How Social Media Can Harm Teenagers

How Social Media Can Harm TeenagersMany adults are concerned about the effects of the internet and social media on teens. Much of this concern is fueled by a recent news story that seems to suggest that the use of social media is harming teenagers. In reality, most parents would agree that if something like this were happening in their neighborhood, they would be alarmed as well.Teens today are spending far more time online than they ever did before. The amount of time they spend in front of the computer is astounding.As the information on this topic has become available through various research studies, there have been many arguments about what the long term effect of this may be. But all of these arguments are based on speculation.The fact is that teenagers' social media use is only part of the story. Teens are using Facebook and other social media sites for a number of reasons - to connect with other teens, to stay in touch with their friends, to stay connected with their schools, to keep up with their own interests, to stay in touch with friends and family, and to share information with their friends.All of these activities affect a teen's social media use. The same applies to their Facebook profile. Social media users of any age need to consider how they use their social media accounts, and to what end.It's very easy to go off the grid with a social media account, but it can also be very dangerous to spend so much time on a site that encourages a total withdrawal from school, family, and friends. Teenagers need their schoolwork, their homework, and their friends, too. So, social media use should be used in moderation.Other social media sites like Twitter and Facebook make it easy to post photos. Teenagers may find this a useful tool, but it doesn't mean that they shouldn't avoid posting photos of themselves at home. The use of photo sites can help teens remain in touch with family and friends, and with the activities in their local community. Social media can be an excellent way to stay in touch with friends and family while still having a decent amount of free time.