Attention span is linked with instant gratification which is a big problem with social media. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Social media can form physically and emotionally unhealthy habits according to multiple sources. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Social media can form physically and emotionally unhealthy habits according to multiple sources. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Emotionally, social media can cause toxic mentalities such as constant comparison and worrying about what others think. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Emotionally, social media can cause toxic mentalities such as constant comparison and worrying about what others think. 

# data[].attributes.headline
Physically, social media can cause people to isolate and overwork themselves to achieve the 'perfect social media look'. 

# data[].attributes.subject
Physically, social media can cause people to isolate and overwork themselves to achieve the 'perfect social media look'. 

# data[].attributes.body
Hughes, Virginia. “Does Social Media Make Teens Unhappy? It May Depend on Their Age.” The New York Times, 28

Mar. 2022, www.nytimes.com/2022/03/28/science/social-media-teens-mental-health.html.

‌

Board, Editorial. “Opinion | How to Really Understand If

Social Media Harms Young Minds.” Washington Post, 5

June 2023, www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/06/05/social-media-mental-health-surgeon-general/.

‌

Barry, Ellen. “Social Media Use Is Linked to Brain Changes in

Teens, Research Finds.” The New York Times, 3 Jan.

2023, www.nytimes.com/2023/01/03/health/social-media-brain-adolescents.html.

‌