10 Ways Your Teenager Feels While Using Social Media- as told by a teenager
Who knew social media could create so many different emotions?
It is hard to believe that something like social media, who makes people feel so low about themselves, is so popular and prominent in today’s world. Why do teenagers obsess over social media when it can have such negative effects on their lives? I can tell you why — because it is what everyone is doing. All teenagers want is to fit in, take it from a teenager herself. Not having social media is almost as bad as having it, and keeping up with social media is basically a full time job. Social media can extract so many different emotions from teens, and here they are as told by a 19 year old….
- But first, let me take a selfie
From selfies to group pictures, teenagers want people to know what they are up too, and want to glorify their lives for their followers/friends. They will go to no ends to get the greatest picture of all time, in hopes of maximum likes.
2. Likes equals confidence
“Hey can you go like my picture?!”
The more likes people recieve on a photo the better they feel about themselves. It is like a confidence booster when you recieve more likes on a photo than usual, espicially if it’s a selfie. This is one of the few cases that social media can actually boost your child’s self esteem.
3. And Vice Versa
Unfortunately, the action of photo liking could also amount to a negative effect. If a teenager does not get as many likes as he/she had hoped, they will most likely feel bad about themselves, and make it seem like it is the end of the world.
4. Like Beyonce
Since social media consists of hiding behind a phone and/or computer screen, some teens will feel invincible online, and feel that they can say and do whatever they want, which leads us to our next point…
5. When the biggest bully in TV show history is actually right
Teens post so many things without even thinking twice. One of the biggest problems with social media is that teens feel that they can say and do whatever they please without any consequences. Teens do not always realize that what they are saying or sharing could be offending someone else directly, and unfortuantly, they probably will not care.
6. Judging like a Kardashian
Teens judge people based off of what they post CONSTANTLY. People usually post things online that they agree with or like, creating room for people to judge others based off of their interests. And let me tell you, teens have no problem expressing how they feel online.
7. 5–6–7–8 who do we appreciate
It is important to note that social media is not all bad, and can infact make people feel good. When your friends and family comment on your pictures, or a random person retweets one of your tweets, it feels good. This is because you feel like what you posted was important, and appreciated.
8. Like Monica and Rachel in the 21st century
Social media is a great way to re-connect with people and stay in touch with old friends. It is always nice to receieve a message or snapchat from a friend who you haven’t heard from in a while, and is probably one of social media’s biggest positive factors.
9. I ENVY YOU
Teens do not always appreciate what they have, and always want what other people have, and social media does not help this problem. When people see everyones elses lives through social media, it can create a feeling of envy and/or jealously.
10. Flat out Worthless
The biggest issue of social media is bullying. 1 in 3 children are cyber bullied, and it has unfortunately become a phenomenon in todays world that is only getting worse.
Unfortunately, most teens will experience some, if not all, of these emotions due to social media. Although it does have its positives, it definitely has its negatives, but deleting social media altogether is not the answer for everyone. Talk to your teenagers, stay informed,and most important, act when necessary.
Yours truly
-a 19 year old girl, who lives, eats, sleeps, and breaths social media
