The Article below was published in Vol. 136, Issue 8 of the Lake Forest College Stentor on April 30, 2021.
By Chase Allen ’21
Staff Writer
Depression and anxiety are among the leading issues plaguing today’s youth. As individuals spend more time online, many experts are starting to believe social media might be a key contributor to the rise in mental health issues among teens. Technology has advanced tremendously in the past decade. Members of the younger generation today have been introduced to tablets, smart phones, and personal computers since birth, essentially equipped with the capability to surf the web and download apps before they are able to speak. Many see this as an alarming trend of the times and believe it is causing more harm than good, particularly for the development of adolescent and young adult minds.
Using social media at a younger age is causing developmental issues for children early on in their lives, according to Heather Allen, a private practice clinical social worker. “Kids these days are not learning how to build proper relationships with other human beings because they are not getting the proper exposure to real life human interactions,” Allen adds. By the time they reach their teenage years, building meaningful relationships can be difficult, leaving them with feelings of isolation. Those who use social media as a substitute for true human interaction may feel as if
connecting with their peers online is the same as engaging with them face to face, however this
is hardly the case. “The less you are connected with human beings in a deep, empathic way, the less you’re really getting the benefits of a social interaction,” Alexandra Hamlet, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, says. “The more superficial it is, the less likely it’s going to cause you to feel connected, which is something we all need.” More and more young users of social media are being left to feel unsatisfied emotionally, thus perpetuating the belief that they are socially isolated.
Consequences of new age technology are not restricted to youth.
Since the advancement of technology, our society as a whole has become increasingly impatient. We are used to having everything we want at the tap of a finger and have been conditioned to expect a level of instant gratification. This is a problem we’re seeing a lot across the board, not just among younger users, according to mental health therapist Gary Unruh.
Amongst adolescent users, though, this issue is exacerbated since they don’t have the greater context of knowing how this wasn’t always the case. The inherent nature of social media itself is one that tricks many into seeing the world through a warped lens. “Users of social media tend to embellish their own experiences to make it seem [like] their life is more exciting than it really is,” Unruh says. “This can cause envy and anxiety in other users trying to keep up.” Heavy social media users are starting to notice a change in their mindset from using platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat.
“It was exhausting keeping up with everyone on social media and always thinking is my post good enough? Will enough people like my pictures I post on Instagram?” says Blake Douglas, sophomore at Notre Dame College in Cleveland, Ohio. Douglas has recently deactivated her Instagram account and reports feeling “more liberated,” but still fights the urge to see what her friends and followers are posting.
Some heavy users defend their use and say they are not as concerned about the drawbacks of social media use.
Kyle Lim ’21, a senior at Lake Forest College, has a frequent presence on Instagram and Snapchat. “I enjoy social media, it gives me something to do in my free time,” Lim says. He’s not concerned about what others think of him. “I don’t put too much stock into other people’s perceptions about me,” Lim says. “I just enjoy being able to peek into the lives of others a little bit, as well as show people who I am and what I’m up to.”
With social media use rising and more children having access to these platforms at an earlier age, it is important to recognize the consequences which may arise. “This is a big issue plaguing our society right now,” Unruh says. “We need to acknowledge this is a problem and work to minimize the consequences as best we can.” Both Allen and Unruh agree one of the best ways to address the negatives associated with excess use of social media activity is to simply put the phone down. Excessive social media use and web surfing are likely to drag you down a rabbit hole, and the more time you spend there, the harder it can be to crawl out.
