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About a third of teens (32%) say social media is mostly negative for people their age

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About a third of teens (32%) say social media is mostly negative for people their age

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compared with about a quarter (24%) who think the effect has been mostly positive.

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compared with about a quarter (24%) who think the effect has been mostly positive.

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Technology advancements have been a blessing to human beings, and today, computers and mobile devices have become a part of our daily lives. The internet is also a part of the technology that many of us have come to appreciate. Basically, in this day and age, it is the internet that makes the world go round. Social media, for instance, is a part of the internet that has created a greater avenue for people to interact across the globe. Nowadays, social media negative effects are not unknown. Sadly, our teenagers and adolescents have taken on the use of social media to the extent that it can have some very severe effects on their overall well-being if not monitored or restricted.

The Negatives of Social Media

There are several advantages and disadvantages of social media in our life and society. It affects teens very easily.

Thus, it is important to know how does social media affect teens. The effects of social media on teens can be dangerous. Take a look at the negative effects of social media on teenagers.

The Negative Effects of Social Media on Teenagers

How does social media affect teenagers? We should acknowledge that teenagers and adolescents are extremely vulnerable to certain growth and developmental aspects of life. And therefore, the effects that social media usage has on these children should be of particular importance to every knowing adult. The negative impacts of social media should be noticed on time.

As much as social media is known to a great social network tool, its evils in society cannot be overlooked. Adolescents and teenagers especially are susceptible to potential harm posed by social media usage. If not recognized on time and handled, these negative impacts of social media can be risky to the health and social well-being of your adolescent children.

The negative effects of social media on teens/negative impact of social media on youth are as following;

1. Facebook Depression

Facebook depression is an emotional disturbance associated with social media usage. When a teenager is made to feel inferior to their social media counterparts, they often fall into a depression commonly referred to as a Facebook depression. The need to stand out, fit in, or be accepted by their Facebook friends drives teenagers towards this form of emotional disturbance.

2. Anxiety

We are more curious about knowing what other people are doing rather than spending time for ourselves. Those who spend more time on social media become victims of depression and anxiety because it adversely affects the thought processes and mood.

Good mental health is important for study, career, and personal life. Thus, it is recommended to spend only a half-hour per day instead of wasting your whole day.

3. Cyberstalking

Nowadays, cyberstalking has become an issue. We have already covered a few articles related to Facebook stalking, Instagram Stalking, and WhatsApp Stalking.

Smartphones are connecting people. But, the negative effects of smartphones on youth can be seen today. If you're always sharing your location, then social media friends know where you are. Teenagers are used to updating their status, share what they're watching, listening to, reading, and where they check-ins. This habit becomes an addiction and makes them hyperactive because they always look for new updates from their friends. They check every notification and alert to respond because they believe responding on time is necessary.

Teenagers find new friends on social media and never take a rest. Such connections are virtual but can produce anxiety and cause depression. Some teenagers feel lonely when their virtual friend is not online or responds on time. They took everything seriously, any status update or text.

Parents must make healthy conversations with their kids and guide them on how to deal with the situation. Especially teenagers require the full attention of their parents.

4. Cyberbullying

A cyberbully is the use of social media to communicate false, embarrassing, or hostile information to specific users. Among the major effects of social media, cyberbullying is an evil that has become such an atypical today. Victims of prolonged cyber-bullying often end up with psychosocial problems like depression, isolation, loneliness, stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and some even become suicidal.

The lack of a mechanism to unravel users behind cyberbullying accounts is what is making these activities rampant.

How to manage the effects of cyberbullying?

Understand these effects and the risk they pose to teenagers.

Familiarize yourself with these social media platforms.

Get informed on what drives teens to seek social media attention.

Establish excellent communication with your teenage child on the same.

Set ground rules on the usage of social media.

If need be to get a monitoring app for social media on your child's device.

5. Sleep Deprivation

Social media is among the leading causes of sleep deprivation in teens today. They are constantly worried about what their friends are posting and sharing. Adolescents can stay active on social for longer durations if not prompted to stop. And if they do these, especially during sleep time or just before sleep, then there is a high possibility of their sleep being disrupted. The readings can help you understand the importance of sleep and the associated risks of sleep loss.

There a few apps to track your sleep patterns. You can check the Google Play or Apple App Store.

6. Lower Self-esteem

Most teen girls start comparing themselves with celebrities after spending time on social media and want to look slim, pretty, and rich like them. It is normal to copy those persons they admire or consider a role model in the teenage. This imitation can negatively affect their self-respect and dignity. Different studies' outcomes are that girls who spend more time on social media to portray themselves like celebrities are isolated from friend circles. Their friends do not accept them.

7. Social Isolation

There is a statistical relationship between the use of social media and social isolation. When teenagers see pictures or videos of a party where they were not invited, it can bring anxiety. It is known as "fear of missing out" or FOMO. Most of the time, teenage children believe they are connecting to different persons using social media, but actually, they are out of the present moment and their lives. It can become a cause to feel more isolated and a reason for FOMO.

