Each teen is pressured into having a social media platform due to their community. Social media is in technology, and technology is all around them. It can cause addiction, which simply starts by following an account, giving it likes, and then wanting more and more of its content. Social media even correlates with sleep. Instead of sleeping at night, teenagers are often on their phones, seeking more of the account content. Though they want to stop, they often find that they can’t. They become consumed by the addiction, leading to stress for the next day since they do not have the energy they get from sleep.
Teenagers often feel ashamed not having a social media presence, afraid of being teased or ostracized. Not being on social media can result in a struggle for the teen to find friends. This potential outcome leads teens to feel the need to be active on social media platforms, which leads to stress. This stress then leads to them craving for a large number of followers and likes. In reality, those followers are meaningless as they aren't true friends. In today's world, it's unlikely not to have an account or post about their life. As a result of being afraid of exclusion, the teens create an account. This results in the cycle of stress mentioned earlier. Even if teenagers want to leave the stressful environment of social media, they are scared of being alone, worrying too much about whether their friends will leave them.
On social media, the constant comparison to others can trigger stress among teenagers, leading them to strive for unrealistic beauty standards and material possessions. Comparing themselves to someone's appearance results in stress stemming from their desire to be pretty or handsome by their definition. Materialistic comparison, such as wanting AirPods because everyone else does, puts pressure on them to purchase them to avoid being singled out. Teens need to realize the impact of social media and stop before they get addicted. The stress is not worth it and can affect the teen's mental health.
Stress from social media might also lead to depression. Depression is induced by the constant need to be self-absorbed and lack of self-expression. Social media affects self-esteem and results in self-hate and negative thoughts about themselves. The more social media is used, the more concerned they become about being perfect. The unfortunate reality is that not everything on social media is factual. Most messages and content are perceived out of context.
The stress caused by social media and technology has a name, it is called technostress. Many teens don’t know much about it, so I highly encourage researching more about technostress to increase awareness of the influence of mental health on social media. Teens need to know they are not alone with their stress, and there are always resources available to help them manage stress and reduce their addiction to social media.
In conclusion, please keep control of the time spent on social media. Controlling the urge to use social media can be moderated by both parents and the teen. Spending time with family and friends while avoiding the toxic environment of social media proves to be extremely beneficial. A way parents can help teenagers is by moderating their screen time.
Do what's best for you and your mental health. Inspire others to do the same. Below are more articles to keep you motivated and inform you of the stress caused by social media.
Articles:
"Social Media and Mental Health." HelpGuide.org, https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm#:~:text=Using%20social%20media%20more%20often,depression%2C%20anxiety%2C%20and%20stress.
"Is It or Is It Not? Social Media's Affecting Your Mental Health." McLean Hospital, https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/it-or-not-social-medias-affecting-your-mental-health#:~:text=FOMO—fear%20of%20missing%20out,can%20create%20anxiety%20and%20depression.
"Social Media: Busting or Boosting Your Stress." Everyday Health, https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/united-states-of-stress/social-media-busting-boosting-your-stress/.
"Social Media and Teen Anxiety." Harvard Graduate School of Education, https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/usable-knowledge/17/12/social-media-and-teen-anxiety.
"Low Self-Esteem in Adolescents: What Are the Root Causes?" Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inside-out-outside-in/202206/low-self-esteem-in-adolescents-what-are-the-root-causes#:~:text=Some%20key%20causes%20of%20low,expectations%20and%20attacks%20on%20identity.