What Effects does Social Media Have on Teenagers?
This week I made a short video hopefully providing a little insight into the effects of Social Media on teenagers and how it can effect their mental health. Unfortunately as the use of social media has increased, so has mental illness in teenagers from age 15-25. A substantial increase which makes me wonder if the use of these websites and apps are actually good for us, and if not, how damaging they could be.
The Video
Social Media and Mental Health Video – the video shares the thoughts and ideas running through peoples minds when using social media sites, and how these thoughts and opinions can change due to public perception, friendships and trolling (unleashing cynical or sarcastic remarks on an innocent by-stander). Does it really matter what anyone thinks of you, probably not, but from an anxious eye, you’d be worrying all the same, from a depressed eye, you’d be upset and troubled by what people are thinking of you, and even if nothing is being thought etc.
Research
In 2014 researchers found that the death toll for teenage suicides had reached the same state as the death toll for traffic incidents, thus showing how damaging the rapidly changing culture of the western world is effecting maybe mental health. instead of being shamed by a small group, teenagers can now be shamed by massively large groups. Instead of being scared to bully, hateful and spiteful youngsters can bully from behind a screen – in disguise per say. without the shame and conflicting guilt of face to face bullying.
The Key is Talking and Loving
Some of tell-tale signs of mental illness are obvious, some most definitely not. A lot of people try to hide what they’re feeling from other people because they are made to feel silly, odd or unusual. This is certainly not the case but is made worse by people constantly hiding. We must make sure that our friends and family know this, that they share their own stories and spread the word so that they are no longer shamed. We must make sure we are always there for our friends and family, making sure that they know this too. There is such a stigma attached to mental health and mental illness which needs to be demolished. Not only is it completely unnecessary, but it can also damage our loved ones and effect their continuous coping strategies.
Please consider the following resources if you are, or if you have a friend who is suffering:
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