8. Impractical Expectations

You won't be surprised if I say Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are the reason for impractical expectations and friendships. You can not cross-check the authenticity of other's activities.

Nobody should lie on social media in an ideal situation, but showbiz and promotion strategies are not going to change shortly. Instagram and YouTube celebrities, including influencers, are bind to such strategies to attract audiences.

9. Poor Concentration

Today negative effects of social media on students can be seen easily. Different tasks, such as schoolwork, classwork, or homework, require more concentration to deal with something important, but now teenagers have a habit of simultaneously using social media. Most of them consider it multitasking, but it is not. Researches show constant interruption has an adverse effect on attention and reduces learning and performance.

10. Decreased Activity

Teenagers who use social media heavily do not spend enough time on activities that definitely increase mental abilities, skills, and physical movement. Those who exercise daily, their body releases endorphins that signal our brain to stay positive and reduce depression. Thus decreased activities reduce the secretion of endorphins, and it is causing depression, a common problem.

11. Internet Addiction

Uncontrolled social media usage among teens can lead to internet addiction. The more time kids spend on social media, the more they become exposed to new stories and ideas they want to explore. This habit eventually turns into an addiction that, if not handled early, can affect their school performance, mental health, and even personal development.

Do you feel sad if not get likes on your social media content? How do you feel when not open your social media account for a day? What's the real feeling when your followers drop? Is there a negative feeling when someone unfollows you? These are some check-points to check your addiction level.

12. Suicide and Self-harm Content

Social media is not only addictive but can also lead to suicide and self-harm. Teenagers on the internet can do anything to receive attention. When youth see someone is getting attention by doing self-harm activity, they copycat without a second thought. They do it to show their bravery or because of poor mental health.

The situation worsens when they start sharing suicide methods and encourage others to engage in suicidal behavior. Researches and case studies show suicide is contagious and can spread through social networks. When a person notices the suicide attempt or death, it stimulates that person's risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts.

The Solution to Social Media Addiction

If a teenager is addicted to social media, it is our responsibility to talk about social media detox. But, how to measure addiction? There are some signs for taking a break from social media. You need to identify them on time. Here you can learn how a social media break can improve your mental health?

We have prepared a list of potentially dangerous apps parents should know about. You should learn about these inappropriate apps to save your teens from unknown dangers.

Thanks for this reading - the negative impact of social media on youth.

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The Negative Effects of Social Media on Teenagers, Youth or Adolescents

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Technology advancements have been a blessing to human beings, and today, computers and mobile devices have become a part of our daily lives. The internet is also a part of the technology that many of us have come to appreciate. Basically, in this day and age, it is the internet that makes the world go round.

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About four-in-ten teens (38%) say they have felt overwhelmed by the drama they see on social media, while roughly three-in-ten (31%) say it’s made them feel excluded by their friends. 

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About four-in-ten teens (38%) say they have felt overwhelmed by the drama they see on social media, while roughly three-in-ten (31%) say it’s made them feel excluded by their friends. 

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Do you know how easy to chat with strangers online? It's pretty easy. In fact, there are websites and applications that have private chat rooms where you can chat with strangers anytime... and several other websites promote these sites, as well.

So, with that said, how easy is it for a paedophile (someone who is attracted to children) to find and talk to a child on social media? Do you know what the likelihood is for your child to respond to a stranger's message online? According to video-recorded evidence, more often than not.

Coby Persin, a celebrity who does social experiments on YouTube, decided to test this, as he posed as a 15-year-old boy on Facebook. In this experiment, he friend requested three girls in his neighbourhood aged range from 12 to 14 with permission from their parents. He opened up the conversation by saying that he just moved into the area and was looking for some new friends to hang out with. In every case, they each agreed to meet him face-to-face within three or four days. They all revealed their home addresses. Worst of all, they all agreed to see him when their parents weren't around.

In every case, they each agreed to meet him face-to-face within three or four days. They all revealed their home addresses. Worst of all, they all agreed to see him when their parents weren't around.

Take a look at this video to see how frightening these situations are:

Fortunately for these three girls, instead of meeting a paedophile, they met their parents. It taught them a valuable real-life lesson about how they should not interact with people they don't know online. You never know who's behind the other side of the screen.

How Can Teachers Incorporate This into Their Lessons?

There is a reason why teachers and parents talk about the dangers of the online world to kids. Think back to when you were a child. It's really easy to assume that it's not going to happen to you... until it actually happens to you, or someone you know.

Teaching your students to question the things they read, hear and watch online keeps them aware of online dangers and has the potential to protect them from online crimes for life. This is especially important if they are chatting with strangers online.

