Most teenagers have social media, whether it’s Snapchat, Instagram, or TikTok. With these apps, people can connect with old friends and make new ones as well. Social media can be a safe place for people, but only if they understand how to use it safely. While there are pros to social media, there are also cons, and the dangers that lie underneath are not always discussed which can inevitably lead to unfortunate consequences.
The dangers that accompany social media should be talked about often, as sometimes we overlook the dangers that occur. When we think of social media, we think of a platform where you can scroll, connect with friends, and post what is happening in your life. This can be a positive thing and can allow people to see what is happening in the world and with their friends, but the same things that make social media good can also potentially have a serious effect on many people.
With social media in teenager’s lives, it can cause them to be glued to their phones and not be present in the real world. Whenever there is a break in the school day or the busy schedules of students, our phones are usually the resort to pass the time, and usually to check on what is happening on social media. Addiction to social media is a major danger, as being addicted causes teenagers to be constantly drawn back into the screen to check what is happening within their accounts. Whether it is realized or not, teens are naturally dependent on social media, which is something that we should and need to not be dependent on.
Not only is potential addiction a danger of social media, but the fact that pictures and videos of yourself can be seen by many people, whether it’s your friends or not, can also be a slippery slope. On Instagram, for example, once you post a picture of yourself, it is up forever and can be used against you in the future. Despite having the ability to have private accounts, private photos, or private videos, all the privacy settings don’t change the fact that social media can allow many people to view your account material.
Nevertheless, under the umbrella of social media’s dangers, there are also ways to prevent the risks of social media from getting to you and ways to be safe.
“I think that if you’re old enough to regulate using your own social media I think can be safe,” said junior Lara Hollblad. “I think it’s unsafe when little kids are using TikTok and Snapchat and they don’t know how to handle these things…social media should be only for 13 or 14-year-olds and up.”
Social media’s pros and cons list showcases the good and bad of having it. While it can be dangerous for teenagers, it can be a way to connect with your friends, connect with your school, and more. However, the way that social media can be safe is when it is used responsibly. Having private accounts and only allowing the people you want to follow you is a step in the right direction in keeping your social media life safer. Additionally, the addiction to social media is something that can be improved and make social media less of a danger to teenagers. When on a break, talk to a friend or perhaps a teacher instead of scrolling or looking at pictures on social media. In other words, don’t think of social media as a default to your free time.
Social media is safe when used responsibly by people who know how to manage their accounts and what they are putting onto the platform, along with knowing how to manage how much time is spent on the platforms.
