Question

In paragraph format using information from the adolecent psychology course, explain why it is not beneficial for teens to have social media on their cell phones.

Answer 1

Social media has taken over the lives of teenagers. They spend a lot of time communication online than face to face. It has become an important part of their lives, which often drags them away from responsibility which could help them in future.

The majority of teens are on social media. Social media has become a platform of self promotion and teens tend to compare themselves with others on this platform in compulsive way, they upload their best face on social media and don't often share their struggles. Others will only see them in a perfect view, this make others feel inadequate about their own lives or body image. Even people sharing a perfect version of themselves can develop depression as they feel they can never live up to other’s online personality, due to which they fall in depression and have very low self esteem.

According to clinical psychologist Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair, teens spending time on texting and online communication means they are missing out on developing critical social skills. By communicating mostly through a media site, they are not learning how to read body language, facial expressions, or vocal inflections.

There is a loss of personal touch as teens prefer to communicate on social media rather than face to face which creates distance from their family and close ones. Hence it is not beneficial for teens to have social media on their cellphones.