When doing this, think about these things while you watch this video with your students:

1. There are over 750,000 online predators online at any given moment.

2. According to ICDL Arabia, over 23% of children in the GCC have agreed to meet a stranger face to face after chatting with them online.

3. This does not just happen to young girls. You can watch a second video that was done a month later that shows a series of different situations for boys. (Unlike the three girls who were groomed for three to four days, these boys were groomed in less than one day!)

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How Chatting Online with Strangers Could Ruin a Child's Life

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Do you know how easy to chat with strangers online? It's pretty easy. In fact, there are websites and applications that have private chat rooms where you can chat with strangers anytime... and several other websites promote these sites, as well.

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Looking them okay. But we're using it. Part it was Atlantis. And staffers mr. Sent by her tongue learned from K. Second text went off the scent and you know someone snapped at me your face kind of healing. I always answered and I always waited and waited and waited for someone or by. Yeah. I was up on ice and pictures. And yourself and to strangers who aid had no respect for me this is like sending us. I do it now she's that there are no room. You know whether phone on him and engaged in some. You know who knows how many relationships. It was my can knock down drag out fight practically to get found out of her hands it was like you took away or life. And she would say that it without my found I have nothing. So what's not to open it up and to a citizen. Service maintenance. She think he's. Couldn't believe it let's. The scary Jim Coffey panicked. I just got to buy rice in humans but not quite know why haven't scared. I was trying mean why we're here on earth yes it's just didn't make sense to me. I'm able to him my emotions a lot better and I feel. A lot happier still a lot more grateful and. I can't think. Definitely session it gets like downplayed its not in addiction and drugs but like it did cause me trauma and I think it's something that. We just kind of brushed past and we don't. In ours and it's an issue.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

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Video: California teen's social media obsession took her down a dark path

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Looking them okay. But we're using it. Part it was Atlantis. And staffers mr. Sent by her tongue learned from K. Second text went off the scent and you know someone snapped at me your face kind of healing. I always answered and I always waited and waited and waited for someone or by.

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“It causes me to procrastinate on homework or other tasks.” – Teen boy

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“It causes me to procrastinate on homework or other tasks.” – Teen boy

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This leads to stress and anxiety when if you just didnt have social media you could get your work done and have one less obsticle to get your work done.

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We are constantly bombarded with all the negative effects of teenagers engaging in social media so it is difficult to consider the possible benefits of this pastime. Young people crave connection, and as technology continuously progresses, so too do the available methods of communication. While previous generations solely relied on hand-written written, verbal and non-verbal communication cues, the current generation must also learn the social etiquette related to digital communication, including various social media platforms. Although it is true that there are a plethora of possible adverse outcomes that could result from a teen overindulging in the social media arena, there are also several positive effects social media can have on teens.

Strengthened Friendships

Friendships are integral to a teenager's social and emotional development. The additional communication platforms that social media offer (e.g. Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) provide teens with more options with which to communicate. Social media can also serve as an effective social networking tool that can increase a teen's self-confidence. The different social media platforms can enable a teenager to express themselves in ways that may not be conducive to in-person interactions. This can strengthen teen friendships by allowing teens to share and open-up with their friends on social media in ways that would otherwise be impossible.

Reduces Feelings of Loneliness

Social media offers young people an opportunity to re-invent themselves in a virtual setting, and engage with others that they may otherwise not. Social media affords teens a unique ability to cultivate their desired online presence and assume a distinct social media persona. In turn, this newfound individuality can provide teens with an increased sense of security in their existing friendships and may reduce feelings of loneliness.

Global Awareness and Engagement

Social media exposes teens to current events and important issues occurring all across the world. This can give teens a platform to voice their opinions on global issues as well as enable teenagers to get involved in actively supporting various causes. Further, some social movements began as a result of teens leveraging social media to build awareness for certain issues. Teenagers realize that through social media they are able make an instantaneous impact and help to effectively support people from afar.

The possible positive impact social media could have on teenagers is unfathomable. It is, however, important to note that adolescents are highly impressionable beings and for every positive effect social media could have on teens, there is an equal number of potential negative effects that could be caused by social media. As is true with everything in life: moderation is key, especially when it comes to teenagers and social media.

For Information and Support

Seeking help is never easy, but you are not alone! If you or someone you know is in need of mental health treatment, we strongly encourage you to reach out for help as quickly as possible. It is not uncommon for many mental health difficulties to impact a person for the long term. The earlier you seek support, the sooner you and your loved ones can return to happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

Our admissions team is available to answer any general questions regarding mental health issues, treatment, and/or specific questions about the program at Pacific Teen Treatment and how we might be able to help your family. We can be reached by phone 24/7 at 800-531-5769. You can also contact us via email at info@pacificrtc.com .

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Are there Positive Effects of Social Media for Teens? - Pacific Teen

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Social media has many negative impacts for teenagers, but there are some positive effects as well. Click here to learn more!