Many teens in the United States use social media like Snapchat, Instagram,  and Tiktok ETC.

And as you use these apps they could effect your own mental health. These apps and others give some people the ability to bully others on their screens. Social media has ruined quite a few careers just because of what they had posted in the past when they were young and immature.

Clay Matthews is an example of this. He was on Facebook and had a group called “White Nation”. It featured a picture of a black baby arrested and it had a caption that said “Arrest black babies before they become criminals.”

However, when he did that, it did not end his career, he just got some hate for it. He went on to have a ten year career mainly with the Packers and was a six time pro bowler.

Social media just isn’t a bad place it can also be good. It makes for good communication with other people, although it is better to talk to people face to face. It makes it easy to shop, easy to make appointments, easy to plan things with people. It keeps you up to date with the world easier than than the news on T.V. If you are not able to be with a person during tough times you can give them your emotional support through your phone or whatever platform you are on.

However, multiple studies have found a strong link between heavy social media and an increased risk for depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, and even suicidal thoughts. Social media may promote negative experiences such as, Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO).

Although this has been around longer than social media it juts makes it happen more often as you may see your friends hanging out without or see other people living a better life than you. There was a study completed at the University of Pennsylvania on isolation and it found that the more and more you are on social media like Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram, you are way more likely to feel isolated and just isolate yourself from people. The study found that reducing social media usage can actually make you feel less lonely and isolated and improve your overall well being.

Overall just be careful with how you use social media, like use it to for the right reasons and do not cyber bully people and make sure you are talking to people face to face and not just on through social media. Make sure your not over using it and go outside and get real contact with people.